Editor’s pick
Learning Resources Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set
Build a maze, plan the route, and code a mouse to the cheese
About $70brand list price View on Amazon
Chapter · Ages 3–5
Little Builders, ages 3–5
At this age the best STEM toys feel like play first. Look for chunky pieces, quick wins and toys that invite counting, sorting, sequencing and cause-and-effect without a screen. Every pick here is sized for small hands and short attention spans.
22 picks
Products
Editor’s pick
Magna-Tiles Classic 100-Piece Set
Translucent magnetic tiles that turn flat shapes into 3D builds
About $120brand list price View on Amazon
Editor’s pick
hand2mind Numberblocks MathLink Cubes 1-10 Activity Set
Build the Numberblocks characters and see how numbers really work
About $30brand list price View on Amazon
Editor’s pick
SmartGames Camelot Jr.
Wooden block puzzles that build a path for the knight
About $25brand list price View on Amazon
Editor’s pick
Sphero indi At-Home Learning Kit
A little robot car kids program with colored cards
Typical price $100+ View on Amazon
Learning Resources Switcheroo Coding Crew
One robot, three rescue vehicles, lots of code-to-the-rescue missions
Typical price $50 – $100 View on Amazon
Learning Resources Botley 2.0 Coding Robot Activity Set
A screen-free coding robot with room to grow into longer programs
About $100brand list price View on Amazon
Learning Resources Coding Critters Ranger & Zip
A robot puppy that teaches coding through storybook adventures
About $55brand list price View on Amazon
Thames & Kosmos Kids First Coding & Robotics
Build Sammy the robot, then program him with code cards
About $140brand list price View on Amazon
Thames & Kosmos Kids First Robot Engineer
Build 10 candy-factory robots while reading along with a story
About $40brand list price View on Amazon
Thames & Kosmos Kids First Intro to Tools & Building
Real tool skills with a kid-sized hammer, screwdriver and wrench
About $30brand list price View on Amazon
Snap Circuits Beginner SCB-20
First circuits with big snap-together parts and picture instructions
About $35brand list price View on Amazon
SmartMax Start Magnetic Discovery Set
Chunky magnetic bars and balls that show attract and repel
Typical price $25 – $50 View on Amazon
Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Deluxe Building Set
Snap gears onto pillars and crank to watch them all turn
About $35brand list price View on Amazon
Educational Insights Design & Drill Activity Center
A real working toy drill for bolt patterns and pictures
About $40brand list price View on Amazon
Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Set
Real-looking lab tools sized for preschool scientists
About $40brand list price View on Amazon
Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. My First Microscope
A real microscope with two big eyepieces made for little kids
Typical price $25 – $50 View on Amazon
Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars
Binoculars little kids can actually see through
About $16brand list price View on Amazon
ThinkFun Robot Turtles
A board game where kids write code with cards to reach the jewel
Typical price Under $25 View on Amazon
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box (10696)
484 open-ended bricks for kids who'd rather invent than follow
About $35brand list price View on Amazon
MAGNA-TILES Undersea Adventure 58-Piece Set
Magnetic ocean habitats with slides, trapdoors and sea creatures
About $90brand list price View on Amazon
VTech KidiZoom PrintCam
A kids' camera that prints photos instantly in black and white
Typical price $50 – $100 View on Amazon
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