Science and technology are the future of our world, which is why it’s so important to start teaching STEM topics to children while they’re young. In fact, the best educational toys to stock your child’s playroom with are often STEM toys because they teach science and engineering concepts while encouraging open-ended, imaginative play.
If you’re looking for ideas for STEM toys, either for your home or your classroom, here are 10 excellent options to consider:
While they may have been a childhood standard for multiple generations, wooden building blocks still stand the test of time. They teach kids engineering concepts and building basics while also encouraging imaginative play. This toy also grows well with children, giving room for expanded skills. The price for wooden building blocks varies, but we’ve been using this Melissa & Doug set for years and they are of excellent quality.
Age Range: 4-8
Wooden train and car tracks seem to have a universal appeal. While your child explores different layouts and plans, they are also learning concepts about design and engineering. If the set comes with hills and supports, they can also learn about gravity and its effect on the little trains. The Melissa & Doug Wooden Railway Set is a good starting set and retails for around $130.
Age Range: 3+
The best STEM toys for children encourage open-ended play while supporting a child’s natural ability to learn while playing. Gear-building sets can help teach your child cause and effect and the basics of simple machinery. The more complex the child’s creation is, the more they will learn. The Gears! Gears! Gears! set from Learning Resources has enough sets to start building and retails for less than $40.
Age Range: 3+
Making interesting shapes with pixel cubes is a great way to spark both creativity and STEM learning. The Pixel Art Challenge set uses coordinates, coding prompts, or color-by-number codes to let kids create hidden pictures on a grid. It’s also an affordable option at $16.99.
Age Range: 5+
If you’ve ever given your child a magnifying glass toy, you have likely felt frustrated by its poor quality. That’s not the case with the Terra Kids Magnifier. This kid-sized magnifying glass is safe and shatter-proof while also providing clear magnification. Kids can use it to explore their world up close and personal. It’s well worth the price of $25 because it’s a toy that will definitely get plenty of use.
Age Range: 4+
The Snap Circuits Teach Tech Mech 5 Coding Robot teaches STEM in two ways: First, the child builds their own robot using the Snap Circuits toys, and then they use special coding buttons to make the robot move, draw, throw, lift, or kick a ball. It’s great for older kids interested in a fun, low-pressure, hands-on introduction to coding. It retails for less than $50.
Age Range: 10+
Microscopes are great tools that can teach kids about the world around them, but many are difficult to use. Zoomy is a digital microscope that can actually fit into the palm of your child’s hand. With its portable design, your child can take it anywhere without the frustration and mess of traditional microscope slides. Zoomy can magnify up to 54 times and can be used with a computer, projector, or interactive whiteboard. Your child can even print images of whatever they’re looking at! Zoomy is currently on sale for $46.
Age Range: 4+
If you’re looking for brain development games for children, pattern-matching toys are some of the best options out there. These toys, like the Animal Squares Arranging Game, build fine motor skills and help with deductive reasoning. The Animal Squares Arranging Game, in particular, encourages children to recreate a pattern using colorful wooden tiles on a template board, helping with concentration and pattern recognition, both fundamental concepts that eventually lead to solid STEM learning. This game retails for $24.99.
Age Range: 2+
The Lego Education SPIKE Prime Set combines everyone’s favorite building toy with the high-demand world of coding. Kids playing with this toy not only get to engineer their own robot but also teach it to move using programming. Lego regularly releases new plans for these sets to teach new STEM concepts, so it’s a toy that will grow with the child. The only downside is the price of $400 for the set, but it can be a great investment if you know that your child is interested in coding.
Age Range: 10+
Magna Tiles combines building blocks with shape tiles and magnets to create a unique building set that captures the imagination of most age groups. Children as young as three can build cubes and pyramids with them, while older children and teens can make elaborate structures. The price ranges quite a bit, depending on how many tiles you want in a set, but a basic starting set retails for around $49.99 on Amazon. I’ve been using these for years—they are a playroom staple in my house!
Age Range: 3+
Kids can quickly outgrow toys, which is why our team at Simply Sales works hard to find the best deals for you. We know how quickly things can add up for parents, so keep visiting our website if you’re looking for ways to save money.
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