Find a gift
The Holiday Issue Vol. 1 · No. 01 November 2026

Hand-picked STEM gifts · Ages 3 to 18+

Gifts that spark big ideas.

Robots, circuits, science kits and builds that kids actually love, with honest notes on what each one teaches and who it’s for.

Find the perfect gift Read this issue
Electrons → toys Every gift here starts as a spark. Watch them assemble
No. 01 · Ages 3+ Magna-Tiles Classic 100-Piece Set About $120brand list price View
No. 02 · Ages 4+ SmartGames Camelot Jr. About $25brand list price View
No. 03 · Ages 8–13 CrunchLabs by Mark Rober The Crunchinator About $35brand list price View
No. 04 · Ages 6+ Ticket to Ride: First Journey Typical price $25 – $50 View
No. 05 · Ages 7+ Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand About $45brand list price View
  • 92kits & gifts, chosen by hand
  • 3questions to the perfect gift
  • 4age chapters, preschool to young adult
In this issue

What’s inside.

A short, opinionated list. Every page is built to help you choose faster and give something that gets used.

  1. 01Four age chaptersp. 04
  2. 02The editor’s picksp. 08
  3. 03Games, a quiz & an advent calendarp. 12
  4. 04Departments by interestp. 16
  5. 05The Kit Finderp. 20
  6. 06Gift guides & buying guidesp. 22
Chapter 01 · Shop by age

The right challenge at every age.

Too easy gets boring; too hard gets abandoned. Start with the age and we’ll show what hits the sweet spot.

  1. 01 3–5 Little Builders Screen-free coding, magnetic builds and first experiments. 22 picks
  2. 02 6–8 Young Explorers First circuits, beginner robots and science they can see. 65 picks
  3. 03 9–12 Young Engineers Programmable robots, real circuits and bigger builds. 60 picks
  4. 04 13+ Teens & Young Adults Arduino, Raspberry Pi, soldering and serious builds. 28 picks
Chapter 02 · The picks

Twelve we’d wrap ourselves.

See every editor’s pick Browse the picks
Holiday 2026

Gifts that make kids think, not just unwrap.

Shop early for the best selection and delivery before the big day. Our holiday guide has picks for every age and budget, from stocking stuffers to the big gift.

Open the gift guide
Stocking stuffersUnder $50For teens
--Days
--Hours
--Mins
--Secs

until Christmas

Chapter 03 · Play

Little games, real ideas.

Free, quick and made for your phone. Perfect for the car ride, the waiting room or a rainy afternoon.

What kind of maker is your kid? Five fun questions, a shareable result and a gift list to match. Take the quiz Light it up Tap the wires to send current from the battery to the bulb. Play now STEM Advent Calendar 24 doors, 24 ten-minute home experiments, December 1–24. Open the calendar
If a kid won’t want to play with it twice, it doesn’t make the list.
The Electroys standard. How we choose →
Chapter 04 · Departments

What are they curious about?

All 92 picks
RoboticsRobots that move, sense and react. CodingFrom screen-free sequencing to Python. ElectronicsCircuits, sensors and soldering. ScienceChemistry, physics and real experiments. Engineering & BuildingStructures, machines and mechanisms. Space & NatureTelescopes, microscopes and the outdoors. Puzzles & LogicBrain teasers, strategy and math. Art & DesignCreative tech, 3D pens and making.
Chapter 05 · The Kit Finder Three questions. One perfect gift. AgeInterestsBudgetYour matches Start the Kit Finder
Chapter 06 · Gift guides

Shortcuts for busy gift-givers.

All gift guides

Holiday gift guide

Our favorite STEM kits, building sets and brain-building toys to give this holiday season, for every age from preschool to young adult.

36 picks

Stocking stuffers

Small, affordable puzzles, science kits and brain teasers that fit in a stocking and get played with all winter.

23 picks

Under $25

Great-value STEM toys, logic games and science kits that typically cost less than $25.

19 picks

Under $50

The sweet spot for birthday and holiday gifts: robots, circuits, building sets and science kits typically under $50.

53 picks

Screen-free gifts

Coding, engineering and science toys that teach real skills without a tablet, phone or computer.

73 picks

Gifts for teens

Arduino, Raspberry Pi, soldering kits and advanced builds that teenagers and young adults actually want.

20 picks

Also in this issue

01 The Best Coding Robots for Kids, by Age From button-pressing floor robots for preschoolers to Python-programmable rovers for teens. How coding robots differ, and which one fits. 02 From Snap Circuits to Arduino: A Path Into Electronics The order we'd introduce electronics in, from first snap-together circuits to soldering and microcontrollers, with the right kit for each step. 03 How to Choose a STEM Kit by Age What kids can actually do at each age, what to look for in a kit, and the mistakes that send good gifts to the back of the closet.
Esc

Add Electroys to your Home Screen

Three taps, then it opens like an app.

  1. 1Tap the Share button in Safari’s toolbar.
  2. 2Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. 3Tap Add. Electroys appears next to your other apps.