Top picks of STEM Toys (Screen-Free or App-Based)

If you're looking for fun toys that focus and encourage a love of all things STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), here are some brilliant gift ideas for your last minute shopping…. Be it Screen-Free or App-Based ones, we've got you covered!

Screen-Free STEM Toys

1) Cuboro Standard $449.90 Age 5+
An ingenious building block and marble run toy made in Switzerland, the Cuboro Standard has been said to be the antidote to the short attention spans many people complain of nowadays, and it also encourages the joy of experimentation, spatial ability, logical thinking, and motor activity. Whilst you can play with it alone, it can also be turned into a team sport. It is always creative and exciting, and is truly a developmental and educational marve.

2) Sumblox Building Set 43pc Pieces $229.00 Age 2+
These wooden blocks, shaped like digits with the heights that correspond to number values, create a playful way for young children to explore basic arithmetic, such as number sequencing, number bonding, additions, subtractions, multiplication, division, fractions and more. It is such a fantastic visual tool for children to explore abstract concepts through tactile play. 

3) Makeblock mTiny $239 age 4+ NEW!
mTiny is a fantastic early education robot for children growing up in the digital age. Its Tap Pen Controller is a coding tool that exercises children’s logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. It brings computer programming into children’s real life, using coding cards and various themed map blocks to guide the child in exploring, perceiving, and creating through highly interactive, stimulating, and fun games. The continuously updated mTiny toolkit also fosters children’s interest in learning in math, English, music, and other subjects, and keeps them inspired.

4) Magna-tiles Metropolis $249.90 Age 3+ NEW!

Magna-Tiles® Metropolis contains brighter colors and tiles in motion. From a busy high-rise metropolis to a thriving colony on space, there’s no stopping your imagination with this set! Definitely an invitation to engage and develop math, science, spatial and tactile skills. STEM approved!

5) Cubetto Playset $339 age 3+
These playful wooden robots give little ones a head start by teaching the basics of computer programming. Montessori approved and LOGO Turtle inspired, it doesn’t feature a single screen and teaches through adventure stories.

Fun fact: it was the most funded educational-tech invention in Kickstarter history ($1.6m!). Winner of a Best of Best Red Dot Design Award, Platinum Junior Design Award, Gold Cannes Lions Award.

6) Cuboro Cugolino $349.90 Age 3+
Cugolino is the quintessential building block and marble run for the younger crowd, and also a terrific add-on to existing Cuboro sets. Consisting of 37 beech wood elements and 6 marbles, it is the only member of the Cuboro family with ramps, half-height blocks and colour, and is the perfect introduction to the three-dimensional world of the Cuboro marble track system. A perfect starter to expose children to spatial relationships, kinetic movement, cause-and-effect, and the effects of gravity, all while your child is experiencing the thrill of marbles rolling through his own construction.

7) Arckit A180 $299.90 Age 14+
Immerse yourself in the ultimate Arckit experience with Arckit 180. Everything you need to design and build your own impressive model structures up to 180 sq.m (1,937 sq.ft) to scale, including adhesive sheets to add realistic building finishes. There are no set instructions – just follow your imagination!

8) Zometool Creator 4 Advance Math & Geometry book $209.90 Age 6+
Explore the fascinating connections between Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math with this comprehensive Math toolkit. 

Zometool is a cleverly conceived system which allows you to construct regular 2-, 3-, and 5-fold symmetries. Using Zometool’s precision color and shape-coded parts, you can easily model a profusion of geometrical concepts and interrelationships, from tilings to hyperspace projections, molecular models of quasi-crystals and fullerenes, as well as space frame structures. Zometool helps you to understand the structure of space.

 9) Plus Plus Europa $59.90 Age 5+
The Plus-Plus Learn To Build set contains everything you need to get started with this unique construction toy. A Guide Book gives step-by step instructions to build flat mosaics and 3D creations - animals, people, buildings and more!

