Encouraging our children to love learning can sometimes be difficult — they may love school and learning in the classroom, but what about at home? If you're looking to tap into your child's STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) skills — even from a very young age — there are a bunch of toys that cleverly intertwine fun and learning to jumpstart their brains in the best way.
Scroll through for brilliant STEM toys for kids of any age that make for great holiday gifts.
M.A.X Robotic Interactive Toy With Artificial Intelligence ($123)
Age range: 10 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: coding, technology, and robotics
LittleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit ($71, originally $100)
Age range: 8-12
Concepts and skills it builds on: engineering and technology
Kano CompleteComputer Kit + Screen Kit ($180, originally $250)
Age Range: 6+
Concepts and skills it builds on: Coding, building, programming
ZOOB Challenge ($20, originally $52)
Age Range: 8+
Concepts and skills it builds on: Open-ended problem solving, building
VEX Robotics Minotaur ($40)
Age range: 9 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: problem-solving, building, and robotics
Learning Resources Gears Starter Set ($14)
Age Range: 3+
Concepts and skills it builds on: Building, simple mechanics, counting, sorting, physics
Dance Code Disney Princess Belle ($49, originally $100)
Age range: 5 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: coding
Gravity Maze ($30)
Age Range: 8+
Concepts and skills it builds on: Logic, visual perception, strategy
Gears! Gears! Gears! Space Explorers Building Set ($58)
Age range: 4 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: problem-solving, sorting, sequencing, counting, matching, and patterns
Project Mc2 Circuit Beats ($32)
Age Range: 6 – 12
Concepts and skills it builds on: Electrical circuits
Alex Toys Spa DIY Bath Bombs Kit ($15)
Age range: 6 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: science and art
STEM Sink or Float Activity Set ($28)
Age Range: 3 – 5
Concepts and skills it builds on: Basic physics, critical thinking, problem solving
Remote-Control Machines: Construction Vehicles ($47, originally $100)
Age range: 6-10
Concepts and skills it builds on: building and robotics
Crayola Magic Scene Creator Activity Set ($30)
Age range: 3 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: art and animation
Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar ($60)
Age Range: 3 – 6
Concepts and skills it builds on: Coding, direction, experimentation
K'NEX Education – Intro To Simple Machines: Gears ($40)
Age Range: 8 – 12
Concepts and skills it builds on: Building, evaluating, teamwork
Magna-Tiles ($120)
Age Range: 2+
Concepts and skills it builds on: Patterning, shape recognition, building, motor skills
Digiloom Starter Kit ($70)
Age range: 8 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: art, design, and technology
Rube Goldberg — The Acrobat Challenge ($6)
Age range: 8 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: physics and problem-solving
Snap Circuits Jr. ($21)
Age Range: 8+
Concepts and skills it builds on: Electrical circuits, building
Barbie Fundamental Chemistry Set ($21, originally $30)
Age range: 4-7
Concepts and skills it builds on: science
Ozobot 2.0 Bit Starter Pack ($54)
Age Range: 5+
Concepts and skills it builds on: Coding, primary colors
Hexbug VEX Robotics Crossfire Airplane Launcher Construction Kit ($15)
Age range: 14-18
Concepts and skills it builds on: engineering
Design and Drill Activity Center ($31)
Age Range: 3+
Concepts and skills it builds on: Fine motor skills, creativity, building, following directions
Alex Toys Future Coders Bunny Trails ($15)
Age range: 3 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: coding, sequencing, logical thinking, and problem-solving
Let's Go Code! Activity Set ($27, originally $35)
Age range: 5 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: coding, critical thinking, and problem-solving
3Doodler Start Robotics-Themed 3D Printing Pen Set ($90)
Age range: 8 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: robotics, building, and spacial reasoning
Safe Breaker Board Game ($21, originally $25)
Age range: 6 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: logic, math, and problem-solving
Fisher-Price Think & Learn Teach 'n Tag Movi ($40)
Age range: 3-6
Concepts and skills it builds on: shapes and critical thinking
Code & Go Robot Mouse ($40, originally $60)
Age Range: 3 – 5
Concepts and skills it builds on: Coding, building
Parker: Your Augmented Reality Bear ($50)
Age range: 3-6
Concepts and skills it builds on: basic biology, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving
Educational Insights Smash Pong! ($17, originally $22)
Age range: 7 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: physics
Robot Turtles Little Programmers Game ($20, originally $25)
Age Range: 4 – 18
Concepts and skills it builds on: Coding, programming
Kamigami Robots — Ladybug ($18, originally $50)
Age range: 8 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: coding and robotics
Hexbug Vex Explorers Rescue Division ($15)
Age range: 6-12
Concepts and skills it builds on: science and building
Think & Learn Smart Scan Color Chameleon ($18)
Age Range: 3 – 6
Concepts and skills it builds on: Color recognition, following directions, counting
Klutz Lego Chain Reactions Craft Kit ($18)
Age Range: 8+
Concepts and skills it builds on: Sequential reasoning, building, experimenting
Spy Code Break Free Board Game ($18)
Age range: 6 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: problem-solving
Lego Architecture Arc de Triomphe ($32)
Age range: 12 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: engineering and building
Lego Boost Creative Toolbox ($160)
Age range: 7-12
Concepts and skills it builds on: creative thinking, engineering, and coding
Dr. Microbe Science Speed Logic Board Game ($15)
Age range: 8 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: logic and science
Dr. Beaker Science Speed Logic Board Game ($15, originally $23)
Age range: 8 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: science, logic, and matching
Creativity for Kids Grow N' Glow Terrarium ($10)
Age Range: 5 - 12
Concepts and skills it builds on: Creative thinking, science
Go Gelato Logic Race Game For Kids ($16)
Age range: 6 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: logic and problem-solving
Learning Resources Count & Build TotBot ($14)
Age range: 2 and up
Concepts and skills it builds on: shapes, colors, creative thinking, counting, and building
Code Master ($17)
Age Range:
Concepts and skills it builds on: Coding, logic, sequential reasoning, problem solving
K'Nex Imagine Power & Play Motorized Building Set Building Kit ($23)
Age range: 7-12
Concepts and skills it builds on: building, robotics, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning