Every year, children get new toys — many that they play with for just a few hours and never pick up again. This list introduces the best STEM toys to capture their interest and spark curiosity. With a little nudge, these educational toys, books and games can prove that learning is indeed very fun.
"Young children are wired to discover and figure things out," says Tovah P. Klein, director of Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and author of "How Toddlers Thrive." "This is what we call curiosity and it is what drives them to want to engage with toys or other materials. STEM toys fit here. Any toy or game that gives them the opportunity to figure something out, such as puzzles, building sets, magnets or materials that support discovery such as science kits (let's make a volcano), will support these desires."
STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) toys do more than entertain. They introduce children to coding, electricity and complex concepts that build math and science skills that expand beyond the classroom.
Click the links below to shop the best STEM toys for kids by category or keep scrolling to learn more about STEM activities and see all of our top picks.
How do STEM toys help a child's development?
"Children learn best through hands-on play," says Amanda Sullivan, senior program director at National Girls Collaborative Project. "Any toy that allows children to have fun while exploring foundational STEM content is beneficial for learning and development. The most impactful STEM toys foster creativity, support intellectual curiosity, promote cognitive skills, social skills and more. Additionally, STEM toys support children’s role-playing and imaginary play by helping them to imagine themselves as doctors, engineers and scientists."
Can a child be too young to play with STEM toys?
When researching which STEM toys are best for your child, it is important to pay attention to keep their current development in mind.
"While there is no such thing as “too young” to start with STEM, it is important to think about selecting STEM toys that are developmentally appropriate," Sullivan says. "A STEM toy that is developmentally appropriate for a two-year-old, for example, might allow them to practice foundational STEM skills like cause and effect at a water table or explore engineering by making a tower out of blocks. Meanwhile, a five-year-old might be more stimulated with a toy that allows them to practice basic engineering and coding skills, such as with a programmable robotics kit. STEM toys look different and foster different types of learning and play for each stage of development."
What makes a good STEM toy?
Sullivan shares that the most common STEM toys you see children use explore the concepts of building (i.e. Lego sets and Magna-Tiles), animal life (i.e. veterinarian kits), robotics and coding, she notes that many other children's toys could be labeled as STEM. So what are considered STEM toys?
"Keep in mind that any toy that allows children to explore problem-solving, cause and effect and hypothesis-testing can be considered a “STEM toy” — whether or not it is branded that way!" she says. "In that same mindset, the most common STEM toys children gravitate towards might be the “classics” like wooden blocks, water tables, sensory bins or logic-based board and card games. Also, materials like cardboard boxes and recyclables can be the most fun (and free!) of all STEM toys!"
If you're not sure where to start, we've made it a little bit easier for you by compiling a list of everything from classic STEM toys to our tested favorites. Plus, we're including the STEM toys that made the cut in The Toy Insider's much-anticipated STEM 10 list, which features some of the hottest and most sought-after toys in the category this year.
For some gift fun ideas for your scientist, architect or scholar in the making, check out these great STEM toys that are perfect to gift!
Best STEM toys, according to The Toy Insider
Snap Circuits FM Radio Kit
Sure, they may have access to Spotify and Apple Music, but this hands-on toy gives them the chance to build their own FM radio via the simple circuit provided. If they successfully understand how the radio waves and amplifiers work together, they’ll be able to listen to local radio stations without a hitch.
NSI Smithsonian Microscope Kit
With slides, a petri dish, vials, labels and more, children ages eight and up will be able to sift through fiber, pollen, insect parts and more at a size that is more visible to them (aka 900 times their original size!) The Smithsonian has released a handful of science kits to help expose children to the subject through play, with others being a planetarium projector and a rock and gem dig kit.
Educational Insights Pyxel A Coder’s Best Friend
Robotic pets take the cake on this year’s Toy Insider List, and this one promises to not only be a future coder’s best friend, but also to introduce young children to the world of coding. Recommended for ages eight and up, this toy utilizes the same coding languages Space X does to have the dog perform tricks, convey emotions and make sounds.
Lego City Mars Spacecraft Exploration Missions
Ready for your next mission? This set is recommended for ages 6 and up and includes 298 pieces, which is everything your little explorer needs to build their spacecraft, planet rover, asteroids and more. Plus, there's a mobile app that will give them missions to complete using the LEGO bricks in the set for hours of added play.
Learning Resources Space Rover Deluxe Coding Activities Set
If they love all things having to do with space, they’ll absolutely enjoy this activity set that is sure to be out of this world! Not only can they code a space rover and send it through mazes that they created themselves, but they can also control it to complete challenges, such as going over rocky terrain to save the astronaut.
