Why are STEM toys important?
STEM toys are a fantastic tool to introduce children to the basic concepts of science, technology, engineering and math.
By Renuka.
STEM toys are important for children for the following reasons:
- Provides plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning
- Inspires children’s natural curiosity and imagination.
- Fun, yet engaging and educational.
- Suited for kids of all ages.
- Helps children develop an interest in STEM fields.
There are plenty of benefits of buying STEM toys for kids.
Let’s look more into them in the following section.
How Does A STEM Toy Help?
These Toys help to develop a wide range of skills
Children who engage with STEM toys imbibe some essential skills.
These skills are bound to come in handy during their education and careers.
These are skills children can develop with STEM toys:
- Problem-solving
- Decision-making
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Imagination
- Logical reasoning
- Rationality
Enhances Cognitive Skills
STEM toys can enrich a child’s cognitive abilities. Children learn to think critically, analyze a problem and then think of the best solution.
The open-ended nature of these toys requires your child to come up with unique ideas.
There are various levels of difficulty with STEM toys ranging from easy to challenging. STEM toys help children to perceive a problem and then come up with their own solutions.
This aids them in learning new things. Further, it provides an opening for creativity.
Encourages Creativity and imagination
Playing with STEM toys allows plenty of opportunities for creativity
STEM toys allow children to get creative and discover various possibilities for learning and playing.
Each option will bring a different outcome.
STEM toys help children explore various possibilities depending on their desired outcome.
Enhances Motor Skills and Hand-eye coordination
Manipulating with STEM toys helps develop hand-eye coordination, dexterity and motor skills.
When kids play with STEM toys, they develop a sense of connection between what they view and what their hands can do.
Most STEM toys are designed for kids to be physically involved as they build, construct, balance, move around and pick up various components.
All of these help children develop motor skills.
When children indulge in more such motor activities, they gain confidence in using their fingers, hands and intellectual skills.
Promotes spatial skills
STEM toys like building blocks and legos aid children understand their relationship to space.
These toys help children visualize the puzzle, building or structure they are about to build.
They also become aware of shapes, sizes, balance, distance etc., as they explore with the STEM toy.
They also gain a deeper understanding of these concepts as they learn more about how things work around them.
Sensory toys help gain an understanding of the world around them.
Are STEM toys good?
Makes learning fun
STEM toys encourage children to learn more about different subjects such as science, technology, engineering, and math and apply those concepts to the real world.
These toys make learning exciting and fun for the kids while developing critical skills needed for success.
Develops various skills
The focus of STEM toys is to enhance creativity, critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, decision-making skills etc., and present goals with clarity.
This way, kids can learn new things in an exciting, yet fun way.
Caters to various interests of children
One of the best aspects of STEM toys is that it caters to the varied interests of children.
For kids who are into chemistry, some toys are tailored toward chemistry concepts like science kits.
Some STEM toys help in coding, like designing Robots; while some help in engineering.
There are also STEM toys that help in mechanical functioning.
You can select STEM toys based on the child’s interest.
Inspires interest in STEM fields
STEM toys are good to introduce at an early age because it proves that STEM concepts are not very difficult to grasp.
When children experience these concepts on an everyday basis, they will approach these fields with a more open mind.
Different STEM toys for different ages
You should buy age-appropriate STEM toys for kids. This will ensure that they are not overwhelmed by the toy and will play effectively with a toy that is just right for them.
It’s important to match toys to your kid’s developmental age range.
While introducing STEM toys to your kids, ask questions and give time to reflect.
You must provide them with the chance to think for themselves and come up with unique solutions.
You must pitch in when things get a little too challenging and they are stuck somewhere.
Some of the best STEM toys for toddlers include:
- Stacking cups
- Shape sorters
- Building and construction sets
- Marble runs
Here are some of the best STEM toys for preschoolers:
- Puzzles
- Magnifying glass
- Magnetic building blocks/tiles
- Cash register
- Microscope
- Interlocking disc sets
- Take apart toys
For older kids, these STEM toys are what they will find exciting:
- Designing and coding robots
- Science exploration kits
- Circuitry kits
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of options for giving children something that is both educational and fun.
These toys will improve their interest, as well as performance in STEM in school and later on make them explore these concepts more.
Children will certainly loved learning, innovating, exploring and discovering new things with STEM toys.
Nothing like these toys to inspire an interest in continuous learning and discovery!
Photo by Kindel Media.
