Whether you’re looking for a fun way to spark your children’s interest in STEM, or just want to give them an opportunity to learn something new, circuit STEM toys are the perfect solution. These innovative toys include snap circuits that allow kids of all ages (starting at age 5) to build models and experiment with electricity.
There are many different types of circuit STEM toys on the market today- from building kits and lights, sound and motion projects – but here we will review some of our favorites:
- ThinkFun Circuit Maze Electric Current Brain Game
- Elenco Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100
- Snap Circuits “Arcade”, Electronics Exploration Kit
- Educational Insights Design & Drill Space Circuits
- Snap Circuits Pro SC-500 Electronics Exploration Kit
- Playz Electrical Circuit Board Engineering Kit for Kids
- Snap Circuits Snapino – Making Coding A Snap
These are all great options, but let’s have a look at each so you can learn more details and choose the one that’s right for your child.
ThinkFun Circuit Maze Electric Current Brain Game (Ages 8 and up)
ThinkFun Circuit Maze Electric Current Brain Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up – Toy of the Year Finalist, Teaches Players about Circuitry through Fun Gameplay
Price: $31.99*
In the first place, let’s get started with ThinkFun’s Circuit Maze Electric Current Brain Game. This toy is the perfect educational game for children who want to learn about circuits.
The 60 challenges are tricky and clever, providing hours of electrifying fun. Plus, when playing Circuit Maze, your child will discover how electric current works in real life by creating a circuit that lights up designated beacons.
With Circuit Maze Electric Brain Game, your child’s logical reasoning and spatial skills will be improved through the fun gameplay. The game is designed with increasingly difficult challenges that gradually improve their planning abilities too.
With over 50 million sold, ThinkFun is the world’s leading manufacturer of brain games and mind-challenging puzzles. They have been trusted by families worldwide for more than two decades to provide hours of fun with friends and family members.
Elenco Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 (Ages 8 and up)
Snap Circuits 203 Electronics Exploration Kit | Over 200 STEM Projects | 4-Color Project Manual | 42 Snap Modules | Unlimited Fun & Elenco Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100
Price: $59.31*
Next on our list, we have Elenco’s Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100. This kit comes with over 100 different electronic circuit projects that your kids can assemble from just 30+ pieces of easy-to-understand electronics parts.
They’ll be constructing working models such as photosensors, flashing lights and adjustable volume sirens – all while learning valuable skills in the process like reading instructions carefully, so they have an understanding of what it’s going on at each stage before proceeding next.
The pieces from this circuit toy snap together easily on the included plastic grid, no soldering required. Each part is numbered and color-coded to make identifying them easy. These components combine into working circuit boards just like those found inside televisions radios, and other electronic devices.
Your child will love this circuit kit. Not only is it educational, but they can also design their own circuits and electronic devices once they have mastered a few of these techniques
Snap Circuits “Arcade”, Electronics Exploration Kit (Ages 8 and up)
Snap Circuits “Arcade”, Electronics Exploration Kit, Stem Activities for Ages 8+, Multicolor (SCA-200)
Price: $44.97*
Snap Circuits Arcade is the perfect spot for children looking to spice up their STEM concepts and engage in some creativity. With a canvas of endless possibilities, Snap Circuit offers kids hands-on learning with interactive activities that will have them creating circuits in no time.
This toy created by Elenco Electronics teaches children about the basics of electricity, engineering and circuitry. Over 200 projects are included in this kit which utilizes 30 components, including an internal Microcontroller pre-programmed with many fun-to-play interactive games.
The teaching process is easy as well, thanks to curriculum-rich instructions that include full-color images, diagrams and text descriptions for every project so your child can learn without any confusion whatsoever.
Educational Insights Design & Drill Space Circuits (Ages 5 and up)
Educational Insights Design & Drill Space Circuits: Circuits for Beginners, STEM Toy, 52 Piece Kit, Ages 5+
Price: $33.50*
The toy kit from Educational Insights is perfect for kids who want to learn more about circuitry and engineering. They can complete 20 space-themed missions with a kid-friendly drill toy that lets them make circuits that really light up the room.