Thames and Kosmos Hydraulic Boxing Bots
Remember the classic boxing ring toy everyone had growing up? This is a new and improved version that your child can build and power through hydraulics. Combine physics with power punches in this toy, where a kangaroo and a robot face off. The brand notes that it’s perfect for tweens to complete on their own or children ages 10+ with a little bit of assistance.
K’Nex Marble Coaster Run
With over 500 pieces, this STEM-infused set includes multiple templates to make a functional marble coaster. Young hands can even attach the working motor to add movements, chain reactions and more. This set is recommended for ages 8 and up.
Magna-Tiles Downhill Duo
Magna-Tiles are always a popular pick when it comes to gifting to children, whether it be for the holidays or for a birthday, and this set proves to be no different. With this 40-piece set, they can build their own racetracks and send racers against one another. This toy also helps children develop fine motor skills as early as age three.
LeapFrog Magic Adventures Telescope
NASA and the European Space Agency paired with LeapFrog to provide astrology basics such as images and videos of the Moon, constellations, solar system and more, which children can find and name with ease thanks to the 110x zoom included with this toy.
Thames and Kosmos Kai Artificial Intelligence Robot
For a more technical toy, children ages 10 and older can build this robot that responds to movements and phrases. The instruction booklet doubles as a comic book, breaking it down in a way that children can comprehend. Adult reviewers noted that this was a time-consuming toy to put together, making it the perfect activity for snow days.
Fat Brain Toys Air Toobz
If they love racetracks and cars, this STEM toy will be a hit. With a focus on encouraging spatial reasoning, they get to build out and connect each tube around a space and see if the foam balls are able to make it through the tubes. When arranged correctly, the air should be able to flow and the balls will pop out on the end.
Best STEM toys for ages 0-3
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Game & Learn Controller
All of you parents whose child has lost, hidden or eaten the remote, stop what you are doing. Your prayers have been answered. Give them their own remote! The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Game & Learn Controller gives them the household device they love, but with a good dose of stem to boot! This kid-friendly controller includes alphabet shaped buttons, a clicker disc and toggle switch great for fine motor play.
Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set
With the Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set, one minute you are building a dinosaur, the next a small plane or a wooden horse! This set is durable and has been described as an heirloom toy. It’s also great for strengthening fine motor skills, pattern recognition, balance, sense of scale, imaginative play, problem solving and storytelling.
KiwiCo Marble Run + Art Easel
In Senior Photo Editor Becca Delman’s eyes, this marble run and easel is easily “the best STEM toy.” The kid-sized easel comes with 35 marble run pieces to place and play with, and the other side features a reversible art board to let their creativity soar.
Best STEM toys for ages 4-7
Learning Resources STEM Explorers Suncatchers Art Kit
A totally screen-free way to introduce STEM, this kit helps your little one develop math and coding skills while building cool, colorful suncatchers. The kit is recommended for ages 5 and up.
Battat Take-Apart Roadster
Kids will have a blast with this great little roadster that they can put together, pull apart, put together and pull apart all over again! Great for tuning up fine motor skills and turning up the fun. Not only will your little one enjoy putting this classy car together, they will love taking it for a spin around the living room once it’s built.
Solar System Floor Puzzle
Sizing up at over four feet long, they can learn the names of the planets and how far away they are from the sun with this oversized floor puzzle. This puzzle is “always a favorite,” said one reviewer.
Magna-Tiles Stardust Magnetic Building Tiles
For the beginning builder, gift them with the always popular Magna-Tiles, magnetic building tiles that come in various shapes. In this specific Stardust set, the they can build and create with 15 shimmery and glittery tiles. “My kids LOVE magna tiles, they keep them entertained for HOURS! They do lots of imaginative play with them and honestly wish I found them sooner,” said one reviewer.
Makedo Explore Kit
Kill two birds with one stone with to this toy. If your little one is always asking "how was that made" or takes an interest in building things big and small, the Makedo Explore Kit is a great and safe way for them to try their hand at construction. With kid-safe building materials, they can use extra cardboard scraps around the house to make everything from backpacks to vases.
KiwiCo Science of Cooking: Ice Cream
Does it get any cooler than making your own ice cream? This kit teaches kitchen chemistry to whip up delicious treats. The 54-page recipe book provides a ton of sorbet and ice cream inspiration for ages 5 and up.
Fun Forts Glow Tent for Kids
This is a fort. Need we say more? Blanket and pillow forts are awesome, but this fort glows in the dark, has 52 glow in the dark rods and 29 multilink spheres, and takes fort engineering to a whole new level. Also, this fort isn’t just contained to the living room, it’s great for outdoor play as well. Build a rocket one day and an igloo the next — let your imagination and creativity run wild!
Picasso Tiles 100-Piece 3D Color Magnetic Building Block Set
It’s never too early to tap into their inner creativity. Incorporating geometric shapes, vibrant colors, magnetic polarities and architecture into one stylish package, young children can’t get enough of constructing colossal objects and scalable buildings.
