Introducing STEM concepts to toddlers may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! This guide will give you:
- An overview of STEM.
- Criteria for identifying quality STEM toys.
- Age-specific toy recommendations, from basics to more advanced options.
- Creative ways to use everyday household items for STEM exploration.
By the end, you’ll have a roadmap for seamlessly integrating STEM into your toddler’s playtime!
BONUS: Look for my list of everyday household STEM objects for toddlers and how to use them.
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What’s The Difference?
- S: Science
- T: Technology
- E: Engineering
- M: Math
Encourages more creativity and holistic learning by incorporating art and reading.
- S: Science
- T: Technology
- R: Reading
- E: Engineering
- A: Art
- M: Math
What Makes a Good STEM Toy?
- Hands-On: Requires active participation, manipulation, and exploration through physical interaction.
- Interactive: Promotes some response or feedback.
- Open-Ended Play: Toys with multiple solutions versus one correct answer and creative approaches (hint: puzzles are not open-ended!).
- Introduce STEM Concepts: Toys that introduce basic concepts related to science, technology, engineering, and math in a non-traditional and age-appropriate way.
- Encourage Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Toys that require logic and reasoning.
- Adaptability: Toys that can grow with the child and offer various difficulty levels as they age.
- Developmentally Appropriate: Toys that align with the toddler’s cognitive and motor skills. They should provide some challenges but not be too difficult.
STEM Toy Guide For Parents
All children develop at different rates, and you can find toys that are within or slightly beyond your child’s abilities.
BE AWARE: Many of these toys contain small parts that are choking hazards. Anything that can fit through a toilet paper tube is a choking hazard. Always supervise your children when playing with small parts, especially if they still put things in their mouths.
STEM Skills for Toddlers by Age
Use this chart to see what STEM skills your toddler can work on at each age.
- Cause and effect: Pushing a button to make a toy light up or make a sound.
- Sort objects by color, shape, or size: Shape sorters.
- Stack and nest objects: stacking rings or cups.
- Construction and building activities: large plastic blocks.
- Basic colors, shapes, and patterns: (not sure?).
- Counting and number concepts: (not sure?)
- Scientific concepts like sink/float, magnetic, or gravity: Bath toys or magnetic tiles.
- Pretend play that encourages problem-solving and creativity: Play tool bench.
- Follow simple instructions and sequences: Coding games or follow-the-path toys.
- Basic measurement: Measuring cups or rulers.
- Recognize and create simple patterns: Pattern blocks, bead maze.
- Assembling and dissembling: Construction sets or train tracks.
- Addition and subtraction: (not sure).
- Scientific concepts or force, motion, and energy: Ramps, balls, pulley systems.
- Hypothesis testing and experimentation: Science kits.
- Spacial awareness and orientation: Tangrams.
? This guide is organized from the most basic concepts (for our youngest inventors) to the most advanced.
Marble Run
Introduces physics principles, such as gravity, motion, and cause-and-effect, while promoting problem-solving and spatial reasoning (Science and Engineering).
Gears
Explores the concepts of motion, force, and simple machines while promoting problem-solving and critical thinking (Science and Engineering).
Cash Register
Develops an understanding of numbers, counting, and basic arithmetic concepts through play (Mathematics).
Writing Tablet
Encourages creativity and artistic expression while developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Magnetic Doodle Pad
Encourages creativity and artistic expression while introducing the concept of magnetism (Science and Engineering).
Working Tools
Promotes problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and understanding of simple machines and tools (Engineering and Technology).
Let their imagination (and carpentry skills) soar with this fun workbench!
The power tools actually work and make sounds.
Magnetic Maze Board
Develops spatial awareness, shape recognition, and an understanding of magnetic forces (Science and Mathematics).
- Use the magnetic pen to grab palls and move them through mazes.
- Four different mazes/puzzles in one.
- Each maze/puzzle can be played differently to increase the difficulty.
Magnetic Blocks
Explores shape recognition, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills while introducing the concept of magnetism (Mathematics and Science).
Pro Tip: When looking for Magnatiles for 2-year-olds, look for sets with mostly square shapes. Triangles are tricky to build, while even young toddlers can grasp building with squares.
Remote Control Cars
Explores the concepts of motion, force, and cause-and-effect while developing hand-eye coordination (Science and Technology).
- Things I love: It's super-simple (only goes forward and only turns left), never runs out of battery, and is virtually indestructible.
- Things I don't love: It's super simple (yes, this was also something I originally loved!). Once my son got a little older, he outgrew this toy. I prefer toys that last a little longer. The range is short. Stand too far away, and your car won't go.
Final Verdict: Although my son outgrew this in about a year, I would still purchase it again. The simplicity made it easy for him to learn the controls in one sitting. The speed was perfect, and it is heavy-duty but never scuffed my walls!
Trains
Encourages exploration of motion, transportation, and cause-and-effect relationships while fostering imagination and storytelling.
Trains are blocks, too!
They encourage problem-solving, building, connecting, engineering, and more.
We have all BRIO trains and tracks. Just like Magnatiles, I feel the brand is important here. We experimented with several other train sets that crack, splinter, or don't fit well together.
Build a Toy
Introduces basic engineering and construction concepts through hands-on building activities.
There is so much fun in assembling the toy with a working power drill AND playing with the finished product!
