These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (2024)

Table of Contents
For Getting the Money Shot For Mind-Bending Enjoyment For Car Lovers For an Unconventional Robot For Earth Science Fun For Oversized Fun For Space Buffs For Learning Math Skills For Making Your Own Slime For Future Astronauts Holy Stone Drone Holy Stone Drone Shashibo Shape-Shifting Box Shashibo Shape-Shifting Box Lego Technic Lamborghini Sián Lego Technic Lamborghini Sián Wonder Workshop Dash Wonder Workshop Dash National Geographic Rock Collection Box National Geographic Rock Collection Box Power Your Fun Fort Building Kit Power Your Fun Fort Building Kit Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit Building Set Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit Building Set hand2mind Numberblocks Memory Match Game hand2mind Numberblocks Memory Match Game FUN KIDZ Slime Kit FUN KIDZ Slime Kit Learning Resources Space Rover Coding Set Learning Resources Space Rover Coding Set Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand Thames & Kosmos Wind Power Thames & Kosmos Wind Power Playz V8 Combustion Engine Model Kit Playz V8 Combustion Engine Model Kit Let’s Start Coding Code Piano Let’s Start Coding Code Piano Qyugo Color Cube in Acrylic Qyugo Color Cube in Acrylic Sillbird 12-in-1 Education Solar Robot Toy Sillbird 12-in-1 Education Solar Robot Toy Motoworx Dinosaur Toy Rocket Launcher Motoworx Dinosaur Toy Rocket Launcher SQUAREGLES Oggsmore Keep: A Castle Saga SQUAREGLES Oggsmore Keep: A Castle Saga Abacus Brands Bill Nye's VR Science Kit Abacus Brands Bill Nye's VR Science Kit ELEGOO UNO R3 Smart Robot Car Kit ELEGOO UNO R3 Smart Robot Car Kit References
These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (1)

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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.

1

For Getting the Money Shot

Holy Stone Drone

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (12)

1

For Getting the Money Shot

Holy Stone 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.

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.

3

For Car Lovers

Lego Technic Lamborghini Sián

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3

For Car Lovers

Lego Technic Lamborghini Sián

Now 16% Off

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.

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4

For an Unconventional Robot

Wonder Workshop Dash

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4

For an Unconventional Robot

Wonder Workshop 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.

5

For Earth Science Fun

National Geographic Rock Collection Box

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (16)

5

For Earth Science Fun

National Geographic Rock Collection Box

Now 10% Off

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.

6

For Oversized Fun

Power Your Fun Fort Building Kit

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (17)

6

For Oversized Fun

Power Your Fun Fort Building Kit

Now 45% Off

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.

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7

For Space Buffs

Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit Building Set

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (18)

7

For Space Buffs

Lego 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.

8

For Learning Math Skills

hand2mind Numberblocks Memory Match Game

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (19)

8

For Learning Math Skills

hand2mind 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.

9

For Making Your Own Slime

FUN KIDZ Slime Kit

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (20)

9

For Making Your Own Slime

FUN KIDZ 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.

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10

For Future Astronauts

Learning Resources Space Rover Coding Set

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (21)

10

For Future Astronauts

Learning Resources Space Rover Coding Set

Now 10% Off

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.

11

For DIY Robotics

Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (22)

11

For DIY Robotics

Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand

Now 40% Off

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.

12

For Energy Education

Thames & Kosmos Wind Power

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12

For Energy Education

Thames & Kosmos 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.

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13

For the Automotive-Obsessed

Playz V8 Combustion Engine Model Kit

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (24)

13

For the Automotive-Obsessed

Playz 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.

14

For Music Lovers

Let’s Start Coding Code Piano

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14

For Music Lovers

Let’s Start Coding 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.

15

For Learning Color Theory

Qyugo Color Cube in Acrylic

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15

For Learning Color Theory

Qyugo 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.

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16

For Solar Learning

Sillbird 12-in-1 Education Solar Robot Toy

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16

For Solar Learning

Sillbird 12-in-1 Education Solar Robot Toy

Now 38% Off

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.

17

For Dinosaur Lovers

Motoworx Dinosaur Toy Rocket Launcher

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (28)

17

For Dinosaur Lovers

Motoworx 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.

18

For Next-Level Magnetic Tiles

SQUAREGLES Oggsmore Keep: A Castle Saga

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (29)

18

For Next-Level Magnetic Tiles

SQUAREGLES Oggsmore Keep: A Castle Saga

Now 17% Off

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.

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19

For VR on a Budget

Abacus Brands Bill Nye's VR Science Kit

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (30)

19

For VR on a Budget

Abacus Brands 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.

20

For Intermediate Coding

ELEGOO UNO R3 Smart Robot Car Kit

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (31)

20

For Intermediate Coding

ELEGOO UNO R3 Smart Robot Car Kit

Now 38% Off

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.

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Angel Madison

Commerce Editor

Angel Madison is a commerce editor for Hearst, covering LEGOs, trending products, toys, plus-size fashion, wellness, home, tech and more. Previously she covered entertainment, pop culture, and parenting for a variety of publications. When she's not at her desk you can find her hanging with her daughter and cat, finding offbeat roadside attractions, or doing crafts.

These STEM Toys Are So Cool, You’ll Forget They're Educational (2024)

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