I’m just going to come right out and tell you what not to get. I’ve been doing some STEM activities with the boys and a few of the products I picked up were incredibly disappointing. But I’m also going to share the ones that I recommend over and over again since they hold up over time and teach fundamentals of math and science.

3 STEM Toys I would not Waste Money On

DO NOT GET: Discovery Kids Extreme Weather by Horizon Group USA – This set comes with a volcano, but I’ve got other suggestions that come with a volcano and so much more for the same price. Not recommended.
DO NOT GET: Discovery Crystal Aquarium by Horizon Group USA – the photos and box make you think it’s a large kit. It’s not. It’s quite small. The only way for a young child to participate is to break up the rocks with a hammer. The chemical in the water is pretty toxic but it can easily spill out from the top of the small tank. The growth of the crystals is not that impressive and it looks terrible when it dries. Not recommended.
DO NOT GET: Discovery Propulsion Rocket by Horizon Group USA – We bought a shorter rocket – very similar. The rocket is fun to decorate but the launching mechanism does not work. When you put it on the launching pad there is a loud pop and the rocket might go one or two feet but it basically pops off and topples over. Not recommended.

Phew. Now that that’s out of the way, here are the STEM Toys I LOVE! My Kids LOVE and we keep going back to time and again. Some of these have been so beneficial that when they reached the end of their useful life, I bought them AGAIN.

If you would like to introduce your children to some amazing STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math) these are some fabulous tools for introducing them to science – things like observation, natural laws, and deductive reasoning. It’s also great for math, technology and engineering – basic concepts.

This list includes STEM tools to foster learning with gravity mazes, 3D puzzles, robots, science kits to teach molecular growth, gyros, the solar system, magnets, robots, geometry and more.

My Favorite STEM Tools for Kids

We have this Snap Circuits toy in a non-sound version and my five-year-old loves it. At age five, he needs guidance when using this project builder, so it’s great option for older kids too. We have our hearts set on expanding our Snap Circuits collection this year. My seven year old invented his own sound machine using the circuits and this toy. I am thrilled at his excitement over science!

Snap Circuits Sound – Project Builder:

Range Starts: I’ve seen it as low as $58.08 (normally $84.99) – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

Keyboard with optical Theremin
Voice changer; Record voice or music and play it back at different speeds
Sound energy demonstration and Color changing light
Creates Echo effects
Connect to your smart phone and analyze sounds with apps
Explore both sound and electronics with this innovative kit
Projects include, an Optical Theremin, Echo effects, Voice changer – Record voice or music

Another cool option for STEM development. With all the great features of Snap Circuits STEM toys, but this one glows in the dark!

Snap Circuits Lights Electronics Discovery Kit

Range Starts: I’ve seen it as low as $54.24 (normally $79.99) – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

Be amazed at what your music can do with the new Snap Circuits Lights
Color organ controlled by iPod or other MP3 player, voice or finger
Enjoy your music as the lights change to the beat
Plus many more Snap Circuits projects
Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
Another fun, educational product from the company that brings you Snap Circuits

This STEM toy is similar to Snap Circuits but may be better for smaller hands. All activities working with electrical currents (even at “battery-powered” levels) should be supervised.

Electricity and Magnetism

Range Starts: I’ve seen it as low as$40.99 (normally $59.95) – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

Conduct more than 60 electrifying experiments with circuits and magnets to learn about electricity and magnetism. Build series and parallel circuits to light up a light bulb. Experiment with push buttons and on-off switches. The blocks are brightly colored, unique shaped, and easy to build with.

This construction set is wonderful for spatial development. It literally shows kids how the shapes fit together to create three dimensional forms using magnets. Perfect for brain development in the area of spatial awareness and early math skills. This 62 piece set is a middle-of the road set. You can purchase Magformers in larger 112 Piece Magformers “Challenger” Set or a 144 Piece Magformers “Smart” Set.

Magformers Intelligent Magnetic Construction Set for Brain Development, 62 Piece

I’ve seen it as low as: $69.99 (normally $99.99) – – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

This set is so addicting you will forget you are doing math! Learn about patterns, addition & subtraction, shape recognition, division and 2D nets to 3D structures.

ABS plastic magnets conform to CE, ASTM and EN71
You can create a variety of models with the pentagon added.
62 pieces total: 20 triangles, 30 squares and 12 pentagons.
Instant connection! Instant fun!

Scientific Explorer Ultimate Science Blast

I’ve seen it as low as: $23.99 – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

With four fun experiments this is an unbelievable value for the price. It includes a volcano and it includes experiments to create bouncy balls and wiggly bugs. My boys played for hours with the wiggly balls and squirmy creations. Highly recommend. I WOULD buy this twice – I like it that much!

Concoct a lava flow with Volcano Blast! Volcano Blast: 2 Dinosaurs (2 in.), volcano (4.5 in.), 1 spoon, 2 activator powders (1.4 oz. citric acid, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), 1 pipette and easy instructions for each set.
Mix, mold and jiggle Gelly Wiggle Bugs! Gelly Wiggle Bugs: 2 bug molds, 1 stir stick, beaker, 3 jiggly gel powder (0.53 oz. gelatin), laminated paper and easy instructions.
Just add crystal liquid to create Dazzle Dino Crystals! Dazzle Dino Crystals: 1 paper dinosaur, 2 paper trees, crystal liquid (0.7 oz. water, monopotassium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate).
Layer, soak and bounce Ball Blast Bouncers! The kits include Ball Blast Bouncers: 3 ball molds, 9 packets of ball powder (0.4 oz. polyvinyl alcohol, glycerin, butylated hydroxytoluene) and easy instructions.

