STEM Gift Ideas for Building Kids' Ingenuity and Creativity

Spark curiosity and inventiveness this holiday season with these mind-boosting gifts for kids.

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November 10, 2022

When it comes to shopping for Christmas, I look to strike a balance between the just-for-fun toys and the ones that stretch my kiddos' brains and originality. The great thing about these gift ideas is that they are toys that hone STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) skills and artistic abilities while also being a blast to play with — a win-win for parents and kids.

I've found that these double-duty toys are the kinds that my kids will continue to pick up and play with, building, rebuilding and customizing, long after other toys have lost that "hottest toy of the season" stigma in the playroom. Shop our favorite picks for igniting little minds and imaginations.

THE ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE

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The Best Overall STEM Gifts and Toys

From $24.95

Expand your child's mind all year long with a subscription box. Each month features a different theme to explore — science, history, animals, geography or fantasy — giving them a fun, hands-on learning experience. The box includes everything needed to complete the project, plus step-by-step photo instructions, as well as a reading book and keepsake.

$10.99

No more "I’m bored!" in your household. Hand them this box of 30 full-color challenge cards to engage them in the entire STEM world. The activities use simple, common materials combined with easy-to-follow directions that will have your little ones creating, building and crafting projects they'll be proud of. If you have older elementary kids, make sure to grab the 2nd to 5th grade set.

$24.99

Gift this box to the petite inventor in your life. With more than 700 pieces that can easily be combined with everyday household items, the inventing possibilities are practically endless. Not only do kids get those creative juices flowing, but they also develop basic engineering skills along the way.

The Best Science Gifts and Toys

Scientists are all about exploring and discovering the world around them, which is why kids make such wonderful ones. Encourage their natural curiosity with fun hands-on experiments, as well as growing and digging kits that'll blow their little science minds.

The Best Technology Gifts and Toys

Give them a head start on their future with these tech-forward gifts. Whether they want to build robots, work on circuits, check out our wide world or even code a golf ball, these are our favorite ideas for your petite techie.

The Best Engineering Gifts and Toys

Get those minds building up, out and around with these made-for-future-engineer toys. Whether shopping for your littles with foam building blocks, sweet play kits and Montessori blocks or looking for challenging building sets and marble runs for your older kiddos, these gifts will help develop basic engineering skills and get those creative juices flowing.

The Best Math Gifts and Toys

Build their math and problem-solving skills all while having a blast. Clever games help them learn about balance, adding, subtracting and finding solutions. Broaden their math and mind horizons with these gifts.

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