These Toys Are the Best Way to Introduce Kids as Young as Age 2 to STEM (2024)

Kids will have to flex their building, spatial reasoning and critical thinking muscles to solve the 60 challenges that come with this now classic marble run, which gets more than 25,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Or, they can just free play and build cool tracks for the three included marbles. Ages 8+

This toy award winner for the toddler set introduces the basics of math and engineering, namely shape and size. Can your tot recognize that the star-shaped hole is perfect for the star-shaped piece, and line it up to drop it in? Our experts love that the soft, flexible pieces double as fidget toys for antsy tots looking to explore shapes and colors in every way. Ages 18 months+

Tweens get hands-on experience with electricity and circuitry using this kit, which lets them build machines without a soldering iron (the pieces just snap together). This kit includes directions for more than 100 projects, including a a photo sensor and an adjustable-volume siren, but Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved the UFO project the most by far. Ages 8+

Kids will have so much fun controlling their new friend’s movements with easy-to-press buttons that they’ll have no idea they’re practicing colors, letters and early math. There's even a "secret code" mode for older kids. The coding is very basic, but that's part of what we love about it. Ages 3 to 6

Our kid testers were amazed to see their drawings turn into app-enabled video games. Kids draw out levels using colored markers to stand in for goals (like coins), obstacles and hazards. Then they scan the design into a tablet and play! Guides walk them through the elements of a great game. We like this for kids ages 10 and up who are persistent; younger kids might get frustrated by the inevitable need to troubleshoot when a game element doesn't work and needs to be tweaked. Ages 10+

No phone or tablet is required to practice coding with Botley! In our testing, kids took to this coding robot immediately, without even realizing they were learning to code. Kids can program Botley to do a sequence of up to 80 steps to complete coding challenges, having him follow paths and avoid or reach obstacles. Ages 5+

The "M" in STEM often gets overlooked, but this activity kit brings math into the spotlight, and will delight any fan of Netflix's Numberblocks. Kids can use the linking counting cubes to recreate their favorite characters, and wipe-clean cards give them ideas for math-based puzzles and activities. Parent testers were amazed by how much math their kids absorbed while using this toy. If your kid is a fan of the series, we also recently gave a toy award to this Number Five Plush. Ages 3+

A set that's half-art, half-science, the Paper Butterfly Kit uses the power of capillary action to make 12 wicking-paper butterflies. Kids can also combine colors to make different designs. There's a separate kit that works the same with paper flowers. It's a great rainy day activity and also priced to be a nice birthday gift. Ages 7+

This toy features building with a side of physics, as once kids set up gears both horizontally and vertically they can use one of the cranks to set them all spinning. It's compatible with other sets from the same line, and all the pieces fit back in the bucket for easy storage. Ages 3+

Young scientists don VR goggles for experiments in virtual and augmented reality. Each kit comes with step-by-step videos — starring STEM legend Bill Nye — along with IRL lab equipment such as beakers and brushes. It's the perfect mix of high-tech and hands-on. Ages 8 to 13

This game transforms kids into roller coaster engineers. Players design a 3D adventure ride with real loops and drops based on the challenge card they draw. Then, they send the car speeding down and hope for success. It comes with 40 challenge cards ranging from beginner to expert, and while it's meant to be a single player game, it can also be fun to work in teams to solve the challenges. Ages 6+

The Technic line, from LEGO, is full of models with movement, appropriate for tweens and teens interested in mechanics. Your kid builds this set out of more than 1000 pieces, then sends the rover rolling. It's even better when used with the LEGO AR app (iOS, Android) which teaches more about the NASA mission to Mars. 10+

Kids are very into the cool designs on these paperboard panels, which connect with plastic links. The building takes a bit of time and requires some patience and perseverance but our tester kids were motivated to build the ship for the Pinxies figures, and to add in the stickers and accessories. This is a 160-piece set and the finished project is nearly 2 feet long and 18 inches high. Ages 6 to 10

Kids learn animal names, sounds and fun facts through this book, which talks and plays songs in both English and Spanish. In our testing, parents appreciated the wildlife photos — and the break the electronic book gave them from having to make animal noises themselves! Seems like many others agree that it's a good purchase; there are more than 73,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Ages 2+

Budding engineers use magnetic pieces to build a one-of-a-kind exploring vehicle with this set, mastering engineering concepts as they learn the construction of each moving vehicle. It comes with how-tos for four designs, but kids in our testing preferred dreaming up their own creations. Ages 5+

Kids as young as 4 can learn screen-free coding and get the critter to do things like fetch or play hide-and-seek. There's also an interactive mode where kids can just play and take care of their pets without coding. This comes in many animal shapes, including a dog, rabbit, cat and dinosaur — and, more recently, a dragon and a unicorn. Ages 4+