App-Based STEM Toys

1) Sphero Bolt $229 age 8+
Sphero BOLT’s eye-catching, programmable 8x8 light matrix opens up an endless array of coding and gaming capabilities. Use advanced sensors to track speed, acceleration, and direction, or drive BOLT without having to aim your robot thanks to the compass. BOLT also features infrared communication, allowing your robot to “talk” with other BOLTs. Equipped with Bluetooth SMART and a strong scratch-resistant shell, this robot’s brawn matches its brilliance. 

2) Osmo Little Genius Kit $149 Age 3+
OSMO is an award-winning game system that will change the way your child interacts with the iPad by opening it up to hands-on play.

Designed to take kids aged 3–5 on a hands-on learning adventure, OSMO sparks children's imaginations, learn critical skills, and engage preschoolers in core subjects!

3) Sphero RVR $379 age 8+
RVR is Sphero’s revolutionary take on the programmable robot — drive-able right out of the box; packed with a diverse suite of sensors; and built for customization. Expand RVR's capabilities even further by connecting third-party hardware like a Raspberry Pi, Arduino, BBC micro:bit, or Sphero’s own littleBits. RVR is your mobile blank canvas. Code with it, build on it, and hack the robot of your dreams — then take it anywhere.

4) Wonder Workshop Dash & Dot Wonder Pack $479 Age 6+
The Wonder Pack is a favorite. It comes with our award-winning Dash and Dot robots, as well as, five of our accessories. This exceptional value pack will spark creativity and encourage kids to use their imagination while helping them develop problem-solving skills.

Dot Creativity Kit is designed for adventure, fun and learning at an affordable price, the kit combines Do-it-Yourself projects with a quirky green robot and 100's of self-guided coding challenges.

Dash is beloved by kids and teachers around the world. Dash is smart enough to respond to voices and sounds and Dash can dance and sing, which makes for a fun and interactive learning experience for kids. Dash will help kids learn, laugh, and grow.

5) Sphero Mini Activity Kit $139 age 5+
The Sphero Mini Activity Kit has everything you need to get rolling and playing. Each Kit comes with a Construction Set, Activity Cards, Pins, Cones and a Robotic Ball Cover. Follow the 15 STEM-inspired Activity Cards to build mazes, design obstacle courses, construct towers, play croquet, and more. Drive and game with the Sphero Play App or code and learn with the Sphero Edu App. Complete all the challenges and games and then create your own fun—the possibilities are endless.

6) LittleBits Base Inventor Kit $159.00 Age 8+
The introductory Base Inventor Kit from littleBits includes everything creative kids need to turn their ideas into inventions! With a range of Bits that move, light up, and make noise, kids gain STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) skills by learning how technology is built.

Over 12 activities in the free Inventor App guide kids through building fun inventions, like a voice-activated robotic gripper arm or a room-protecting intruder alarm. Kids are challenged to create their inventions to improve their room, help their community, or save the world. Through hands-on play, kids gain lifelong skills to become changemakers through invention.

7) Makeblock Mbot V1.1 $109.90 Age 8+
mBot is an all-in-one solution to enjoy the hands-on experience of programming, electronics, and robotics. Working with mBlock inspired by Scratch 2.0, connecting with computers or smart devices via Bluetooth or 2.4G (by different version), this easy-to-assemble mBot provides infinite possibilities for you to learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

8) Tinker Academy micro:bit Kit (without micro:bit) $79 Age 14+
Start your Digital Maker journey with the micro:bit and a variety of easy-to-use components! This kit comes our custom Breakout Board (BoB for short), a custom accessory for the micro:bit that lets you easily connect a wide variety of modules without having to deal with messy breadboard wires.

9) Osmo Genius Kit 2017 $159 Age 5+
OSMO is an award-winning game system that will change the way your child interacts with the iPad by opening it up to hands-on play. Put your iPad in the OSMO base with the red reflector over the camera – and now it can see what’s in front of it, be it Art masterpieces, words, tangram shapes and numbers.