What Are STEM Toys? A Parent's Guide
Ever stroll down the toy aisle or browse an online shop on the hunt for just the right hands-on, screen-free learning toy, only to be met with hundreds of promising STEM toy options? But what are STEM toys, anyway, and which ones are actually worth the money?
We’ll bring you up to speed on what STEM toys are and how to choose the one that your kids will actually use (and love)!
Key takeaways
- STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. A STEM toy is any plaything that teaches one of those through hands-on, trial-and-error play.
- The label is broad and unregulated, so a "STEM toy" can be a coding robot, a circuit set, a building kit, or a math game. Quality varies widely.
- The best STEM toys are hands-on. A kid tries, fails, and tries again. A toy that lights up on its own while the kid watches teaches far less.
- Open-ended toys tend to get used far longer than a kit with one right answer, because there's room to keep inventing new things!
- STEM toys are for every kid. You do not have to be good at math to enjoy STEM toys. The point is curiosity and problem-solving.
- Ready to shop? Jump to the open-ended, screen-free pick if you want a tool that grows with your kid.
What are STEM toys?
STEM toys are fun, interactive learning toys or activities built to introduce kids to core concepts in one or more of the following fields:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Mathematics
Through active play, STEM toys encourage kids to think outside the box, rewarding their critical thinking and hands-on experimentation with results they’ll be proud of.
Not all STEM toys are created equal, though. The STEM label is a broad one and ultimately unregulated. As for the fallout? The quality of toys on the market varies significantly in what they promise STEM-wise versus what they actually deliver.
Take, for instance, a basic plastic dinosaur sporting a STEM label on its packaging. While dinosaurs themselves land square in the sciences, paleontology to be exact, the toy itself is a passive one. Here, while it fosters imaginative play, it fails to offer more structured skills like building, experimental learning, or critical thinking, to name a few.
The four types of STEM toys (with examples)
Let’s dive into several examples of STEM toys, broken down by each letter in its label, starting with S.
1) Science
Science-oriented STEM toys vary in focus and complexity. From chemistry sets and mineral discovery activities to hands-on microscope play and slime-making packs, little hands to tweens (and older) enjoy these interactive activities, but they’re often limited-use only.
2) Technology
You’ve seen coding robots and circuit kits on your hunt for the best STEM toys, no doubt! Technology STEM toys typically focus on computer science and robotics-based concepts via screen-free electronics play. Kids can work out coding sequences or build and interact with robots in all shapes (or species)!
3) Engineering
Young inventors and builders can bring their design plans to life with engineering-based STEM toys! With hands-on interactive options like common building blocks or tiles, marble run kits, and architectural building sets, there are endless options for all ages.
Engineering-focused STEM toys, like kid-safe power tools, also encourage open-ended designing and building. These tools encourage kid-led creative thinking and design, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning while they bring their unique creations to life.
4) Mathematics
Math-centered STEM toys make learning mathematics as easy as 1, 2, 3! Math cubes and fraction towers offer a hands-on, less abstract introduction to basic math concepts, while more advanced STEM toys and activities may involve logic puzzles or multiplication tasks. Kids of all ages can practice:
- Pattern recognition
- Identifying angles and geometric shapes
- Fractions
- Counting and other forms of mental math
- Logic principles
| Letter | What it teaches | Examples |
| Science | Observing, predicting, testing, trial and error | Chemistry sets, microscope tasks, human anatomy identification kits, and crystal-growing activities |
| Technology | Coding, cause and effect, how machines work | Screen-free coding robots |
| Engineering | Designing, building, creative thinking, and problem-solving | Building and construction sets |
| Math | Patterns, geometry, logic, spatial reasoning | Addition, subtraction, or fraction towers, pattern blocks, and logic games |
Are STEM toys worth it? What the research says
Yes, quality STEM toys are worth it, as they encourage interactive and open-ended play. The benefits of STEM toys don’t end there. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, “STEM education is critical to laying the groundwork for children’s overall growth and learning by prioritizing skills like problem solving” in addition to other critical developmental skills they’ll carry with them as they grow, including:
- Critical thinking
- Creative/out-of-the-box thinking
- Spatial reasoning
- Fine-motor skills
- Confidence & persistence
The best STEM toy is the one your kids keep wanting to play with again and again. Going for an open-ended STEM toy or activity that enables endless play and grows with them is a far better investment than a one-and-done activity.
What age should kids start STEM toys?
STEM toys work for most age groups, starting at two years old, aging with them through their tween years and beyond. Here’s a snapshot of appropriate STEM toys by age:
- Toddlers and preschoolers (ages 2 to 4): Enjoy playing with big, soft, safe, open-ended pieces they’ll keep reaching for, learning spatial skills and cause and effect, as they develop a stronger whole-hand grip.
- Early elementary (ages 5 to 7): Benefit from following simple, straightforward steps, such as making cloud dough or slime, and maximizing their creative and critical thinking skills by designing and inventing their own creations with STEM tools designed for open-ended play.
