STEM Toys and Games for Younger Children and Teens in 2024

STEM Toys and Games for Younger Children and Teens in 2024

The acronym STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering and Maths, and they are among the most important subjects that our children can learn, oftentimes however they feel the most complicated which is why  STEM-focussed games are so valuable.

Importance of STEM:

We hear all the time about the lack of young people choosing STEM-related careers and the long-term impacts this is likely to have particularly in areas such as engineering.

The importance of STEM subjects in supporting crucial industries cannot be underestimated.

From power generation through to food production, all are reliant on STEM education to ensure a future workforce capable of delivering these vital aspects of our society.

Engaging Early:

A way to embrace this is by fostering an early appreciation of the subjects and making them part of a child’s play routine from a very young age, this way the purpose of subjects such as maths is bought to life in an effective and hands-on way.

We know that learning through play engages young minds at a crucial stage in their development. Many of the games identified below are also fantastic for helping them develop their motor skills and problem-solving abilities.

Great for Teachers:

Hands-on play using STEM board games is also a great way for children to boost their memory recollection skills.

Hopefully, the games and puzzles listed below may also help teachers looking for STEM classroom aids.

Stem Games Perfect for Children in Pre-school

Lewo Montessori 3-in-1 Wooden Number Puzzle:

This is a great value 3-in-1 Wooden Number Puzzle game that should keep pre-schoolers occupied by sorting shapes and improving number recognition.

Fantastic for helping develop their fine motor skills, there are 55 rings, ten number blocks, ten rods in different sizes, and a great storage bag.

Beautifully crafted in natural wood and brightly coloured, the pieces are designed to encourage brain development. This would also make a wonderful gift for a pre-schooler.

Joyin Play Act Counting Bears Toy Set:

The fantastic Joyin Play Act Counting Bears Toy Set game takes a highly innovative approach to encourage the development of fine motor skills as well as shape, colour and number recognition.

It’s possible to make up games or follow the simple instructions, for example, match shapes on the bear’s bellies to those on the front of the little “honey” jars and use tongs to put the bear in the jar.

This game comes with 82 pieces including 72 cute little bears, six “honey” jars, a set of jumbo tweezers and three dice.

Quick Tip: there are so many pieces to this wonderful game that it would be a shame to lose any. If you’re heading out with a pre-schooler, maybe just take a handful of the bears and a few of the “honey” jars!

Remoking Maths Game for Kids:

The Remoking Maths Game for Kids brings to life lots of different number concepts for young children. Engaging and hands-on, this has a cute dinosaur which serves as a mini weighing scale.

There are 32 double-sided word cards which feature different tasks, 19 small dinosaurs, ten numbers, two weighing plates, as well as the dinosaur scale and base.

If however, teddy bears rather than dinosaurs are a favourite then this version would be ideal.

Stem Games for Children Under 12

Science Kidz Electronic Kit:

The Science Kidz Electronic Kit is an absolute must for any budding electrical engineers! The objective is to create real electronic circuits and experiments, and with 188 experiments to create, this game is set to give hours of value.

Tools aren’t required as all the pieces snap easily into place. There is an easy-to-follow instruction manual and everything is battery-powered.

Science4you – Betabot Robot Building Kit for Kidz:

Continuing the electronic theme is Science4you – Betabot Robot Building Kit for Kidz.

This robot-building kit comes with 126 pieces and an educational book to enable kids to build an amazing robot which has a small, built-in engine powered by batteries that makes it move!

The educational book helps young engineers discover the science of robotics and electronics while having fun and developing important skills like creativity, concentration, and memory.

Thinkfun Roller Coaster Challenge:

Who doesn’t love a theme park? But how are rollercoasters created? What better way to find out than by building your own through this fantastic STEM game: the Thinkfun Roller Coaster Challenge.

The objective is to create a track on which a car can successfully travel from start to finish. The challenge cards provide a set of instructions around where pieces of infrastructure should go, it’s up to engineers to build a thrill-seeking ride.

