These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational

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STEM toys can be a great way to help kids gain a deeper understanding of science and mathematics. But they aren’t just for children: These educational learning tools are also fun for adults who want to keep their minds engaged and can help everyone take a break from screen time.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Sometimes Art is added as well, making the acronym STEAM. These types of toys are great for developing minds because they can build the basic skills kids would need for everything from computer coding to mastering mechanics. Presenting these complex subjects in a simple, fun way could help inspire a lifelong career or passion.

There’s more to STEM than just traditional science kits that feel a lot like school. Everything from drones
to Lego sets to robots and even slime fit the bill! These toys have an educational aspect while still keeping things fun and engaging.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best STEM toys that hit every interest and budget.

Drone

Easy enough for kids to navigate but with enough power for an adult, this is a gateway into a drone obsession. You’ll learn how to operate this hovering device and capture photos with your phone, which can be attached to it.

For ages 13 years and up.

Shape-Shifting Box

Available in 15 different color combinations, this shape-shifting box uses rare earth magnets to create over 70 different designs. The sensory puzzle is a bit like a fidget toy, but it will test your creativity and spatial reasoning as you figure out how to fold the pieces back together.

While it’s good for kids, you could also keep one on your desk to help you chill out during meetings.

For ages 8 years and up.

Technic Lamborghini Sián

While most of us can’t afford to even breathe near a three million dollar Lamborghini Sian, for less than 1% of what the actual vehicle costs, you can get this detailed scale model version. You’ll put together the nearly 4,000-piece set that includes authentic details of the eight-speed sequential transmission, V12 engine with moving pistons, and, of course, the distinctive scissor doors.

For ages 18 years and up.

Dash

We love the bright colors of this rolling robot dubbed Dash. Not only is he super cute, but he also teaches coding. Kids can learn to program Dash to sing, dance, and even respond to voice commands using one of the included apps.

For ages 6 years and up.

Rock Collection Box

This kit from National Geographic is jam-packed with over 200 samples of rocks, minerals, and fossils. There’s also a book and magnifying glass so kids can get to work identifying their new treasures.

Numberblocks Memory Match Game

Using characters from the BBC series Numberblocks, this matching game uses several different representations of numbers so kids can really work on their math and memory.

For ages 3 years and up.

Slime Kit

Making slime may seem like a fun craft, but as kids combine different things like activator and glue to get the right consistency, they’re actually learning chemistry. This kit comes with a lot of fun space-themed add-ons and colors to make their goo really special.

For ages 8 years and up.

12-in-1 Education Solar Robot Toy

While many of the robot builds out there require some small battery to make them go, this one teaches the power of solar energy by using an included panel to harness the sun’s rays. It comes with 190 pieces which can be used to assemble the robot in 12 different ways.

For ages 10 years and up.

Rubik’s Cube

Trying to master a Rubik’s Cube has vexed people for 50 years. Figuring out how to realign the colored squares properly requires a lot of logical thinking, so it’s a great educational tool to occupy kids while traveling since it’s very compact.

For ages 8 years and up.

Space Rover Coding Set

If you want them to learn the basics of coding without needing an app or a screen, this simple set does the trick. It teaches kids to use color-coded cards and matching buttons to make sequences of up to 100 sets for their space rover to explore.

For ages 4 years and up.

Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit Building Set

Lego has not only mastered the art of building but it’s also branched out into creating toys that tackle other STEM fields. This 526-piece set teaches aspiring astronauts how the earth rotates around the sun and how the moon moves in phases, educating them about the solar system.

For ages 10 years and up.

Geosafari Jr. Rocknoculars

Exploring nature is a great way to get kids off screens, and if you send them outside to collect some cool rocks, they’ll learn about their local ecosystem. The binoculars in this set give a 3X zoom, and there’s a compartment where they can stash their collection.

For ages 4 years and up.

Dinosaur Toy Rocket Launcher

Everything is made better with dinosaurs, including the already awesome stomp rockets. Kids will learn about angles and some physics as they press their foot on the launcher and watch the dinos shoot up to 100 feet into the air, depending on how hard they stomp.

