{
  "id": 11406449,
  "title": "31 Best STEM Toys for Kids (2026): Learning Made Fun",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/31-best-stem-toys-for-kids-2026-learning-made-fun",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Wired",
    "slug": "wired",
    "url": "https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-stem-toys-for-kids/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "STEM toys, also known as STEAM toys, are an excellent way to encourage children's natural curiosity and creativity. Many young children instinctively act like engineers when shown a collection of tools, and it's up to parents to support their development while dealing with the inevitable mess. To aid parents in this process, I have tested numerous STEM toys with my own children, with input from fellow parents and educators. These toys, which span from building blocks to squishy engineering kits, provide a fun and educational experience for budding scientists.\n\nOne of the standout toys is the latest addition, Gravity Maze. This intriguing building block set offers a tactile, squishy experience that makes it enjoyable to construct and disassemble. The uniformity of the pieces means children can easily build bracelets, headbands, robots, and bridges without spending time searching for specific blocks. Children of all ages have found these blocks engaging, with some children enjoying unstructured play while others use the pieces to create scenes and solve engineering challenges. Instruction booklets are also available to guide young builders.\n\nAnother popular STEM toy is the Engine-Building Kit, which has been a hit in classrooms with 7- and 8-year-olds. This set offers a fun and educational way to introduce children to the fundamentals of engineering. The kits come in a variety of appealing colors and are designed in a way that allows children to experiment with building and dismantling without getting overwhelmed by a specific task. Parents and educators have praised these toys for their ability to spark creativity and logical thinking in young minds.",
  "summary": "We found lots of math-filled and science-rich toys for tiny nerds to assemble, bake, squish—or even tear apart and rebuild.",
  "key_points": [
    "Gravity Maze offers tactile, squishy building blocks for construction and disassembly.",
    "Engine-Building Kit introduces engineering fundamentals to 7- and 8-year-olds.",
    "Toys spark creativity and logical thinking in young minds."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}