15 of the Best STEM Gifts for Kids
Louise Beaumont/GettyOne of the pleasant surprises about parenthood is how awesome it can be to find Christmas or Hanukkah gifts for our kids. Figuring out that ideal combination of gifts that are fun, that will delight them, and that will get used and played with can be a little daunting (especially for last-minute shoppers — don't let that happen this year!) but can also be part of the fun of making holiday magic happen. Who doesn't love the moment when a kid opens a gift and totally lights up with joy?
We're here to help make that magic a little easier by rounding up some of the best gifts out there for kids of all ages. We're going to to focus on one of our favorite types of present for this holiday season: gifts that help encourage a love of science, technology, engineering, and math (also known as STEM). Although we love that these options are tools for building STEM skills, don't get it twisted: These are still gifts that are super fun and that kids will be happy to find under the tree. With options for gifts from toddler years to teens, we've got some amazing STEM friendly options that are easy to buy online and sure to make a future scientist, teacher, or engineer happy this year!
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This gift teaches your little one how switches and circuits work and encourages them to think about how things operate. For instance, how does the phone charge or a flashlight work? With this sensory kit, parts light up, sounds are switched on, and a flying fan spins. And kids make it happen!
Lego is probably the quintessential toy for kids (and adults!) who love to build, which is basically an early version of engineering. This Lego Creator set also celebrates the science that goes into space exploration and is a great option for older Lego builders!
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty is a totally charming book about a little girl who is driven by a scientist's curiosity to figure out how things work. This book is perfect for older preschoolers and early elementary grade kids (and parents will enjoy reading it too).
This super fun (and very colorful!) chemistry set features over instructions for 50 experiments that kids 7 and older can do at home. With supplies for 16 experiments, don't be surprised to see the kitchen turned into a lab once the holidays are over!
Other than holiday gifts, there is hardly anything that kids love more than getting mail. Subscription gifts can be really fun, and the Tinker Crate (which is delivered monthly) is filled with STEM-themed activities perfectly designed for kids 9 to 14 years old.
This adorable little red panda offers a wonderful introduction to math for the littlest STEM lovers! This toy, for ages 6 months and older, lights up and has music to help babies and toddlers start to learn their numbers and the basics of counting.
Part of science is learning how nature works, and this light-up terrarium kit is a fun way to see how plants grow. This kit will help kids grow wheatgrass and chia seeds, and it features a rechargeable LED light so it can double as a nightlight! It's ideal for kids 5 and older.
Careers in medicine start with a love of science and playing with dolls can be a fun way of starting to imagine those kinds of careers. This inexpensive accessory set is an easy stocking stuffer for kiddos who love dolls and might want to be a doctor when they grow up!
Use code CAFEMOM20 between November 21 and 25 for 20% off of this game. As kids try to find a missing puppy, they can practice their measuring and math skills. While playing, kiddos learn how to measure, how to understand the compass, how to follow directions, and how to use approximation. Oh yeah — and life skills. Love this one!
This box set is designed to help grow creative and critical thinking skills and to build engineering knowledge for kids 8 and older. With more than 700 pieces, there are tons of ideas and options in this set for kids to explore at their own speed.
Magna-Tiles are such a great building toy for kids 3 and older. They last forever and will get plenty of playing time for years. Along the way, kids will learn about building and construction while seeing all the kinds of builds their imaginations can create! This 110-piece set is perfect as a starter set or an add-on for kids who really love to build.
Put a math spin on family game night by adding (see what we did there?) the game Proof! to the rotation. This game that uses math is simple to learn and is fun for those 9 and older, though some younger kids might be able to join the fun as well.
Who doesn't love a roller coaster? This kit, which features the material and instructions to make different roller coaster designs, is an awesome way to learn about physics, motion, and gravity. This set is designed for kids 6 and older.
How clever and cute is this set of wooden chips? Each of the 30 chips has an idea or prompt for a simple science project that kids 3 to 10 years old can do at home. This is also a wonderful gift option for a kid whose parents are trying to avoid toy clutter or having toys that are loud or battery-operated.
This award-winning set promises to "Unlock brain science with 4 mind-blowing STEM projects — pinball machine, emotion machine (camera for kids), sensory magic trick, and optical illusions games." Science really is a kind of magic, and kids will have so much fun with this engaging set!
How cool is this? The Osmo Creative Starter Kit is one of Target's top toy suggestions this year, and it's an effective way for kids to build both their creative side (the kit is drawing based) and their tech skills as they use their iPads to see their designs come to life! It's perfect for kids 5 to 10 years old.
Robots aren't usually considered cute and cuddly, but this little guy looks awfully sweet. This kit, which is designed for children who are 5 and older, gives little learners a chance to learn about emotions and some basics of setting up circuits.
