We know how hard it can be to find the right STEM toy for your child. Whether you’re looking for an educational toy or something they can play with at home, we’ve got you covered. We have created a list of our favorite STEM toys in different categories so you can find the right one for your child’s needs.
The most popular STEM Toys categories or types include:
- Circuits
- Dinosaur
- Human Body
- Volcanoes and Earth
- Marble runs
- Garden
- Building Blocks
- Solar System
- Trains
Though there are many excellent STEM toys available on the market, each one comes with its own unique challenges. Let’s have a look at the details, so you can choose the best toy for your kid.
STEM Circuit Toys
This category includes a wide range of toys like electric circuits kits, engineering sets and boards. Your kid will enjoy assembling and experimenting with different devices, circuits and more.
The most popular toy in this category is the Snap Circuits series by Elenco
The set of parts includes over 30 pieces that are color-coded to make it easy for kids to follow the instructions and complete different experiments or projects without getting confused with what goes where.
It can be used as a single project or an entire course of study, which makes it ideal for parents who want their children to learn about electronics but not necessarily specialize in them.
If you want to check other STEM circuit toys, click here.
STEM Dinosaur Toys
STEM dinosaur toys are a great option to buy for kids who love prehistoric creatures. This category is so popular that we had to include it in this list. Kids will not only learn a lot about science but can also play with their toys at the same time.
The most popular STEM dinosaur toy is Kidtastic’s Dinosaur Play Set. Your little boy will be thrilled with this toy set because it features some of the coolest dinosaurs in history.
There’s a T-Rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor and Pterodactyl, so they’ll get to see them all come back alive. It also includes an instructional booklet that is perfect for both kids and parents who want to learn more about these creatures from our past.
Click here to read our guide on STEM Dinosaur Toys.
STEM Human Body Toys
In this STEM toy category, you will find all sorts of toys that will teach your child more about the human body.
There’s a toy set for building bones, muscles and organs, which is great because it comes with three different sets to choose from (basic muscle and bone model, realistic musculature or internal organ system) so you can find one that suits just what he needs in order to learn about the human body.
Another popular STEM toy is Human Anatomy by Learning Resources because this educational toy kit features 132 pieces. It’s easy enough for kids ages four years old but also fun for adults who want to explore their inner workings at home as well.
Click here to read our guide on STEM Human Body Toys.
STEM Volcanoes and Earth Toys
The toys in this category feature all sorts of scientific phenomena. There are volcano models that allow kids to see how lava and other substances affect the landscape as well as Earth science kits for studying plate tectonics, water cycles, erosion and more.
This is a great category because it incorporates STEM principles into topics like reading physics or chemistry, so your child will enjoy learning about their world in both subjects.
For the budding geologist in your house, you can’t do better than to get them this National Geographic Ultimate Volcano Kit. It is perfect for kids who want to learn about earthquakes, volcano formation and volcanic rocks. With this kit, your kid can find out interesting facts that are designed to promote a love of geology and science.
Click here to read our guide on STEM Volcanoes and Earth Toys.
STEM Marble Runs
This type of toys includes marble runs and other sorts of mazes that allow kids to build structures, create zip lines or race their friends.
The toys in this category are great for introducing STEM concepts such as the laws of motion, forces and kinetics while also giving your child an opportunity to explore engineering principles like levers, inclined planes and pulleys.
One of the best options we found is ThinkFun’s Gravity Maze Marble Run. This toy teaches kids about a variety of concepts like gravity, kinetic energy and potential energy while also teaching them how to think spatially with its many different paths for their marble to take through the maze.
Click here to read our guide on STEM Marble Runs.
STEM Garden Toys
Another interesting category for kids that are interested in learning more about nature is STEM garden toys.
This type of toy can be a great introduction to the basics of gardening and botany while also teaching your child about sustainability and responsibility towards natural resources.
The Funzbo Flower Garden Building Set is our top pick in this category. Your child will be able to build and plant an entire garden all on their own by either following one of its detailed blueprints or creating their very own customized area depending on what’s available at home.
Click here to read our guide on STEM Garden Toys.
STEM Building Block Toys
Another STEM toy category that is often overlooked is the building block toys. This group of toys can provide hours of fun for kids and also offer an excellent opportunity to teach them about geometry, architecture and spatial intelligence. These are great because they offer a mix of an engineering challenge with creative playtime.
In this category, LEGO kits stand out as the most popular option. These building blocks are great to use on their own but can also be used to supplement other STEM toys.
LEGOs are versatile and allow children to exercise creativity while improving spatial intelligence skills at the same time. The age range is from six years old up until 14 years old, making it perfect for all ages.
Click here to read our guide on STEM Building Block Toys.
STEM Solar System Toys
There are many different types of solar system or outer space STEM Toys for children to play with, such as those that teach them about planets or constellations. These types of toys often come in models so they can easily understand the world and the planets around them, astronomy in general, and about the stars in our galaxy.
In this category, probably the most famous one is the 4M Solar System Planetarium – DIY Glow in the Dark Astronomy Planet Model as it teaches children about the solar system.
They can learn about how many planets there are, what they’re called, and their size from this toy model but also get an idea of where each planet is relative to earth.
Click here to read our guide on STEM Solar System Toys.
STEM Train Toys
STEM train toys are another interesting option to explore for your kid. In this category, we have very popular toys from LEGO or Learning Resources.
Your kid will be able to practice fine motor skills while learning more about physics and math.
Click here to check our guide on STEM Train Toys.
We hope you enjoyed our category guide to the best STEM toys for kids. Whether your child is interested in bugs, plants or coding, we’ve given you a list of options to get them started on a lifelong love of learning and discovery. If you know someone who might benefit from this information as well (especially if they have children), please share it with them.