This article was written by Dr. Aimee Ketchum, OTD, OTR/L, a pediatric occupational therapist in the NICU at UPMC hospital, the owner/operator of STEM Starts Now early child development program and professor of early child development at Cedar Crest College in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program.
Best STEM toys and games for different age groups
An abundance of research tells us that learning begins at birth. This means that early science, technology, engineering and math skills emerge as soon as babies lift their heads and look around to take in new information. Parents and caregivers can encourage STEM learning at home simply by encouraging this early sense of curiosity and wonder through games, toys and activities.
Play requires some educational effort and engagement from the parent or caregiver. Children’s vocabulary grows and their language becomes more complex if they are exposed to rich language. This kind of supplemental education can accompany play and activities around the house. Games are a great mediator in this regard. And as children get older, they can play STEM games that require higher-level skill-sets.
It is important to remember that simply talking to young children helps to build their vocabulary, so when you use words like greater, less, taller, shorter, top and bottom, children learn comparative concepts that will help them with academic skills later on. All elementary school curriculums include STEM concepts in math and science class, but most schools now offer a full class called STEM, where students have the opportunity to focus on scientific methods, discovery, innovation, collaboration and creation. Games, toys and activities that build these skills early on are great for providing a firm foundation for learning later on.
Best toys for childhood STEM learning
The best STEM toys are not always the toys that light up, talk, have screens, computers and robots. Early STEM toys should actually be quite simple. Simple tools that serve a purpose often require some engineering to use. Toys that foster creative innovation, collaboration and critical thinking are also great for young children to develop early STEM skills.
Best STEM Toys for Newborns
Kuango Tummy Time Mirror: available at Amazon
Our take: This baby-safe mirror encourages tummy time and visual development, two essential skills for exploration.
What we like: Babies love to look at their own faces in a mirror more than anything else. It is dynamic and interesting. Babies can also best see black and white colors in the first several weeks, so the black and white designs on the back of the mirror are perfect for developing eyes. The colored fabric encourages touch for older babies and the whole thing opens up and can hang on the back of the car seat.
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What we dislike: This comes with an attached teether which is not really necessary at this early age.
Best STEM Toys for Babies
Niskite Inflatable Tummy Time Water Play Mat: available at Amazon
Our take: This inflatable water mat is great for babies between 3-12 months when they are able to hold their heads up, push their upper body up and even rock on their hands and knees. The mat is interesting and interactive as objects move around in the water to captivate babies’ interest and allow them to learn basic cause and effect.
What we like: The mat is simple and easy to inflate. Babies like the squishy feel on their hands and can move the objects in the mat to make the fish look like they are swimming around. This also encourages tummy time which helps to strengthen babies’ core muscles so they can crawl around and explore their world.
What we dislike: Babies need to be closely supervised while using this mat in case the mat should leak.
Best STEM Toy for Toddlers
Play-Doh Fun Tub Playset: available at Amazon
Our take: Play-Doh is a great sensory toy for young children to allow them to encourage creative innovation, an important component of STEM learning.
What we like: This set comes with tools, which require some engineering skills for young children to utilize to complete a task. Children can experiment with different colors and tools and molds to create whatever their imaginations conjure up.
What we dislike: We would like to see even more tools. This kit can be supplemented with additional sculpting tools such as toothpicks, plastic knives and forks.
Best STEM Toy for Pre-schoolers
LEGO Classic: available at Amazon
Our take: LEGO bricks and other simple construction toys are great early STEM toys because they encourage creative innovation, fine-motor skills, spatial skills, manipulation of objects and following directions. There is no right or wrong. LEGO bricks are open-ended, which makes them a great toy for learning new concepts.
What we like: This set is for younger children as many of the bricks are slightly larger. Special pieces such as windows and propellers encourage imaginative building and engineering.
What we dislike: LEGO bricks are a choking hazard for babies.
Best STEM Toy for Grades K-2
Insect Lore Butterfly Garden: available at Amazon
Our take: This comes with a pop-up habitat, five baby caterpillars, chrysalis holding log, butterfly feeder and STEM butterfly journal.
What we like: We love that this comes with a journal. Tracking findings is an important part of the scientific method.
What we dislike: It is important to prepare children in advance that not all of the caterpillars will make it into butterflies. This is part of nature, but children need to understand this so they are not disappointed.
Best STEM Toy for Grades 3-4
Kinetic Sand Dino Dig Playset: available at Amazon
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Our take: This kinetic sand set comes with 10 hidden dinosaur bones for children to discover. The kinetic sand offers a great tactile sensory experience while the hidden bones foster exploration and discovery while learning about dinosaur bones.
What we like: Everything is included in this playset and once the bones are extracted from the sand, children can use spatial skills, direction-following, fine-motor and problem-solving skills to build Triceratops, Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus-rex skeletons.
What we dislike: Dinosaur bones are very small and may be difficult for younger children to assemble.
Dr. Aimee Ketchum is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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