Osmo Pizza Co. Game
Every entrepreneur needs their start and this game might help your little titan grab his or her slice of the pie. Your kiddo may think they are running their own pizza shop, and they are, but they are also learning fast-paced practical math, nonverbal communication and basic concepts of business. Plus, it’s compatible with both iPads and Fire Tablets. It's recommended for ages 5-12.
Lakeshore Learning Remote Control Gear-Bot
Build with blocks, gears, claws, different heads and attach them to a motorized base and you have a remote control robot. With a range of up to 50 feet and 149 pieces, the little engineer in your life will be building, crafting and racing for hours on end. This gift is “easy to assemble and reassemble in different formations, and he learns a thing or two about the way gears work,” said one reviewer who gifted this to their child.
Ramps and Balls Exploration Kit
If they want to configure a track around the perimeter of their room or build a ramp taller than themselves, they can do both with this 30 piece wooden set from Lakeshore Learning. With different sized balls and ramp strips, they can craft tracks in various shapes, rooms and heights. “I bought this for my block center so students could explore force and motion. These ramps have been a huge hit,” said one reviewer, with another one noting that this set is “perfect for hands-on learning.”
Best STEM toys for ages 8 and up
Think Box Inventor's Box Set
With over 700 pieces in this small but mighty set, as well as a booklet with instructions and ideas of inventions, they'll be dreaming of their own creations for hours on end. "It is a great gift for the creative kid in your life," said one reviewer, with another one adding that it's a "great toy to get the wheels of the mind turning." It's recommended for ages 8 and up.
KiwiCo Jumping Robots Building Kit
Ready to jump into engineering? This robot building kit will help your future scientist take the leap. According to the brand, this kit teaches the physics of potential and kinetic energy while building a customizable jumping robot. It's recommended for ages 9 and up.
Elenco Snap Circuits
For the older kid (or kids at heart), they can practice circuits with this hands-on, electrical circuit board from Elenco, complete with all the pieces needed for any path they want to create or test out.
Smartivity Robotic Mechanical Hand
How epic is this robotic mechanical hand? It includes a step-by-step instructional manual that'll provide hours of entertainment, both in building and playing with the finished product. This screen-free toy is recommended for ages 8 to 14.
Uncommon Goods Create Your Own Video Game Set
Unplug them from the video games and get them involved in creating their own video game with this retro styled toy that they can code on their own.
Best STEM books
"My First Book of Planets," by Bruce Betts, PhD
With over 16,000 customer ratings, this is one of Amazon's top selling children's books about astronomy. Filled with big, breathtaking images of space and loads of fun facts, your future astronomer won't be able to put this one down.
American Girl Doll STEM
What’s her dream job? From astronaut to veterinarian, there are a lot of jobs in the STEM world for a girl to choose from. With this book, girls and their dolls can explore all the STEM options that await them in a fun and relatable way.
Awesome Science Experiments for Kids
With over 100 projects, this book has what feels like endless activities for kids to do. Plus, it delves into the "why" of how the experiments work, teaching kids a ton about science in the process. The bestseller has over 15,000 customer ratings on Amazon.
"100 Easy STEAM Activities," by Andrea Scalzo Yi
Jam-packed with activities highlighting new-to-them concepts like computing, physics and color-mixing, these games and brain teasers will make learning a blast right from the start.
"What Can I Be? STEM Careers from A to Z," by Tiffani Teachey
What Can I Be? STEM Careers from A to Z is an inspiring and easy-to-read alphabet picture book that teaches the next generation about STEM careers. This book provides colorful illustrations of six diverse children representing various STEM careers (i.e. astronauts, doctors, scientists, and engineers, etc), helping children see themselves and motivates them to shape their future.
"The Speed of Starlight," by Colin Stuart
Bookworms will instantly be drawn to the stunning illustrations by Spanish artist Ximo Abadía, but their curiosity will keep them reading about exploding stars, invisible rays and some of the other biggest scientific discoveries in history.
Baby Loves Science Board Boxed Set Board Book
I want my son to read these books, but first I have to ask myself, "do I want him to be smarter than me at just 18 months?" After a few reads from this book set, my son might be reading to me or doing my taxes in no time. This creative and educational set includes titles like “Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering,” “Baby Loves Gravity,” “Baby Loves Coding” and “Baby Loves Thermodynamics.” If you aren’t sold already, this set also comes with an adorable periodic table poster of the alphabet.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers searched the internet to find the best STEM toys out there. We interviewed expert sources and used our own personal experiences with kids' toys and brands to make shopping easier for our readers. We also attended market events to see the best educational toys for kids.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present everyone on your list including cozy gifts, gifts under $50, gifts for husbands, cool gifts and gift baskets.