Water Tubes
Introduces the concepts of fluid dynamics, cause-and-effect, and problem-solving through interactive water play (Science and Engineering).
This has been a bath-time staple in our house for over a year! It gets played with almost every day. What's better than exploring STEM concepts in a bubble bath ??!
Water and Sand Sensory Tables
Encourages exploration of different materials, textures, and basic scientific concepts like volume, weight, and density (Science).
Blockaroo Blocks
Develops spatial awareness, creativity, and basic engineering concepts through open-ended building activities.
Let your littles take their creativity to the bath and build fun floating creations with these magnetic foam blocks.
Telescope
Encourages exploration of the natural world, observation skills, and an introduction to astronomy (Science).
Binoculars
Develops observation skills and an understanding of optics while fostering curiosity about the environment (Science).
Microscope
Introduces scientific observation and investigation of the microscopic world, promoting curiosity and critical thinking (Science).
Toy Scale
Explores the concepts of weight, measurement, and basic arithmetic through interactive play (Mathematics and Science).
Road Tape
Encourages imaginative play, storytelling, and an understanding of transportation and infrastructure (Engineering and Technology).
✅ Paper-based (no scissors required).
✅ Safe for walls and floors- won't remove paint or varnish- won't leave a residue.
Kinetic Sand
Introduces concepts of texture, moldability, and basic physics principles like compression and tension (S
? Built-in storage case for the win!
Lego DUPLO
It resembles wooden blocks but has interlocking pieces promoting spatial awareness, creativity, and basic engineering concepts.
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Description: I am a huge Lego Duplo advocate and was even featured in Parent's Magazine with tons of ideas for ways to play and teach your child with Duplo. |
Description: Everything you need (including a storage case) to start building with Duplo. Dozens of designs that are ready to make or create your own! Encourage pretend play and imagination with all of the characters included. |
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I am a huge Lego Duplo advocate and was even featured in Parent's Magazine with tons of ideas for ways to play and teach your child with Duplo.
Everything you need (including a storage case) to start building with Duplo. Dozens of designs that are ready to make or create your own! Encourage pretend play and imagination with all of the characters included.
Stomp Racers
Explores the concepts of motion, force, and energy transfer through interactive play (Science and Engineering).
Stomp Rockets
Introduces physics principles, such as thrust and aerodynamics, while fostering curiosity and problem-solving skills (Science and Engineering).
Science Kits
Provides hands-on experiments and activities that explore various scientific concepts, encouraging investigation and critical thinking (Science).
So many fun science experiments in one kit! My son loved the volcano the most!
Coding Toys
Introduces basic coding and programming concepts through interactive play, promoting logical thinking and problem-solving skills (Technology and Mathematics).
- These little guys are the cutest (see their fox and lizard also!).
- Create paths using PUZZLE pieces.
- Coding Critter will follow your path.
- Teach engineering symbols like straight lines, loops, turns, and wavy lines.
- Open-ended play: Coding Critter will follow any black line. Grab your masking tape and create tracks all around your house!
mTiny Robot
Understand basic coding patterns by programming steps, loops, and repetitions (Technology and Engineering).
It comes with dozens of games, activities, and accessories. My kids will play with this for hours!
Hex Bugs
My local library has a HEX Bug club dedicated to playing with these little critters. Think of them like Hot Wheels meets a circuit builder. They are a ton of fun for the whole family (Technology and Engineering).
A STEM crossover toy incorporating the concepts of:
- Circuits
- Robotics
- Engineering
- Physics
Circuit Toys
Explores electricity, circuits, and basic electronics principles through hands-on building and experimentation (Science and Engineering).
Household STEM Objects
Encourage exploring and investigating everyday objects and materials, including basic scientific and engineering concepts, through play.
- Pots and pans: Explore sounds, rhythms, and music patterns. ?
- Rubber ducks: Investigate buoyancy and floating concepts.
- Magnets: Discover magnetic forces and attraction/repulsion. ?
- Flashlight: Learn about light sources and shadows.
- Measuring cups/spoons: Introduce basic measurement and volume concepts. ⚖️
- Mirrors: Explore reflection, symmetry, and self-awareness.
- Empty containers: Investigate sorting, classifying, and patterns.
- Paper towel tubes: Construct simple structures and devices. ?
- Straws: Experiment with airflow and fundamental physics.
- Plastic bottles: Explore sound, vibration, and cause-effect. ?
- Cardboard boxes: Encourage imagination, construction, and engineering.
- Rubber bands: Demonstrate elasticity and potential energy. ?♀️
- Balloons: Investigate air pressure and force concepts. ?
- Sponges: Learn about absorption and material properties.
- Magnifying glass: Explore close-up observation and details. ?
- Toilet paper rolls: Build structures and learn shapes.
- Aluminum foil: Introduce malleability and moldable materials.
- Plastic containers: Practice sorting, counting, and grouping.
- Utensils: Discover lever principles and simple machines. ?
- Paper clips: Investigate connectivity and basic engineering concepts.
Pro Tip: Looking for toys and activities for babies and toddlers of other ages ??
Check Out My Other Toy and Activity Guides:
Remember, the key is to provide toddlers with hands-on, engaging, and age-appropriate toys that introduce STEM concepts in a fun and interactive way, fostering their curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
