When I first discovered the push to get kids involved in STEM projects, I kinda thought it was parents pushing their kids towards this interest just because that’s where all the high end jobs seem to be heading. But what if a kid isn’t a STEM kid by nature? My oldest sure didn’t have an interest in those toys and games, and I was okay with that.
Then came my 2nd kid. She is definitely a STEM kid without me having to guide her down this path. Now, I see the value in STEM toys and games for all kids – even if it’s not an obsession like it is with my youngest. Troubleshooting, problem solving, creating, building, and logic skills are important for all kids to develop. What better way to practice those skills than through games! Here are our favorite STEM toys and games that have kept my STEM and non-STEM type kids engaged for hours.
Problem Solving STEM Toys
Gravity Maze Marvel Run has 60 challenge cards that kids work through to build a marble run using various towers. This is rated for ages 8 and up, and that’s about right. This isn’t a game that kids (or parents!) will outgrow quickly. My youngest loves making up her own challenges.
Laser Maze Logic Game is from the same company as the Marble Run above, but it uses lasers to help build kids’ planning and reasoning skills.
Snap Circuits are a great way to introduce your kids to circuit building without diving into soldering irons. There are several different kits, so there’s something for different age groups, abilities, and interests.
Magna-Tiles are wildly popular building tiles. There are several knock-off versions of these by other companies, but they really aren’t as good as Magna-Tiles. Believe me, we have several cheaper versions. My kids always go for the real deal first. They love using these to create complex structures to see how much weight they can hold before collapsing.
Crime Catchers Spy Science Kit is great way to introduce your kids to investigative science. Solve 2 mysteries each with several activities. This was a hit with my non-STEM kid. It got her thinking through problems and decoding messages. Now, my kids love creating their own secret messages.
Creative STEM Toys
National Geographic Mega Crystal Growing Lab comes with 8 different colored crystals that kids can grow and a lit display that shows off 5 crystals at a time. My youngest got this for Christmas last year and loves having her crystals on display in her room.
Osmo is a coding system that uses an iPad and hand-on pieces to introduce younger kids to coding. Their Coding Jam and Creative Starter Kit are great ways to put the “A” in STEAM. In Coding Jam, kids learn patterns and problem solving while creating their own music with hand-held pieces. Solve story problems through drawing with their Creative Starter Kit. They have many other kits for different levels and interests.
A MicroBright Plus LED Pocket Microscope is perfect for taking an up-close look at things around the house AND out on our nature adventures. My girls each have one of these in their backpacks, and they’re always a hit among their friends on hikes. A perfect stocking stuffer!
Our Butterfly Garden is a spring tradition every year. We dive into the science of caterpillars and butterflies by raising our own Painted Lady butterflies from caterpillars. Once we’re done using our habitat for butterflies, we capture a tomato hornworm and watch it turn into a Sphinx moth.
STEM Robot Kits
Wonder Dot and Dash Robots don’t look like much, but they are great coding robots for younger kids. My daughter loves the dress up pieces that come with Dot. Dash has several optional kits that will keep kids engaged for years. Wonder Workshop even has Robotic Competitions for some team fun!
The Bit Coding Robot is perfect for learning to code WITHOUT a screen! Kids draw lines with colored markers in patterns (commands) that the robot senses as it moves along the code. You can also use the drag and drop code editor on a computer or other device, but coding with markers sets it apart from other systems. That’s the only way my kids have played with it so far, and they love it!
The LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox is a great way for younger kids to get started with building and coding robots. While the recommended age range is 7-12 years old, if your kids are really STEM focused, they may out grow it a bit too quickly for the price tag. I’d stick with the younger side of that range, and even below, for kids who pick up STEM concepts easily.
The mBot Robot Building Kit is perfect for first time robot builders. It’s easy to build. Programming it with their app (iOS and Android) offers different levels of difficulty to keep kids learning and engaged.
The JIMU Astrobot Building and Coding Kit is another kit that includes both building and coding that my STEM kid has really enjoyed. The structure of it is similar to LEGO, so she had an easier time putting it together from the beginning. However, it’s still a complex robot kit that can challenge kids and keep them engaged for years.
So Many Options!
STEM toys are all the rage with our kids’ generation, and now I see why. These hands-on fun toys help kids develop vital problem solving and critical thinking skills. There are so many options out there that even families that shy away from heavy electronic use can find STEM toys that work for their kids. These toys have brought my kids countless hours of creative play. I’m always excited to see what they’ll do with them next.
Share your favorite STEM toys in the comments below!
[…] into robotics, space, and coding. She’ll continue learning about those topics with Hour of Code, her favorite robots, Scientist Academy, Engineer Academy, and (fingers crossed) a local robotics competition […]