Parents and caregivers now have a fantastic selection of STEM toys available for gifts – a welcome development given the increased need for homeschooling resources during the recent pandemic. This product area has significantly expanded, presenting a diverse array of choices suitable for children of various ages, and is moving away from heavy dependence on licensed characters towards more innovative concepts. We’ve compiled a list of over 20 gift suggestions to help you begin your search.

Determining the precise educational benefits of “learn to code” devices can still be challenging. Furthermore, the cost of some products may appear substantial. However, considerable effort has been dedicated to designing these items with children in mind, and to organizing the learning process into manageable steps. The result is a wealth of options that can capture the imagination and stimulate young minds, even if it doesn’t necessarily lead to a future career at a major tech company. (And that’s perfectly fine; perhaps your child will be the one to develop the next groundbreaking technology?)

It’s encouraging to see continued emphasis on fostering children’s creativity in art and design, alongside their understanding of engineering and scientific principles. Ideally, future iterations of these toys will incorporate elements of STEM ethics – to provide a more comprehensive learning experience. While it’s valuable for children to grasp the inner workings of digital technologies, it’s equally crucial to help the next generation recognize how connectivity can influence human behavior and transform the world we live in.

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Arcade Coder

The Arcade Coder, created by U.K.-based Tech Will Save Us, is a STEM-focused toy intended for children interested in game development. This interactive gaming device resembles a handheld console, featuring illuminated buttons instead of a traditional touchscreen, and comes with several classic games already installed. Connecting it to the associated iPad application provides children with step-by-step instructions on modifying existing games and creating their own using a simple, visual coding system.

Age: 6-10
Price: $120 available at Amazon
Manufacturer: Tech Will Save Us

Boolean Box

The Boolean Box is a computer that you assemble yourself, utilizing a Raspberry Pi Model 3. Its design was developed in collaboration with girls participating in coding camps and educational programs facilitated by the non-profit organization that created it—although it is intended for children regardless of gender. This machine, powered by the Raspberry Pi, operates on the Raspbian OS and features pre-installed software geared towards STEM learning. This includes Scratch, Python, and Minecraft, allowing young programmers to explore both visual block-based coding and more advanced programming languages after the computer is constructed. The kit also provides a breadboard for creating electronic projects. (Please note: The standard kit requires a TV with HDMI connectivity to function as a display, or a $300 package is available that includes a monitor.)

Age: 8+
Price: $150 from Amazon
Made by: Boolean Girl

Botley 2.0 Coding Robot Activity Set

Parents seeking STEM-focused toys that don’t involve screens should consider Botley 2.0. This programmable robot, powered by batteries, moves and detects its surroundings. It’s controlled with a remote that allows children to code directional paths—up to 150 steps—using straightforward button presses. A dedicated loops button helps introduce the fundamental coding concept of repeating a sequence of instructions.

Learning Resources, the creator of Botley, enhanced the robot in 2020 with new features, including color-changing eyes and the ability to detect lines even in low-light conditions. The update also introduces new programming options, allowing children to transform Botley into different characters—like a train, police vehicle, ghost, or frog—each with unique sounds and motions. The package also contains a 78-piece activity set, enabling kids to design challenges and courses for Botley to complete.

Age: 5-10
Price: Approximately $70 from Amazon
Made by: Learning Resources

Botzees Go! – Dino Set & Color Sensor Kit add-on pack

Pai Technology has developed robotics kits that incorporate augmented reality for several years. Their more recent products are designed for younger children, providing an initial experience with building using blocks, alongside an accompanying application that provides assembly guides and straightforward depictions of the completed models. The Botzees Go! – Dino Set enhances the fundamental building experience by introducing motion and a tangible remote control, allowing children to animate their dinosaur-inspired robots. This serves as a gentle entry point into STEM education. An additional Color Sensor Kit expands the functionality further, allowing the robots to follow lines and react to various colors.

Age: 3+
Price: $80 ($40 each for the Dino Set and Sensor Kit)
Manufacturer: Pai Technology

Circuit Explorer

Circuit Explorer represents an accessible introduction to STEM principles, combining the familiar fun of Lego-compatible block construction with easily connected electronic components. This allows children to build a variety of space-related models, such as a rocket, a rover, and a more comprehensive Deluxe Base Station. Young builders can then bring their constructions to life using battery-operated LED illumination and integrated sound effects.