For ages 2 years and up.

Oggsmore Keep: A Castle Saga

You might already have some magnetic tiles in your house, but these playsets keep the linked fun going into older ages. This 38-piece kit allows you to construct castles in many different ways, like with a drawbridge and towers, and even comes with coloring pages and characters to add an interactive element.

Wind Power

We love it when toys actually have a function and don’t just take up space, and this one fits that bill. You can build a three-foot working wind turbine that can charge batteries and teach about renewable energy resources.

For ages 8 years and up.

Code Piano

This set comes the educational power of STEM with the art of music. Kids can build a piano, set up the coding elements, and play electronic tunes. It’s suitable for those new to coding, as it has step-by-step directions to get them started.

For ages 8 years and up.

Fort Building Kit

Building a fort can give kids a leg up in construction, and this kit is made for easy engineering with pieces that simply twist together into whatever shape you come up with. Add your own blankets for a secret hideout.

For ages 4 years and up.

Mega Cyborg Hand

Even an adult would have a good time assembling this oversized robotic hand. Once it’s completed, you can use it to pick up balls and other objects. Along the way, you’ll learn how to put together hydraulic and pneumatic systems that are all powered without any batteries.

For ages 7 years and up.

Bill Nye's VR Science Kit

This science kit uses VR to bring experiments to life. Download the app and put your phone in the specially designed goggles, and you’ll be in instant VR, without an expensive headset. It’s your old chemistry set brought into the modern age.

For ages 8 years and up.

mBot Robot Kit

If lengthy projects aren’t a fit for your kid, this robot can be assembled by most in about 15 minutes. Once mBot is built, they can code using Makeblock apps and software to get the robot to move and perform tasks.

For ages 8 years and up.

Color Cube in Acrylic

Appealing to both the artistic and scientific parts of your brain, this deceptively simple cube is an optical illusion that will give you a visual representation of how the color spectrum works. Colors blend and seem to disappear as you twist it, making it a great toy to put on your desk to use when you need a distraction at work.

For ages 5 years and up.

UNO R3 Smart Robot Car Kit

If they’ve got some coding and building experience already under their belt, this electronic car assembly will push their skills even further. Kids will be able to operate the finished smart robot with a phone. It’s got a built-in camera for object detection to keep them from bumping into obstacles.

For ages 12 years and up.

Coding Express

Yes, your toddler can learn to code. Designed for kids ages 2-5, this train of DUPLO blocks works with an interactive app that you can use to program the set to drive, activate lights, and make sounds. It comes with six inspiration cards of different configurations to get them started.

For ages 2 years and up.

Domino Maze

This domino maze makes a game out of assembling by using logic and problem-solving to build multi-level chain reactions. It comes with 60 different challenge cards to put your mind to the test.

For ages 8 years and up.

Natural History Museum

This Lego set for adults involves all the elements of the Natural History Museum that you love, including dinosaur bones and even exhibit posters. At over 4,000 pieces, the modular set opens up so you can see all the intricate details.

For ages 18 years and up.

Magnetic Marble Run

Turn any magnetic surface (like your fridge or dishwasher) into a constantly evolving maze. This system comes equipped with pieces that will spin or flip your marbles and a motorized marble lift so you can test gravity and more. Let the whole family compete to see who can make the most interesting or complex path.

For ages 10 years and up.

Inspiring Careers Puzzle

Puzzles are great for teaching some problem-solving skills, and we love that this one features women in a wide variety of STEM careers. The pieces are laminated and “saliva-proof” in case smaller kiddos get a hold of them.

For ages 5 years and up.

V8 Combustion Engine Model Kit

If you’ve ever wondered how that engine in your car works or you want to give your future mechanic a jumpstart on their trade, this 270-piece set will allow you to build a working model. You’ll need three AAA batteries to give it some power and make all the gears spin. It even makes a satisfying engine noise.

For ages 12 years and up.

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