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- STEM toys are not only enjoyable to play with, but can teach skills that will help kids excel in careers later in life.
- Many STEM toys lead to development of more than one ability, honing skills in mathematics, logic, problem solving, and more.
- The $4 is our top pick because it helps a child develop everything from fine motor skills to a familiarity with coding and robotics.
This is going to sound a bit crazy, I know, but my son has every single toy on this list. The crazy thing is he's not spoiled - he's just enamored with robotics, coding, building, and generally making things. Already at age five, he has decided he wants to be an electrical engineer when he grows up, and it won't surprise me one bit if he stays on that course. I have no idea where his prowess for computing and engineering comes from, by the way, but it certainly wasn't me.
Considering STEM toys help kids develop the skills they will need to excel in the jobs of the future, I'm all for letting children play with programmable robots, DIY computers, electrical motors and circuit sets, and any other hardware that fosters such abilities. There's just one caveat I always assign: The toy also has to be genuinely fun. The ones I included here? They are. And I should know, because we've had some duds, too.
The secret to getting the right STEM toy (that's the acronym for Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering) is to choose one with an angle your child already enjoys. Got a daughter who loves building things, say out of intricate, colorful little plastic blocks? Then a $4 is perfect. Got a son who is car crazy? Then a kit that lets him build little working vehicles will be a hit.
Because don't get me wrong, many of the toys on this list present genuine challenges that require dedicated effort, critical thinking, and the investment of time to overcome. If you choose the wrong toy, you risk driving your child away from STEM activities rather than helping him or her to develop an affinity.
And of course, make sure you get a toy that is age appropriate for your kid. If a given activity presents too great a challenge, it will have the same adverse effect as a toy that's simply not well enjoyed. For the record, though, it's on you to figure out what's appropriate for your kid's abilities, don't rely on the age rating on the box - I've found that many kids can handle STEM toys marketed to children two or even three years older.
Here are the best STEM toys you can buy:
- Best STEM toy overall: $4
- Best STEM toy for younger kids: $4
- Best STEM toy for robotics: $4
- Best STEM toy for basic programming skills: $4
- Best screen-free STEM toy: $4
- Best STEM toy for advanced computing skills: $4
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the $4 team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.