Age: 6 years and up
Price: Available starting at $30 on Amazon
Manufacturer: Educational Insights

Disney Codeillusion

The educational technology firm Life is Tech! has partnered with Disney to integrate popular Disney characters into an engaging, game-based learning platform. This platform is designed to motivate children to learn coding by allowing them to create their own games, websites, and animated movies utilizing familiar Disney imagery. Known as Disney Codeillusion, this online learning experience teaches four distinct coding languages – HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Processing – and emphasizes visual creativity through the use of Disney’s animated characters. Students will encounter well-known characters such as Queen Elsa, Aladdin, and Mickey Mouse within the course materials.

This online course represents a significant investment, requiring a desktop computer and internet access for operation, and is not available on mobile devices. A package without any physical items or certain digital features, like an RPG game, is priced at $500. The comprehensive package, referred to as the “Enchanted” edition, is available for $900. However, with a total of 125 lessons, each approximately 30 minutes in length, children will have ample opportunity to develop their coding skills – a potentially valuable benefit for parents currently engaged in homeschooling.

A complimentary seven-day trial is offered, allowing potential users to sample the lesson content before making a purchase.

Age: 8+
Price: From $500
Made by: Life is Tech!

Electro Explorers Club

The popularity of monthly activity kits within the STEM toy market has grown significantly, and this trend is expected to continue as an increasing number of parents explore homeschooling options due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Tech Will Save Us, a U.K.-based STEAM toy manufacturer, has been actively involved in this area for several years. Their latest product designed to provide children with entertainment and educational experiences is the Electro Explorers Club: a charming subscription box combining crafts and electronics projects, centered around learning through narrative.

Each monthly box introduces a variety of technological, scientific, and design principles – including basic robotics and coding, electronic circuitry, multi-line algorithms incorporating conditional statements, character creation, and physics. Over time, children also accumulate a collection of components, allowing them to further develop their knowledge. A subscription to the Electro Explorers Club is available for $20 each month and can be cancelled at any time.

Age: 4-6
Price: $20 per month
Made by: Tech Will Save Us

Evo for Home and Homeschooled

The Ozobot Evo is a programmable robot designed to be used with either a visual, block-based coding platform or directly with color-code markers. This allows the robot to react to different colors, interpreting them as commands within a program, offering a screen-free coding experience. While Ozobot primarily provides STEAM learning resources to educational institutions from kindergarten through 12th grade, the company emphasizes that its technology serves as a support tool for a wide range of STEAM disciplines, not just computer programming. The Evo starter set is specifically created for children learning at home, fostering coding skills through game creation and interactive activities.

Age: 5+
Price: $100
Manufacturer: Ozobot

imagiCharm

imagiLabs, a company originating in Sweden, is dedicated to inspiring more young girls to learn how to code. To achieve this goal, they have created a STEM-focused toy: a customizable Bluetooth charm. This device functions as a unique, programmable keychain and can be considered similar to a digital pet that users can code themselves. The charm connects with a mobile application that utilizes game-like lessons to motivate young people between the ages of nine and fifteen to experiment with Python programming. Through this, they can modify the appearance and capabilities of the charm’s 8x8 grid of colorful LED lights. The application also includes a community feature, allowing users to showcase their creations and view projects developed by others.

Age: 9-15
Price: Starting at $85 on Amazon
Made by: ImagiLabs

Kano PC

As previously mentioned in our prior year’s gift recommendations, the U.K.-based STEM education company Kano has shifted its focus. They’ve moved away from offering self-assembly computer kits based on the Raspberry Pi platform and are now concentrating on a more traditional “first computer for your child” concept. The Kano PC, which operates on Windows, is designed for parents seeking to introduce their children to STEM principles within a familiar computing setting. Priced at $300, this laptop-tablet hybrid is more than just a plaything; however, the benefit of investing in a complete computer lies in its broader functionality and potential for extended use. Kano states that the PC can operate “thousands” of different programs.

Particularly important for STEM-focused learning, the device includes Kano’s Software Studio pre-installed. This is a collection of educational resources intended to instruct children in areas like design, science, coding, and creative expression “through engaging and straightforward methods,” according to the company.

