Some toys are purely just for play purposes, but if you're looking for a toy in 2019 that'll more obviously help with your child's development while still being totally fun, a STEM toy is the way forward. STEM — science, technology, engineering, and math — toys aren't only playthings, but are in some way designed to teach your children new skills like coding or concepts like physics. For 2019, The Toy Insider — which reviews new toys every year — put together a list of the Top 10 STEM Toys, and you're going to want to put one on your kids' holiday shopping list for them.
Scroll through to see all 10 STEM toys — there's something for kids of all ages.
Kids ages 3 and up can build and create their own fire adventures with the 50-piece Magformers Amazing Rescue Set ($60).
With the HEXBUG Build Blitz Construction Kit ($150) kids ages 8 and up can build seven different robotic designs that can then be controlled with a smartphone.
Your kids can learn to code the Lego way with this epic interactive LEGO Star Wars Boost Droid Commander Set ($200) that teaches them to code and develop creative problem-solving skills.
Kids ages 4 and up will have a blast with the three different versions of the Learning Resources Coding Critters ($32), which help teach coding.
The Educational Insights Artie 3000 Coding Robot ($) helps kids ages 7 and up learn to code.
Kids ages 8 and up with learn about the physics of air pressure and suction and how it's used to help their Thames & Kosmos Air-Walker Gravity-Defying Wall-Walking Robot ($33) model walk vertically up perfectly smooth surfaces.
With the 578-piece K'NEX Dragon Quest Roller Coaster Building Set ($44), kids ages 7 and up can build a miniature scale, working roller coaster.
Aimed at kids 13 and up, the Tech Will Save Us, Synth Kit ($11) allows teens to build three different synths and learn about pitch, frequency, and volume.
With the Thames & Kosmos My Robotic Pet Tumbling Hedgehog Science Experiment and Modeling Kit ($) kids ages 10 and up will use the 172 building pieces to construct their own adorable robotic pet hedgehog.
Kids ages 8 and up can dig their way through squishy slime as they discover hidden dinosaur bones, thanks to the Discovery Prehistoric SLIMYGLOOP Dig ($16).