4M 3-Dimensional Glow-In-The-Dark Solar System Mobile Making Kit

Range Starts: $16.99 (normally $19.99) – – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

Create a glow-in-the-dark mobile of the solar system measuring 29.5-inches across.
The kit includes a full set of snap-together planets, hanging frame and string, two strips of paint, two glow paints and a paint brush.
Full assembly and painting instructions are included, as well as a poster with fun solar system fact.
The mobile is suitable for hanging in a bedroom, or used as a static display.
Recommended for ages 8 years and up.
Challenge your child’s imagination with 4M toys and kits.
4M educational toys cover a wide range of educational subjects and include science kits, arts and crafts kits, robotics kits, and more.
4M offers a wide range of toys and kits to let you build a clock, crochet a placemat, or turn your room into a planetarium–all in the name of making learning fun.

Understanding the properties of gravity is the key to many science experiments. Teach kids about gravity with this amazing STEM tool. It also shows children how to create a puzzle in three dimensions as the pieces fit together to form a maze. *Contains small parts – I would not recommend this for children age 3 or under.

STEM: Gravity Maze

Range Starts: $24.99 (normally $29.99) – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

Falling Marble Logic Game
A marble run and logic puzzle all in one
60 challenges ranging from beginner to expert
Builds spacial reasoning and planning skills
Includes 1 game grid, 60 challenge cards, 9 towers, 1 target piece, 3 marbles

Tech children about the science of molecular growth.

Crystal Growing Kit

Range Starts: $33.93 (normally $39.95) – – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

Learn about the structure and geometry of crystals
Grow dozens of dazzling crystals
Mold fun plaster shapes and use dyes to grow a rainbow of custom colors
Over 1 million kits sold world-wide
New 2012 Item – includes 32-page full-color manual

Have a robot lover in your home? We do. This fun STEM tool teaches kids about motion and robot assembly. More specifically, the science of gyroscopes.

Thames and Kosmos Gyrobot-Gyroscopic Robot Kit

Range Starts: $37.34 (normally $49.95) – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

Learn all about “Gyroscopes”
Build seven models
A full-color, 24-page, illustrated experiment manual provides step-by-step assembly instructions and scientific explanations

The coolest STEM Tool ever – your personal robot. This is on our “wish” list. A robot you can assemble and program. For budding engineers – this STEM tool is a dream come true!

Meccano Meccanoid G15 Robot

Range Starts: $129.99 (normally $179.99) – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

The Meccano Meccanoid G15 Robot comes with over one thousand phrases and voice recognition to make your personal robot more like your best friend!
Download the free app from Google Play or AppStore. Works with iOS and Android.
Build, program and play with this fully-operational, 2-foot-tall android, powered by 6 motors for realistic movement.
The Meccano Meccanoid G15 TM Personal Robot is for ages 10 and up. Batteries not included.
Includes: 621 Parts, 1 Meccabrain, 1 LED Module, 2 Hand Tools, 4 Servos, 2 Rear Wheel Assembly, 2 Motor Gearbox Assembly, Instruction Sheet

It looks simple – but some of the bast tools and toys are. With easy snap-together parts, teach children how to assemble their own maze. Creating a puzzle from nothing takes imaginative thinking and problem solving skills.

Learning Resources Create-a-Maze

Range Starts: $18.32 (normally $39.99) – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price

Includes maze board and base, 17 maze pieces, 4 balls (2 red, 2 blue), and 10 Activity Cards
Endless combinations of designs provide multiple levels of play
Board measures 10″L x 2″H

4M Kidz Labs Kitchen Science

Range Starts: $15.25 (seen as high as $19.99) – add this to your cart now and check it early on the morning of Black Friday for the BEST price. My favorite experiment is the lemon that conducts electricity. I like this pack so much – I have bought it twice.

Six exciting experiments that use common household ingredients
Generate electricity using a lemon, launch a rocket with vinegar, write secret missions and more
Convert your average kitchen into a science lab

STEM on Amazon

Want to check out the entire list of STEM toys on Amazon? Click this link: STEM on Amazon or the image below.

My Favorite STEM Christmas Gifts for Kids

I hope this list of My Favorite STEM Gift Ideas for Kids has been inspirational. With the growth in jobs for engineers and scientists – I think STEM is a great area of opportunity for kids!

All links are my affiliate links through Amazon. Ordering through these links is at no additional cost to the purchaser, but provides crucial support to HappyandBlessedHom.com to help cover web hosting, clip art purchases, web design and maintenance — and other costs associated with serving a blog.

Have a favorite STEM tool or toy?

As the mom of two little investors and scientists, I’m always looking for new ideas. Have a favorite STEM tool or toy? Please leave a comment below and join the conversation. I love hearing from my readers!

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