Watch their faces light up as they build early engineering and problem-solving skills by completing each challenge card. They’ll be so proud when lights turn on or the astronaut spins.
Children can use their imagination while they put together toys that will help them explore outer space. After all of the parts have been assembled with some tools included in the set, inventors should be ready for launch.
This kit supports STEM skills and helps kids learn the basics of circuits. The educational goals are clearly outlined in each mission card, so they know what to build for their next challenge.
It comes with 1 power drill, space circuit board (includes LED lights), 20 bolts, 1 battery pack, 18 connectors & 10 double-sided challenge cards.
Snap Circuits Pro SC-500 Electronics Exploration Kit (Ages 8 and up)
Snap Circuits Pro SC-500 Electronics Exploration Kit | Over 500 Projects | Full Color Project Manual | 75 Parts | STEM Educational Toy for Kids 8+ & Battery Eliminator
Price: $78.62*
Snap Circuits has another interesting STEM kit, the Pro SC-500. With this toy kit, your child can build over 500 experiments with 76 parts. Some of the experiments include:
- A digital voice recorder that allows your kid to record and save up some seconds worth of sound.
- An AM radio (with static)
- A digitally tuned FM radio that will pick up stations even if they’re low in volume while blocking other sounds from interfering between frequencies like whistling radios typically do when tuning into a station
- An AC generator capable of producing small amounts of energy.
- A screaming fan.
The projects in the manual are grouped by complexity, starting with the easiest and progressing to more difficult. This allows kids to improve their skills as they work through the manual.
The lessons start with a basic explanation of how electricity is turned on and off by the use of a switch. Further along, kids can put together an alarm clock or different visual displays – things get progressively more complex at every step.
Just think of all the fun they’ll have in their playtime adventures with this kit.
Playz Electrical Circuit Board Engineering Kit for Kids (Ages 8 and up)
Playz Electrical Circuit Board Engineering Kit for Kids with 25+ STEM Projects Teaching Electricity, Voltage, Currents, Resistance, & Magnetic Science | Gift for Children Age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+
Price: $29.95*
This Playz Starter Electronic Circuit Board Toy is the perfect way to introduce your child to science, physics, mechanical engineering and electronics.
This kit has everything a budding engineer needs for building fun projects that will teach them about circuits in an easy-to-follow format with colorful illustrations.
The 64-page illustrated instruction manual will lead them through the assembly of circuits and fascinating multi-experiments. Younger children may need some supervision while setting up this toy center, but it’s a great opportunity for parent/child bonding time nonetheless.
From lights and sounds to radios, there are over 25+ exciting experiments waiting for you no matter what age or gender. It’s never too early (or late) to start learning something new.
Snap Circuits Snapino – Making Coding A Snap (Ages 12 and up)
Snap Circuits Snapino – Making Coding A Snap | Snap Circuits & Arduino Compatible | Perfect Introduction to Coding | STEM Educational Product for Kids 12+
Price: $40.99*
Last but not least, we have Snapino from Snap Circuits. This toy kit will introduce your child to the Arduino coding environment. They can build cool projects like Traffic Lights, Night Lights and Distance Sensors in this open-source world.
This toy kit includes 1 Arduino UNO compatible Snapino module, 6 Snap Circuits modules, 3 snap wires, 1 snap jumper wire and more.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that Snapino has compatibility with other Snap Circuits kits. This makes it a great addition for kids who are already Snap Circuits fans.
All in all, we found a nice selection of great STEM toys that help kids learn about electronics and circuitry. We hope you had fun reading our reviews and find the perfect toy for your kid so they can have hours of creative playtime.
If there are any other cool circuit-building options out there, please let us know by emailing us at hello@toysandstem.com. In the meantime, feel free to share this article with your friends and family who might be looking to buy their own little engineer some new STEM gear.
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