Age: K-12 (ages 4 and up to 19)
Price: Starting at $300
Manufacturer: Kano

Kumiita

Consider Kumiita for the youngest learners. This educational toy, designed for children before their first birthday, initially launched as a Kickstarter campaign. The company based in Japan now distributes the product worldwide through Amazon. It aims to introduce basic programming principles through engaging, screen-free, and offline floor-based play.

The Kumiita robot, powered by batteries, reacts to visual commands provided by the tiles. Children select and arrange tiles to create a “program” for the robot, receiving instant responses as it spins, alters its color, emits animal noises, or changes direction. When the robot veers off course, it presents a challenge for children to identify and correct the issue by adjusting the tile sequence, fostering problem-solving skills and logical thought. Certain tile sets also incorporate elements of conditional coding.

Age: 7 months+
Price: From $200
Made by: Icon Corp.

littleBits At Home Learning Starter Kit

littleBits, a brand now under Sphero, develops electronic kits designed to introduce children to the fundamentals of circuitry. These kits utilize a magnetic connection system, allowing for easy assembly and exploration of electronics through hands-on activities. This particular starter kit is intended for use at home and aims to encourage children to develop their own concepts and experiment with building different projects – it includes instructions for completing five distinct inventions. The learning experience can be completed without the use of screens, as the kit contains introductory guides in printed form. Further educational materials can also be found online through the littleBits Classroom platform.

Age: 8+
Price: $65
Made by: Sphero

MakeCode Arcade & a codable console to run retro gaming creations

Aspiring game developers will enjoy the opportunity to design their own classic-style games with Microsoft’s MakeCode Arcade, a game editor built on its freely available, open-source coding education platform. This online project builder offers instructional materials to help users create straightforward games utilizing a visual block-based coding system, JavaScript, or Python, and progress to developing more intricate game mechanics. This valuable STEM learning tool can be enhanced as a present with the inclusion of a programmable console designed to work with MakeCode Arcade projects. Options include the Meowbit from KittenBot ($40), which resembles a GameBoy, and the Adafruit PyBadge ($35), also compatible with CircuitPython and Arduino – both available from Adafruit. This company specializing in maker products and electronics hobbies provides a variety of hardware that works with MakeCode, along with numerous other items.

Age: Varies
Price: Starting at $35
Made by: Adafruit, and others

MindLabs: Energy and Circuits

This STEM-focused toy provides a way for children to explore the principles of electronic circuits in a virtual environment. It eliminates the need for handling physical wires, batteries, or individual components by utilizing augmented reality technology. The MindLabs: Energy and Circuits package includes a collection of tangible cards that children interact with.

When viewed through a tablet’s screen, these cards enable kids to construct circuits that are then visualized and animated digitally through a corresponding application. The kit features more than 20 engaging lessons, each providing clear, sequential guidance on fundamental circuit ideas. (Please note: A tablet is required for use.)

This method presents a comparatively cost-effective means for children to gain knowledge about electronics and related principles through simulated experimentation—however, it is important to recognize that this is not a screen-free play option. Furthermore, the toy facilitates remote collaboration, allowing children to learn together with friends from a distance.

Age: 8+
Price: $25
Made by: Explore Interactive

NextMaker Box

Makeblock, a company based in China, is introducing a new monthly STEM kit subscription service this year called the NextMaker Box. As of now, this subscription is available for pre-order on Kickstarter, with initial shipments anticipated as early as December 2020 – however, potential customers should be aware of the typical uncertainties regarding shipping timelines.

This offering is geared towards parents seeking a stimulating gift that provides ongoing learning opportunities. The NextMaker Box promises to deliver regular hardware projects and coding lessons intended to foster curiosity and learning in children. The kits emphasize robotics, coding principles, engineering concepts, and the design process. Makeblock also states that the box’s educational material is structured to align with the Computer Science Teachers Association’s curriculum standards.

Age: 6-12
Price: Starting at $40
Manufacturer: Makeblock

Piper Command Center

The Piper Command Center presents a hands-on Arduino-based activity designed for teenagers, allowing them to construct and personalize their own gaming controller by utilizing the step-by-step guides found on Piper’s website. This (beta) project serves as an accessible starting point for exploring the concepts of physical computing, hardware modification, and the broader maker culture. Completion of the project necessitates a desktop computer equipped with the Arduino IDE for controller setup and resolving any firmware issues.

