20 STEAM Toys That Will Educate and Entertain Kids

Erica Loop

Erica Loop is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh. When she's not busy creating kids' activities for her blog Mini Monets and Mommies, you can find her trying to hang out with her teenage son, being chased by her two Olde Boston Bulldogs or teaching a children's karate class (she's a third degree black belt!).

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Nov 23, 2018

20 STEAM Toys That Will Educate and Entertain Kids

It’s full STEAM ahead this holiday season! As in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Your oh-so-curious kiddo is all about puzzling out solutions to problems and making mega discoveries. Set their fierce sense of exploration free with these STEAM-friendly holiday gifts that will educate and entertain.

Maze-O 52 Piece STEM Starter Set

Ah, open-ended play! Forget about those toys that teach by forcing your would-be creative kid into building “something” specific. Maze-O is a maze that your child creates. They’ll get plenty of math and engineering action with this a-maze-ingly awesome gift.

Kano Harry Potter Coding Kit

The Wizarding world awaits! Your older little learner can build their own wand that almost magically responds to movements, and your tech-loving child can learn to code by waving the wand as part of a tablet-based program.

Learning Resources Primary Science Deluxe Lab Set

Whether your mini mad scientist is engaged in pretend play lab or is experimenting for real, this set is all about imagination, discovery, and learning through hands-on experiences.

Fisher Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar

It’s a caterpillar that teaches little ones how to code — at least the basics. Your kiddo can “program” the STEAM insect, learn about patterns/sequence, and problem-solve to their heart’s content.

Uncle Goose Periodic Table Blocks

Get an early STEAM start with these periodic table toys. These are the building blocks of life, after all. And your kiddo can play with the “building blocks” as actual building blocks. What better way to learn?

Melissa & Doug Wooden Building Blocks Set

Help little ones build and learn early math concepts with this set of 100 brightly covered blocks.

Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Kit

Prepare to get your minds blown. This 20-piece kit comes with safe chemicals and supplies to try science experiments right at home. Think about creating a sunset in a test tube or making a color-changing volcano.

Magna-Tiles 100-Piece Set

Art meets math meets engineering meets science. This fab full-STEAM ahead toy is open-ended, easy on the eyes, and so much fun.

Fire HD 10 Kids Edition Tablet

If you’re going for that big-ticket kids’ holiday present, this is IT. This isn’t a watered-down version of the real deal; it’s a fully functioning tablet! Get one year of FreeTime Unlimited (access to more than 15,000 apps, videos, books, and games) and so much more with this popular pick.

Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Bugnoculars

The natural world is the perfect place for your kiddo to explore and experience everything they can. When the spring sun starts shining, your junior scientist can venture out and hunt for bugs (to observe only) with these “bugnoculars.”

Creativity for Kids Grow ‘n Glow Terrarium

This kit includes a plastic mason-style jar and everything you need to grow your own living terrarium: potting mix, organic chia and wheatgrass seeds, decorative sand, figurines, river stones, and a mixer. It also comes with glow-in-the-dark stickers to make the terrarium light up at night.

Klutz LEGO Chain Reactions Craft Kit

Encourage a budding engineer to build machines that can be combined to create fun chain reactions that spin, drop, pivot, roll, and more. The kit includes an 80-page instructional booklet and 33 LEGO pieces.

Primo Toys Cubetto Playset Coding Toy

This coding toy, for kids ages three and up, brings the techie world into real life. Instead of a screen, your child will use the wooden robot to learn coding basics. Hands-on learning mixes with tech-time in the best way possible with this toy.