Toys are supposed to be fun. However, a lot of people in the world don’t look at Science, Technology, Engineering and Math as the most enjoyable things in life. Think about back when you were a kid though, and how things could be different if some of the top STEM toys out right now were available then. Maybe those school subjects would have turned out just fine.It is important for kids to have fun, and the STEM toys below aim to educate and excite. Here are my picks for the best, most affordable STEM toys for the 2 to 4, 5 to 7, 8 to 13 and 14 and up age groups.PicassoTiles 100 Piece SetPrice: $49.99Age: 2 to 7 years oldThe Picasso Tiles are my favorite, go-to gift for anyone I know with a kid who is in the 2 to 4 year old range (or even younger since I know they’ll use it eventually). The concept is simple, as it should be at this age. There are 100 pieces for the child to use, and the set of magnet building tiles come in a number of colors and shapes.Creativity is huge with this set, as there really are no set instructions. Sure, a person can look at inspiration online to try to replicate something, but I always feel like children can really just let their imagination run wild with five different tile dimensions. Even though this is a gift for younger children, a child in the 5 to 7 range might also find quite a bit of enjoyment out of this set. It is simple, and in my opinion, an essential toy for any home with young kids.Fisher-Price Think & Learn Smart CyclePrice: $79.29Age: 2 to 6 years oldThink of this as a STEM and fitness toy if you will. Two common complains when it comes to the youth is that they don’t get enough exercise and they don’t learn anything useful. This takes care of both in a unique, fun way perfect for night time or those bad weather days.There are a number of games that are compatible with the cycle, By about age 5 or 6, kids will usually become either too tall or too heavy to Osmo Genius Kit (iPad or Fire Tablet Needed)Price: $89.99-$99.99Age: 5 to 12 years oldFfffLEGO Birds Model KitPrice: $65.80Age: 12 and upHhhhSnap Circuits Extreme SC-750 Electronics Exploration KitPrice: $87.99Age: 8 to 15 years oldHhhhWowWee MiP the Toy RobotPrice: $49.95-$52.90Age: 8 to 15 years oldMy First Lab Duo-Scope MicroscopePrice: $69.99Age: 9-18 years old
Born and raised in Chicago. Former high school teacher who became sick of getting summers off so I took on a 12-month a year job.
