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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Trying to master a Rubik’s Cube has vexed people for 50 years. Figuring out how to realign the colored squares properly requires a lot of logical thinking, so it’s a great educational tool to occupy kids while traveling since it’s very compact.

For ages 8 years and up.

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.

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.

Exploring nature is a great way to get kids off screens, and if you send them outside to collect some cool rocks, they’ll learn about their local ecosystem. The binoculars in this set give a 3X zoom, and there’s a compartment where they can stash their collection.

For ages 4 years and up.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If lengthy projects aren’t a fit for your kid, this robot can be assembled by most in about 15 minutes. Once mBot is built, they can code using Makeblock apps and software to get the robot to move and perform tasks.

For ages 8 years and up.