Give Your Distance Learning Some Extra Credit with these STEM Toys and Games
As Thanksgiving was approaching, I spent a lot of time pondering the things I have to be thankful for. In a year where everyone with kids has shifted gears and become part-time teachers, I’m blessed to know my girls are studying things that I cannot teach them. I believe I’m an exception to the rule. For those who have younger kids, the unexpected distance learning has been quite a challenge. We always make recommendations of gifts that are educational and fun, but this year more than ever, we recognize that parents NEED to add these types of items to their shopping list. (Check out our STEAM and STEM gift guides from 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 as well as our list of games for teaching for more great ideas!) So don’t feel guilty about giving a toy or game that doubles as a a teaching tool!
Keep watch for some of these items to show up in our annual Mega Giveaway promotion so you can enter to win the ones that you don’t put under the tree!
878 Vikings: Invasion of England 2nd Ed.
Academy Games 
Thunder across England as invading Viking Berserkers and Norsemen searching for land, wealth, or gather men-at-arms as English Royal Housecarls and noble Thegns to resist the onslaught of the Viking Hordes.
Laser Pegs Mega Truck 4-in-1
Never Wrong Toys
Create four different truck models from this one set! Choose which one you want to assemble first: the Mega Truck, the Super Utility Vehicle, the Pro Racer, or the Work Horse. It’s your truck, you make the rules!
Just Add Baking Soda
Griddly Games, Inc.
Just Add Baking Soda is an explosively fun kit with new and different experiments that burst into super cool crafts. This kit has more than 20 science and arts activities including making Bath Bombs, Ornaments, a Baking Soda Volcano and so much more! The transformative kit allows the discovery of chemical reactions, states of matter, and alkalines.
The Young Scientists Club Plasma Globe
Horizon Group USA
Experience electricity at your fingertips with The Young Scientists Club Plasma Globe! Plug in the plasma globe and spark curiosity in electricity — analyze the different plasma beam reactions to sound and touch! Experience the electricity at your fingertips as soon as you touch the globe — watch an electrical charge follow your every move! Then, flip the switch and turn on your favorite song to watch a sound-activated light show! Don’t forget to make your plasma globe completely unique — add awesome glow-in-the-dark stickers!
Mega Cyborg Hand
Thames & Kosmos
Build your own BIG hydraulic hand, slip your hand into it like a glove, and operate the mechanical fingers with your own fingers. Assemble the cyborg hand using over 200 plastic pieces, fill the piston tubes with water, and adjust it to fit your own hand. The hydraulic pistons enable the fingers to open and close, and to grip objects with enough force to lift them. Learn how pneumatic and hydraulic systems are used in industrial robots to enable the robots to manipulate heavy objects, such as automobile components.
Coding Stater Kit
OSMO
Coding Starter Kit, released at the end of July, teaches various levels of coding to kids 5-10, combines bestsellers Coding Awbie, Coding Jam and Coding Duo (no longer sold separately), and makes coding accessible and fun through hands-on learning games specifically designed for kids 5 to 10. Children learn basic coding concepts including problem solving, computational thinking, and coding fundamentals, in addition to more complex concepts, such as sequencing, looping, logic thinking, and pair programming.
Antidote Deduction Card Game
University Games
Antidote is a deadly-fun card game for up to 7 players, with rules for as few as 2. In Antidote, you are a laboratory scientist working for a giant chemical research conglomerate. When you and your lab are suddenly exposed to a deadly toxin, you must work quickly to share your research and discover the Antidote before it’s too late!
Snap Ships Gladius
PlayMonster
Gladius AC-75 Drop Ship, the Forge’s large and heavily-armed ship, is piloted by the gruff leader Dex and the spunky young pilot Dee La. Gladius features a missile rack for high explosive ground attack, a pulse laser for heavy assault, and a heavy-life engine.
MVFG Building Site
HABA USA
My Very First Games Building Site manager Bruno Bear needs help with building a house. Players must find matching traffic cone tiles and drive them to the construction site with the Kullerbu dump truck. Step by step, the foundations, walls, roof, and garden take shape. Finding out about what construction workers do makes every player a winner. A collaborative matching and memory game.
Astronomy Fluxx
Looney Labs
If you’ve ever dreamt of being an astronaut, Astronomy Fluxx is for you! This version of Fluxx takes you to outer space, but this time it’s not sci-fi. Featuring stunning NASA photographs of planets and other astronomical objects, you’ll have a blast while learning about space and humankind’s space flight history in this latest installment in the educational Fluxx series.
Creatto
Thames & Kosmos
Explore the depths of your creativity with Creatto! Creatto is a simple yet versatile building system that consists of just two primary components that can be woven together into countless 3D creations. The flexible yet durable plastic tiles interlock quickly and easily for all skill levels; no additional materials or hardware required! Each Creatto kit includes assembly instructions for four different configurations, but the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
Mixy Squish Tabletop Creativity Desk
Horizon Group USA
Transform airy, fluffy clay into a world of seriously squishy, textured fun with the Mixy Squish™ Tabletop Creativity Desk! With 5 oz. of pre-made, pre-textured Mixy Squish colors — with crunchy, glittery add-ins — plus 14 sculpting tools and 3 double-sided molds, creative sensory fun takes on a whole new meaning! Bring out the magic in your Mixy Squish by kneading it with your hands for a minute or two — softening the clay makes it easier to use! Then, jump right in and start creating! Create on the convenient carry and storage case. The flat top is ideal for rolling, flattening and creating. Use the included molds and texture plates to add extra dimension to your projects!
Laser Pegs Helicopter 4-in-1
Never Wrong Toys
Create four different helicopters from this one set! Choose which one you want to assemble first: the Autogyro, the Pusher Concept, the Skycrane, or the Transport Chopper. Hop on the chopper and take a flight, you’re in charge!
Just Add Fruits & Veggies
Griddly Games, Inc.
What do you do with all your old fruits and veggies – no need to throw them out! This cool STEAM kit will deliver hours of exploration, creativity, learning and enjoyment. With more than 20 science and art activities, Just Add Fruits & Veggies will bring hours of fun and enjoyment while learning chemical reactions, osmosis, germination and study of electricity!
As we start to wrap up our lists filled with gift ideas, remember to check out the other holiday content while doing your online shopping. If you know someone who could you some suggestions for all ages, send them links to some of our gift guides!
Coding Stater Kit
I think the Just Add Baking Soda kit adds a lot of educational home value!!
Vikings are always awesome!
The coding starter kit would be great for the classroom. Kids love the idea of learning to code.
I have used several of the Griddly Games with my grandchildren and I would like to add the fruits and vegetables one.
I like Astronomy Fluxx .
I know my granddaughters would love these toys.
I think the coding would be good since so technology is ever growing
laser plugs and plasma ball look awesome
The coding starter kit would be great for kids
So many fun and educational games, but I think “Just Add Baking Soda” would bring a lot to the home school.
I think kids could learn a lot from Just Add Baking Soda
I think the coding starter kit would be useful.
Love all of them.