New patterns in household spending reveal that Russian families are buying art supplies for their children at a markedly higher rate than in mid-2021. Market data from the Ozone platform, which is accessible to readers of socialbites.ca, show an increase in purchase activity among households with kids. This shift highlights a renewed interest in creative hobbies and educational activities as part of family life in the current year.
Recent findings point to origami as one of the most popular pastimes. In July, the value of origami kits sold through Ozone grew by more than threefold compared with the same month last year. The broader craft market followed suit, with a noticeable rise in orders for related supplies. For instance, cardboard goods rose sharply in demand, while children’s scissors and colored paper also posted substantial gains. These trends suggest that families are investing in hands-on, creative projects that can be done at home, whether for fun, learning, or the development of fine motor skills.
Parents have also shown growing interest in art media that support drawing and painting. Watercolors, gouache, and drawing albums for children are increasingly sought after, and equipment such as screens and projectors used for digital drawing are becoming more common purchases in households. Demand has expanded for tactile materials like modeling dough, with sales up significantly; plasticine and polymer clay have followed a similar pattern. Quilling sets, which enable the creation of paper art through rolling and shaping thin strips, have seen a notable increase in popularity as well, with demand running well ahead of the same period in the previous year.
Overall, household spending on children’s hobbies appears to have moderated slightly this year. This softer expenditure is partly driven by a wider assortment of products available and an increased supply in the market, which often leads to different price points. While the average check for modeling materials declined modestly, overall spending on drawing supplies remained near the levels observed in 2021, reflecting a balance between variety, affordability, and ongoing interest in creative activities among families.
These patterns align with broader parental priorities that emphasize leisure time and skill-building during school breaks. Earlier reports noted that many Russian parents believe children benefit from taking a mindful respite from academics during the summer, using this period to explore hobbies, practice new crafts, and enjoy constructive downtime. The current data supports the idea that families continue to view creativity and hands-on learning as valuable investments in a child’s development, even as the market adapts to changing prices and product availability.