11 Top STEM Toys for Kids

A 1-inch-wide R2-D2 look-alike teaches the basics of coding and robotics. Kids use the included cards or their own markers to create color-coded paths (a sequence of blue-black-blue dots makes Ozobot go faster, for example). You can also download free apps that let the 'bot follow lines on your tablet screen. iOS and Android. Ages 8 and up $49.99, ozobot.com

These electronic sets, first launched in the U.S. in 2000, were STEM-friendly before STEM was cool. Each of the more than 30 kits allows kids to snap together components to form circuits (hence the name). Among the tester favorites were kits featuring fans that blow and buzzers that beep. Ages 6 and up Starting at $19.95, snapcircuits.net

With its suction cup superpowers, this toy might be the robot version of Spiderman. Once assembled, the Air-Walker can scale windows, or be rebuilt in a different shape. Ages 8 and up

$44.95, amazon.com

Kids put their engineering skills to the test, using colorful towers to construct various marble runs. Cards presenting 60 building challenges (ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert) are included. Ages 8 and up $29.99, amazon.com

Get a head start on the school biography fair with A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon, by Suzanne Slade and Veronica Miller Jamison. The picture book highlights Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician who designed and verified the flight path for the first American astronauts to land on the moon. Our kid reviewers liked that Johnson was obsessed with counting when she was their age. Ages 6+ Amazon.com

Make electronic music minus the screen with a build-your-own synthesizer. Preteen producers can learn about the science behind sound and mix three different synths to inspire their next track. Ages 12+

Amazon.com

If it seems like your kid poses a million questions a day, get a copy of Ask a Scientist,

by Robert Winston. This book hits the school-age sweet spot with detailed yet easy-to-grasp explanations to 100 questions ranging from “Why doesn’t rain taste salty?” to “How does a light light up?” Teachers will love you if you buy a copy for their library too. Ages 6+ Amazon.com

Combine the Montessori method with AI technology, then add an iPad, and you’ll have the newest kit from Osmo. On a mat that senses what they’re building, Kids can make shapes or learn their ABCs with the help of an educational app. Ages 3-5, $79; Playosmo.com

The picture book Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines, by Sarah Aronson and Robert Neubecker,

fills kids in on how Goldberg went from mapping sewer pipes to drawing cartoons of fantastical machines. “The book shows what can happen when you follow your dreams, especially the weird ones!” says Bird. Ages 8+ Amazon.com

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance pet, a robotic hedgehog might be the one. Once all his spines are in place, clap and he’ll roll into a ball—no training necessary. Your kid will be the one learning instead! The motor requires four AAA batteries that are not included. (We recommend always keeping spare long-lasting AA and AAA in the house—we like new Duracell Optimum.)

Ages 7+, Available Fall 2019; Amazon.com

These cute creatures introduce the basic concepts of coding in pre-K. Each dinosaur, mouse, or puppy set comes with a storybook guide that prompts players to code their toy’s actions. Older kids can follow along and program movements, while younger ones can activate play mode. Ages 4 to 10

$39.99; learningresources.com