We tested 3 different STEM toys for 3 different age groups to see which ones would be best for our students & readers.
STEM toys are a great way to introduce engineering concepts at an early age. It is important to introduce STEM concepts at an early age in order to enrich a child's cognitive skills. STEM toys help develop logical reasoning, critical thinking, & problem solving. It is never too early to introduce STEM concepts!
Set #1: Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Builders
Out of the three sets we tried, this one was the most fun for the children & it seems to be the most popular amongst our students as well. This product is for ages 18+ months and made of foam, magnets, & gears. Not only do they connect magnetically, but the gears allow the pieces to turn 360 degrees. The clicking sound it makes as it turns is also very satisfying. When I was showing our 2 year old students the different things you could make with the blocks, I could see their eyes light up with imagination & creativity. They quickly wanted a turn and couldn't wait to play with it. I would highly recommend this product for early STEM learning.
Set #2: Roboflex Plus
This STEM set has more complicated components than the Blockaroo set & is good for ages 3+ years. There are expandable pipes, balls, propellers, & more that connect magnetically. The materials are plastic & metal. Our students had a great time experimenting with different combinations to create robots & vehicles. The stretching & manipulating of the pipes were great for fine motor skill development.
Set #3: First Class Pipe Building
This last set is for ages 4+. The first thing I noticed was that the pieces are not as differentiated as the other sets. The only components are pipes & wheels. I would say that this set requires more patience & imagination. The connections for this set are not magnetic, the pipes fit into each other, & everything is made of plastic.
We gave this set to our 4 year old students. They showed interest at first in the new toy but they soon grew tired of it because it was difficult for them. I would recommend that an adult guide & help children that are 4 years old so that they don't give up in the middle of making something. Our 5 year old kindergarten students, however, loved this set. They did not need any guidance and were able to make very creative connections.
The Final Score
I think all these STEM toys are great but it is very important to get age-appropriate toys for your child. If you get something too difficult to start out, they will lose interest quickly. It is also important for parents to help guide children as they build & to be there to answer questions that may arise. This will help create a stronger parent-child bond as well.
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