- Elementary (ages 8 to 10): Ready for more advanced challenges like scientific experimentation, robotics coding, and stretching their imaginations by designing and building larger-than-life creations they can be proud of.
- Tweens (ages 11 and up): Want their independence and the freedom to create, build, and problem-solve, enjoying architectural engineering build kits, advanced coding, and more open-ended STEM toys that encourage their creative and critical thinking.
Age aside, kids carry unlimited potential to invent beyond their age or any pre-set expectations (including their own). Chompshop’s co-founder and CTO, Max Liechty, has witnessed this firsthand with his son Milo (co-CTO). “He has been given a means to take the ideas out of his amazing 3-/4-year-old brain and bring them to life.”
How to choose a STEM toy that kids actually use
In a sea of endless options, start by choosing STEM learning toys that match your kiddo’s age and interests. Going this route will make it more likely they’ll not only enjoy the toy, but also use it. Not just one-time, either, but again and again. Opting for open-ended STEM activities over one-and-done STEM toys stands the test of time, inviting kids to play with them more than once.
How much should you spend?
STEM toys can range anywhere from $10 to over $200. Of course, the price tag alone won’t predict if any kiddo will play with a toy once, much less multiple times. You could go for the most expensive STEM option, and they’d never give it the time of day. Then bring home the least expensive STEM kit, and BAM! An instant hit!
Price point aside, when you’re ready to make a purchase, the better question is: Will this STEM toy last? A one-use STEM activity might last a few hours or up to a weekend.
However, an interactive STEM tool like the ChompSaw invites ongoing, open-ended creativity and play for all ages starting at three years old. Toddlers and tweens (and over) will use the ChompSaw in unique and innovative ways, making it a STEM toy that ages with even the youngest inventor, standing the test of time.
The open-ended, screen-free end of STEM: cardboard and a real tool
So many STEM toys are limited-use kits or include screens, a no-go if you’re on a budget and trying to avoid screentime as much as possible. If you’re after a multi-use, screen-free STEM toy that will grow with your child, then an open-ended engineering toy checks every box and then some.
The ChompSaw is an open-ended engineering tool that inspires kids to design and build their own creations out of everyday cardboard and other crafting materials. Its blade-free design and safety mechanisms enable worry-free play, no exposed blades, and no spinning parts. Plus, it’s certified safe for kids ages 3 and up. The ChompSaw has also been independently tested domestically (ASTM F963 and CPSIA) and internationally in Canada, the UK, across the EU, and in Australia.
The ChompSaw debuted on Shark Tank and was later named TIME Best Invention and Creative Toy of the Year. While it costs $249, it is an open-ended STEM toy that grows with your child. Younger builders can choose from several cardboard project patterns. In comparison, older builders will enjoy the Maker Bundle or joining the monthly Inventor’s Club, in addition to thinking up their own designs and bringing them to life!
Shopping for a classroom or a homeschool group full of young creators? Check out the Educator Hub for bulk-buying options as well as lesson plans, and more!
My 4th and 5th graders love the chompsaws! It has definitely increased the amount of creativity and productivity in our classroom, not to mention their motivation and enthusiasm for STEM!
Samantha R.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are STEM toys?
STEM toys are hands-on devices or activities that introduce kids to core concepts in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in fun and unexpected ways. They encourage kids to engage in problem-solving, trial-and-error, spatial reasoning, and more!
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What does STEM stand for?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM toys introduce kids of all ages to key concepts in one or more of these four fields.
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Are STEM toys worth it?
Absolutely, high-quality STEM toys are worth it because they combine learning with fun, interactive activities. Kids can channel their inner scientist or engineer with endless exploration and curiosity, while also developing:
- Critical thinking
- Creative thinking
- Fine motor skills
- Spatial awareness
- Communication skills and interaction with other participants
- Patience
- Resilience
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What is the best age to start STEM toys?
While it depends on your child, most kids are ready for STEM toys starting at two years old, especially once they can play independently or with light supervision.
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What is an example of a STEM toy?
Besides coding robots and chemistry sets, the ChompSaw is a popular STEM toy for children ages three and older! The ChompSaw provides open-ended opportunities for designing and creating with cardboard and other crafting materials. From forts to cardboard suits of armor, and anything else your kids can think up and bring to life!
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What is the difference between STEM and STEAM toys?
STEM and STEAM toys differ in that STEAM toys also include a direct artistic component, such as coloring or painting a design or creation after your child or teen builds/creates it.
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Do STEM toys have to include screens or batteries?
STEM toys don’t have to include screens or batteries at all! In fact, many are screen-free, hands-on tools powered by kids’ imaginations!
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Are STEM toys only for kids who are already good at school?
No way! STEM toys are for all kids at every learning level.
Conclusion
Finding the best, most engaging STEM toys for your kids starts with zeroing in on what interests them the most! Be it coding robots and microscopes or freestyle designing and creating, the best STEM toys encourage open-ended creativity and building again and again. Making them the go-to STEM toys that stand the test of time.
