Need help choosing a gift for kids this Christmas? Here’s a foolproof solution: STEM toys!
If you want your child’s playtime to contribute to his learning and confidence, there’s no better option than STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) toys.
STEM gifts can help kids get ahead in developing critical-thinking skills and problem-solving abilities that will stick with them for life — plus they’re super fun!
We’ve reviewed and ranked the best STEM Christmas gifts this year to help you with the search. Our picks were chosen based on a variety of important factors, including their educational value, playability, and age appropriateness.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost for you, we might get a commission if you click the link and purchase.
What are the Best STEM Christmas Gifts for Children?
Here are some of our favorite ideas for STEM-themed Christmas presents for kids…
1. KiwiCo STEM Crates
KiwiCo makes STEM learning fun and exciting for kids, while taking the prep and planning off your plate. With themed crates that arrive at your doorstep every month, three months, or six months.
Price
Subscriptions starting at $18.50/mo. One-off purchase options also available.
Recommended Age
All ages
Start your kid’s STEM journey by gifting Kiwico’s awesome monthly boxes!
The crates come jam-packed with fun projects and activities that spark learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Each crate also includes easy-to-follow instructions and all the materials needed to complete a project.
There are kits for everything from building rocketships to airplanes to solar systems and more.
KiwiCo has a wide range of kits to choose from based on your child’s age and interests.
These crates are designed to support independent learning and exploration, with an emphasis on creative thinking and problem-solving.
KiwiCo offers a range of subscription options, including monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual plans.
Click here to get started today!
2. Snap Circuits Jr. Electronics Exploration Kit
Price
$36.95
Recommended Age
8+
Know a kid who has a particular fondness for engineering? Help him expand his interests by giving him this Snap Circuits Jr. Kit!
This kit will introduce all the concepts of engineering, maths, and circuits to your child in a fun, entertaining way. It includes over 100 electronic projects which boost a child’s engineering capabilities.
It also requires no tools or expertise, so you can leave your child unattended and watch him emerge as an aspiring engineer! All of the projects and pieces intend to make your child go through a rigorous STEM learning process.
3. ThinkFun Gravity Maze
Price
$28.99
Recommended Age
8+
Logic games have a knack for keeping children engaged for hours, which is exactly why we recommend this game! Gravity Maze has almost sixty challenges that have varying difficulty levels.
Children are expected to put their brains to practice and get past every task without any external help. Children will be building complex mazes from which marbles can roll down, thereby improving their planning skills!
4. LEGO Education BricQ Motion Prime Set
Price
$119.95
Recommended Age
10+
Who doesn’t like Lego? Kids certainly do! Children’s favorite Lego blocks have now been merged with STEM education in this Motion Prime set.
Now, your child can explore force and motion in a safe, controlled way. This kit has more than 500 Lego pieces that kids can use to build their imagination. It also includes step-by-step guides, language arts, and lesson plans, making it a perfect fit for homeschoolers!
5. Crayola Paper Butterfly Science Kit
Price
$25.00
Recommended Age
7-10
This kit is every creative kid’s dream come true. The Crayola Science Kit introduces children to Physics concepts and helps them improve their craft. If you have a child who’s fond of nature, Crayola’s butterflies are bound to keep him busy for hours. The entire set includes several butterfly wings, supplies, markers, and even a display stand where the child can show off his creations. Children are expected to design each butterfly, and during the process, they will learn about capillary action and various nature concepts.
6. MEandMine Aha! Self-Confidence STEM Kit
Price
$29.95
Recommended Age
5-8
With all the bullying and tyranny gripping the world by storm, it is more important than ever to make kids realize their worth. Confidence goes a long way in a child’s development, and this kit can help children achieve just the right amount of self-worth! The kit includes various books and activities that encourage self-love among children. These activities also help your child discover himself, which directly contributes to self-acceptance. This Christmas, prevent a child from getting gripped by insecurities by giving this kit!
7. Ozobot Bit Coding Robot
Price
$229.99
Recommended Age
6+
Saw your child get fascinated by robots? Gift him this kit, and watch his eyes shine with joy! This coding robot helps children learn coding with the help of fun activities. Once your child has learned the basics, you can download the Ozoblockly app and take things a step further. The best part about this kit is that everything comes assembled, so you don’t have to worry about fumbling with the pieces. Just take it out of the box and start enjoying your STEM journey!
8. VTech Smart Chart Medical Kit
Price
$21.99
Recommended Age
2-5
Have a child who’s obsessed with doctors? Gift him the VTech Medical Kit and have him taste a bit of the profession! This STEM kit teaches children several functions of the human body. From healing to diseases, your child will have access to a lot of medical-related info with this kit. It also has a lot of accessories that help kids transform into tiny doctors! Children will also be introduced to how patients can be treated with different tools and medicines.