Age: 13+
Price: $60
Manufacturer: Piper

Raspberry Pi 400

The Raspberry Pi 400, the newest product from the U.K.-based Raspberry Pi Foundation – a charitable organization dedicated to STEM education – integrates a high-performance microprocessor (the Pi 4) directly into a stylish keyboard, reminiscent of the earliest days of personal computing. Simply connect it to a television or monitor, and you have a robust STEM learning tool at a remarkably accessible price point. The keyboard-computer combination is available for only $70. A comprehensive $100 kit is also offered, ideal for beginners, and includes the official introductory guidebook along with all necessary accessories to start using the Pi.

Young learners can begin their coding journey with the Pi 400 using visual programming languages such as Scratch, or explore the possibilities of Python through Minecraft Pi – a specialized edition of the well-known 3D game that is pre-installed on the Pi’s operating system, Raspbian. These features make the Pi 400 a highly recommended choice.

Age: Variable
Price: Starting at $70
Manufacturer: Raspberry Pi Foundation

Robo Wunderkind Explorer Kit

Robo Wunderkind, an Austrian company specializing in STEM toys, has enhanced its range of programmable robotics kits for 2020. These updates include new sensor modules, such as a block featuring an LED display capable of showcasing patterns or presenting moving text. Additionally, a line-follower block enables the robots to identify and track lines, and an accelerometer block provides them with a sense of their orientation in space.

This STEM toy allows children to connect the magnetic blocks to create robots equipped with sensors, and then program their behavior using a simple drag-and-drop coding system within the accompanying application.

The blocks offer versatile construction possibilities, allowing for the creation of diverse sensing devices – ranging from mobile robots to intelligent flashlights. The most affordable kit includes six modules and ten step-by-step projects, while the premium Explorer Pro kit, priced at $400, offers fifteen modules and thirty projects. These blocks also work seamlessly with Lego components, giving children the option to expand their creations with existing Lego bricks.

Age: 5-14
Price: Starting at $200
Made by: Robo Wunderkind

ScoreBot Kit

Inspire a passion for STEM in young soccer enthusiasts with the ScoreBot Kit from Ubtech’s JIMU Programmable robot line. This robot, designed for self-assembly, can be controlled through code and demonstrates soccer ball-handling abilities. Children can refine these skills using the accompanying app, which features a user-friendly, block-based coding system. Furthermore, a memory function enables kids to save and repeat sequences of actions, potentially providing an advantage during head-to-head matches against other ScoreBot robots in a tabletop soccer competition.

Age: 8+
Price: $120
Manufacturer: Ubtech

Sphero Mini Golf

Sphero, a company specializing in educational technology, offers a range of products for both classroom and home use centered around its signature spherical, remotely operated robot. This particular iteration of their programmable device is designed as a miniature golf ball, prompting children to create and navigate their own custom mini golf courses using remote control. Furthermore, the connected sphere can function as a gaming controller, utilizing its built-in gyroscope and accelerometer for interactive play. Coding activities are facilitated through the accompanying Sphero Edu application.

Age: 8+
Price: $50
Manufacturer: Sphero

Spike Prime Set

Responding to the increase in remote learning situations brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, Lego’s educational branch has released select kits previously used in classrooms for purchase by individuals. One such offering is the Spike Prime Set. This STEAM-focused learning resource is designed for middle school students, specifically those in grades 6 through 8. At the heart of the kit is a programmable, Bluetooth-enabled hub capable of bringing numerous creations to life, including robots and rovers. The 528-piece set includes a comprehensive collection of motors, sensors, building elements, bricks, and other components needed for diverse project construction.

The hub can be programmed using either an intuitive, Scratch-like drag-and-drop platform or through text-based coding in Python, meaning a computer is required for operation.
Age: 10+
Price: $330
Made by: Lego Education

Turing Tumble

Enhance your child’s development of logical reasoning skills through engaging, marble-powered play.

Turing Tumble is a uniquely designed game board combined with a variety of components functioning as “logic” elements, allowing users to create routes for completing various challenges. The objective of this educational game is to direct marbles of different colors from the top to the bottom of the board in a predetermined order. A visually engaging puzzle book provides guidance through the game’s levels, offering a completely screen-independent method for exploring STEM concepts.

Age: 8 years and up
Price: $70
Manufacturer: Turing Tumble