Editor’s pick
Arduino Starter Kit (K000007)
The official way to learn Arduino, one breadboard project at a time
About $75brand list price View on Amazon
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STEM Gifts for Teens & Young Adults
Teens can tell a toy from a tool, and they want tools. These picks are the same platforms real engineers and makers use, chosen to lead somewhere: a portfolio project, a science fair win or a future major.
The shortlist
If you only read one thing.
Our three favorites from this guide. The full list follows below.
- No. 01
Arduino Starter Kit (K000007)
“Best for kids who want to wire circuits and write real code.”
About $75brand list priceView on Amazon - No. 02
CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit PRO (8GB, 128GB)
“Best for kids who want a real computer to code and tinker with.”
Typical price $100+ View on Amazon - No. 03
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Telescope
“Best for kids who want app help finding things in the night sky.”
About $250brand list priceView on Amazon
20 picks
Products
Editor’s pick
CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit PRO (8GB, 128GB)
A full Raspberry Pi 5 computer, ready to boot out of the box
Typical price $100+ View on Amazon
Editor’s pick
Elenco Practical Soldering Project Kit
Learn to solder by building a working two-tone siren
About $15brand list price View on Amazon
Editor’s pick
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ Telescope
Your phone shows exactly where to point, then you take over
About $250brand list price View on Amazon
Editor’s pick
Electronics for Kids, 2nd Edition
21 hands-on projects, from basic circuits to digital logic
About $25brand list price View on Amazon
SCRIB3D Advanced 3D Printing Pen
Draw in 3D with melted PLA, from stencils to freehand sculpture
About $60brand list price View on Amazon
Arduino Plug and Make Kit
Snap-together Arduino projects with no breadboard or soldering
About $70brand list price View on Amazon
Makeblock mBot Ultimate 10-in-1 Robot Kit
Metal robot kit that rebuilds into ten machines, including an arm
About $400brand list price View on Amazon
ELEGOO Smart Robot Car Kit V4 with Camera
Build and code a camera robot car that follows lines and dodges walls
About $75brand list price View on Amazon
SunFounder PiCar-X AI Robot Car Kit
Turn a Raspberry Pi into a camera robot that sees and listens
About $90brand list price View on Amazon
Hakko FX-888DX Digital Soldering Station
A real workbench soldering station a teen won't outgrow
About $120brand list price View on Amazon
3Doodler Create+ 3D Printing Pen (Juku Edition)
Draw in the air and sketch 3D models by hand
Typical price $50 – $100 View on Amazon
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Refractor Telescope
A straightforward first telescope for the Moon and planets
About $200brand list price View on Amazon
LEGO Technic McLaren P1 (42172)
A 1:8 hypercar with a working V8 and 7-speed gearbox
About $450brand list price View on Amazon
LEGO Icons NASA Artemis Space Launch System (10341)
Build NASA's Moon rocket in 3,601 pieces
About $260brand list price View on Amazon
Python for Kids, 2nd Edition
Learn real Python 3 by building two complete games
About $35brand list price View on Amazon
A Beginner's Guide to Circuits
Nine quick breadboard builds with no soldering required
About $20brand list price View on Amazon
Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi
Build a two-wheeled robot and teach it to see and avoid things
About $25brand list price View on Amazon
Make: Electronics: Learning by Discovery
The hands-on electronics primer many makers learned from
About $30brand list price View on Amazon
Arduino Workshop, 2nd Edition
65 Arduino projects to try after the starter kit runs out
About $40brand list price View on Amazon
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