9. Scientific Explorer Crime Catchers Spy Science Kit
Price
$26.82
Recommended Age
8+
If your child is inquisitive about everything, this kit will be the perfect gift for him next Christmas. The kit follows a spy theme where kids can solve mysteries independently.
No, not just any mysteries; children will be matching fingerprints and running DNA tests to find out who’s the culprit! With the help of this kit, children learn to be fearless and also understand that crime is not something to be encouraged. This results in a civil approach towards a life where children learn to regard rules and regulations early on in their life. The set includes all the necessary material for tests and the tools required by young detectives!
10. 4M Water Rocket Kit
Price
$21.99
Recommended Age
8+
Talk about water, and you’d see a child’s eyes pop out with excitement. This kit is the best Christmas gift for all the kids who like to splash. It teaches children how to convert an everyday plastic bottle into a fully functional water rocket. Make no mistake; this is no ordinary rocket. If the instructions are followed correctly, your child’s creation can be launched up to 9- feet in the sky! The purpose of this kit is to teach about water dynamics and rocket parameters.
11. Horizon Group USA You*Niverse Cosmetic Colorist
Price
$16.99
Recommended Age
6+
Have a little diva at home? Improve her cosmetic skills by gifting this STEM kit! Bringing science and cosmetics together, this kit aims to teach kids how to make their eyeshadows from scratch. The kit includes numerous pigments, a binder solution, and a palette that kids can use to mix and match shades. You*Niverse’s Cosmetic kit also enlightens the kids with several cosmetics-related facts. Now you won’t have to tell your little girl off for using your makeup because she can have a kit of her own! The kit is entirely safe from animal cruelty as well.
12. Coding Charms
Price
$24.99
Recommended Age
8-12
Have you ever heard of coding made colorful? This STEM kit makes it a reality! The aim is to teach coding concepts to children who don’t like things to be black and white. Every kit has thousands of beads and a pegboard where children can let loose their creativity! Numerous algorithms, variables, and sequencing are taught using crafty activities so that the children stay energized.
Learning coding usually involves excessive screen time, but this STEM kit makes children proficient in the subject without compromising their eyesight!
13. Sphero Indi At-Home Learning Kit
Price
$110.00
Recommended Age
4+
Kids who’re interested in programming can’t wish for anything more than the Indi Kit! This STEM kit introduces various programming concepts to kids, thereby helping them achieve expertise in the subject. Children get a robot that they can drive around on the silicon mats included in the kit.
With Indi, your child won’t just have hours of fun but also explore their way through the complexities of programming! The best part about this kit is that you don’t need to assemble anything. All you have to do is take the robot out of the box and start enjoying the journey!
14. Abby Invents The Foldibot
Price
$14.19
Recommended Age
4-9
It’s time to make reading times exciting with this Foldibot! Arlyne Simon, authored by a biomedical engineer, this interactive book is a story about Abby and his mom. The young kid is fed up with his mom tiring herself with laundry and decides to engineer a folding machine named Foldibot. Children get an insightful experience of Abby’s journey of constructing a machine. This opens their mind to newer possibilities and evokes a spirit of risk-taking because if Abby can do it, anyone can! If your child has a mild interest in engineering, this book is a must-have!
15. Tobbie – the Self Guiding Robot
Price
$25
Recommended Age
8+
Artificial Intelligence is taking the world by storm, and the time is ripe to introduce your children to technological magic! Tobbie, the robot, comes in a package and requires the children to build it. Once Tobbie is on its feet, it’ll follow your child all around the house! Since AI powers the toy, it can send you reminders when it’s feeling lonely and also shower you with emotions. If you can’t get your kid a pet, get him Tobbie the robot because he’s just the educational friend your child needs!
16. Super Spiral Marble Run
Price
$149.99
Recommended Age
4-10
Spark your kid’s building skills with this STEM kit! The game is all about building a race track of sorts, where you send marbles wheezing! Many obstructions try to block the marble’s way, but it all comes down to tricks and smart planning!
The package comes unassembled, so your child will have to build the project first. This activity will improve the child’s spatial thinking and also encourage problem-solving skills. Once the track is all set up, your child can start racing marbles with his friends. The structure involves interesting things like a watermill, a rotary tower, and a drawbridge.
17. 12-in-1 Solar Hydraulic Robot Kit
Price
$45.00
Recommended Age
8-12
Kids who love robots need to have this STEM toy in their collection asap! The kit includes solar and hydraulic power, which the kids can use to make their very own robots and animals. This kit includes various gears which help children grasp different types of hydraulics. Children are expected to build the product on their own, which boosts critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Kids can also explore how energy from the sun can be stored and utilized to power the robots.
A Final Word on the Best STEM Christmas Gifts
Why not give a gift this year that will inspire your child to think differently and out of the box?
We’ve listed some of the best STEM Christmas gifts that you can get your kids this holiday season.
From at-home experiment kits to robots, these toys are sure to help your little ones in their educational journey!
Have any questions about our guide to the best STEM Christmas gifts? Let us know by commenting below.