The game includes 39 track pieces, 36 post pieces, two tunnels, a game grid, and 40 challenges.

Stem Games for Teens

The Genius Square Game:

This isn’t big – so ideal for playing on train or plane journeys; however, The Genius Square Game includes a whopping 62,000 different puzzles.

A multi-award-winner, the Genius Square Game includes grids with numbers and letters, a set of dice which feature coordinates, blockers, and nine different pentomino shapes.

Simply roll all seven dice together and place the seven blockers into the squares of the grid to match the seven coordinates that appear on the dice.

Players then use the nine pentomino shapes to complete the square as quickly as possible.

Hacker the Cyber Security Logic Board Game:

Hopefully, this STEM board game won’t lead the FBI to your door!

Hacker the Cyber Security Logic Game is an ingenious concept whereby players need to lead the defence from cyber criminals by joining a hacker team.

There are 40 challenges, ranging from beginner to expert, involving the roles of a coder, hacker, and security engineer.

Agents need to be programmed to collect data chips while avoiding viruses and alarms. Create a code for your agent to reach the exit, then alter the programme to unleash the virus.

Prime Climb Challenge:

The Prime Climb Challenge is a maths-led STEM board game that is fast to learn.

It includes a board marked with colour-coded numbers from zero to 101 which is designed to help children with multiplication and division.

Players take turns to roll dice and add, subtract, multiply or divide that with the number on which their pawn sits. This then sends their pawn to the resulting number. The first player to get both their pawns to exactly 101 wins the game.

Ticket to Ride:

STEM meets travel with Ticket to Ride London, a board game that encourages players to learn about route planning, resource management, and critical thinking.

Set in 1970s London, the objective is to race against other players in order to claim the most important bus routes to complete Destination Tickets.

The game includes a board map, 68 plastic double-decker busses in four different colours, 44 Transportation Cards and 20 Destination Ticket Cards. And there are lots of lovely illustrations that serve to create an authentic look and feel.

What’s even more fun is that there are different versions of the game including one that will take players to the USA, one that travels to Nordic Countries, and even a European leg!

STEM Puzzle Games

These are great for encouraging problem-solving skills and there are so many to choose from:

30 Cubed:

30 Cubed contains 30 different cubes along with a grid and a solution booklet. The order of these colours varies from cube to cube.

Every side of every cube features part of a “line” and the line appears in ten different colours. The puzzle requires the lines and/or base colours to be connected in different ways, following increasingly complex rules.

Stem Educational Logic Training:

STEM Educational Logic Training is a maze toy that requires logical thinking, patience, and concentration.

Using a tabletop grid, players need to recreate a picture from a challenge book with “walls” of varying height which serve to create a maze.

They then release a small ball from the starting position to see if it can reach the target slot on the bottom of the grid.

Mondrian Blocks:

Mondrian Blocks – Yellow Edition is an award-winning game that is easy to travel with. There are 88 challenges in each edition making it a great value STEM board game.

It contains 11 different-sized blocks and the objective is to fit all the pieces onto the game board according to the challenge card, which dictates the starting positions of several blocks.

Parking Puzzler:

Smart Games – Parking Puzzler illustrates how STEM skills are needed for everything – even finding a parking space.

It includes a game board which can be used as a storage case; seven colourful cars placed on 6 transparent puzzle pieces, and a booklet with 60 challenges and solutions.

Players must find the right spot for each car using the clues and directions provided in the challenges. No illegal parking is permitted!

Cars parked in the driving lane or taking up two spots will not be issued a license to move to the next challenge!

Final Thoughts

No matter what career path a person decides, spending time when young playing board games, particularly those that help enhance their analytical skills, is time well spent.

Ironically, playing board games is a great way to get children off their screens; however, a career in STEM is likely to lead them directly to a world of computing, however, jobs on this career path are invariably very rewarding and can lead to enormous success.

Read More: Cool Board Games that Teenagers are Playing this year!