Tech’s Hottest New Trend: STEM Toys

The shortage of qualified people in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) has been the topic of heated debates and international conversations. Given that STEM careers are among the highest paid with an average starting salary of $66,000 and STEM jobs are predicted to increase by 17% in the next ten years, there has been a global movement to spark interest in the field at a young age.

The latest effort to ignite children’s curiosity in these subjects are toys specifically designed to foster and reinforce the critical thinking skills to pursue STEM careers. From teaching the fundamentals of coding to the basics of complex robotics, these gadgets serve as a great introduction to the building blocks of our digital world. And with this early exposure, future generations will be undoubtedly better equipped with the tools to succeed in school and beyond.

If you’re looking to nurture your child’s love for STEM, here are just a few fun (and affordable) toys and games you can shop for today.

• Jewelbots: Get your kids to learn the basics of computer science while they engage with their friends and family. Jewelbots are friendship bracelets that girls can program to behave in lots of different ways through an iOS or Android app. For instance, they can make their bracelet light up when a friend is nearby or even send a parent a message when they’re in an unsafe situation. Jewelbots are part of a trend of tech toys marketed explicitly for the way girls play and learn. Price range: $69 — $139

• Design & Drill BrightWorks: Get your child to think like a real engineer in an engaging and non-intimidating way. With an assortment of power drills, translucent bolts and the light-up activity board included in the set, Design & Drill BrightWorks gives kids the opportunity to hone their creativity through the design of glow-in-the-dark patterns. Price range: $39

• Makey Makey Classic: Get your kids to start acting like creators, innovators and agents of change. Makey Makey Classic is a circuit kit that connects to everyday materials that conduct electricity, so children can create new things out of ordinary objects. Bananas, ketchup, finger paint and aluminum foil are but a few of the 14 items that can be connected at once to learn more about circuits and basic programming. Price range: $24.95 — $49.95

• GoldieBlox: Get your girls building with this popular collection of construction toys. Each GoldieBlox set comes with a storybook featuring an inventor who goes on adventures to solve problems by building simple machines (dunk tanks, parade floats, parachutes, cable cars, etc.). These kits tap into girls’ strong verbal skills while bolstering confidence in their spatial skills. Price range: $10 — $164

• Vex Robotics Hexcalator Ball Machine: Teach your kids important STEM principles with this educational toy. With 260 snap-together pieces, the Vex Robotics Hexcalator challenges children to think analytically in order to build a roller coaster style ball machine. Once built, they can experiment with the hand crank to get the balls moving, the gears turning and the axles twisting. Price range: $29.99