Gifts and Toys for STEM Kids

Inspiration? Curiosity? Cultivation and psychological engineering of future engineers?

Some cousins of mine are less than 10 years old and clearly enjoy playing with Lego, doing experiments of their own, making Mechano, learning about maths / computers / mechanisms etc. Who knows where these interests will go, but I’d like to encourage them. My own experience with science kits and STEM toys as a kid was mixed. Lego, Meccano and Knex were great. Lego Mindstorms wasn’t that good for me. And some other kits just had me follow instructions usingly increasingly sophisticated parts rather than encouraging Feynmanian inquiry into how things work and trying to make things more driven by my own curiosity. That said, I may just be the sort of person who wants to follow steps and finish a thing instead of more lateral explorations…

Anyways, here’s a list of toys, kits and other things you might buy or source for an inquisitive kid you know. Do let me know if you have any additions to suggest, reviews to share, or other thoughts. Ciao!

STEM Gifts for kids

List is not in order of recommendation. These suggestions were generally made with 5 - 10 year olds in mind. I have initially purchased the a Connetix Magnetic Marble Run set, and the Prime Climb board game by Math For Love. Prime Climb looks exceptionally well designed, and I look forward to playing it.

1. Evil Mad Scientist

   1. Psychedelic flame soldering kit, $9

   2. Original eggbot, $260

   3. Alpha Clock, $170

   4. 555 Timer, $40

   5. Book: Build it Yourself Science Laboratory, $25
      

2. Spikenzie Labs

   1. The Useless Machine, $25 - soldering required

   2. Clocks, drum kits, LCD kits also available
      

3. Robotics Kits on SparkFun

   1. Experiential Robotics Platform, $115

   2. Inventor’s kit for Redbot, $140
      

4. Boldport on Pimoroni, seems good for learning soldering

   1. The TAP, $15

   2. The MOSTAP, $15

   3. Yo-Yo Machines, $25 - maybe good?
      

5. Litmus paper, magnifying glass, prism
   

6. Snap Circuits | $50 - $200

   1. Classic one, $90, make radios, doorbells, games etc
      

7. Tinkering Labs Kits ‘stem kits for open ended play’ | can buy separate wooden parts, wheels etc

   1. Electric Motor Catalyst kit, $65 | seems you can make a few different moving things
      

8. Lego Education, $320

   1. Includes some electronics and mechanical parts

   2. Bunch of different instructions available for things to build. More advanced kits available

   3. BricQ motion kit, $150
      

9. Connetix Magnetic Tiles & Marble Runs, €100

   1. 92 piece set for €100

   2. Bigger / smaller kits available for €50 - €200
      

10. Curiosity Box ~$20 / box

    1. Look like more fold paper together and read about cool things than more advanced making. One box involves making a periscope. Think & Tinker box might be good.
       

11. Pocket Microscope ~$20

    1. Needs smartphone to use
       

12. Model Rockets

    1. Alpha Estes 3 recommended for beginners. Adult supervision recommended. $25

    2. Apogee Rockets guide to getting started, intro kits, apprentice kit, $12
       

13. CrunchLabs $25/month

    1. My Aunt & Uncle preferred Kiwi Crate or TinkerBox.
       

14. Kiwico | $20 / month

    1. Kiwi Crate seems standard for 8 year olds. Look like well made DIY kits. 

    2. “For younger kids they will be wasted unless there is an adult on hand to invest two hours. The real gift would be a kiwi box plus some serious investment of your own time. My son is 8.5 and just finally can do a kiwi box unsupervised, but still benefits much more from the box in combination with at least 30 minutes of adult time.”
       

15. Math for Love | ~$25?

    1. Prime Climb looks fun , $25, for ages 10+.
       

16. Camelot Jr $30

    1. “Less stem-ey and more maths/puzzle-like but this one has been a big hit with friends whose kids are in that age range [5-10 yos]”
       

17. Velleman Kits, $20

    1. Most require soldering

    2. Whadda Start to solder educational kit; $20
       

18. Build a robot with them

    1. Get the components in the linked vid above and make it with them

    2. Kit for robotics components, $12
       

19. Skull and Circuits

    1. More advanced, solder-focused electronics kits
       

20. Atari Punk Console Kit - Rackit, $20

    1. Requires soldering
       

21. Soldering irons - 

    1. FX Hakko 888D - $200. Maybe worth buying a cheaper iron for them to try out first.

    2. Pinecil - $30.
       

22. Maths Books

    1. Dominic Cummings List

       1. Maths - No Problem!

       2. Others listed on linked Substack.