Do you have a teen who loves building and creating? Many children are natural-born engineers. Your job as a parent is to nurture their creativity. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) type of toys helps kids develop a broad range of skills from critical thinking and problem-solving to engineering basics and the scientific method. It also helps kids strengthen their frustration tolerance and promote perseverance. Choose among the best stem toys for teens in this guide.
Comparison Chart
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
---|---|---|---|
OUR TOP PICK | Kididdo Educational STEM Gift for Boys & Girls | Kididdo Educational STEM Gift for Boys & Girls is super fun and a cool remote-control car for girls and boys. This RC car kit building blocks set offers the best combination and a creative, fun, and educational playset. | |
RUNNER UP | 4M STEM Toys Educational Gift for Kids & Teens | 4M STEM Toys Educational Gift for Kids & Teens is one of the best stem toys for teens that features a kit containing all the materials needed to assemble a robotic hand with fully-articulated fingers. | |
ALSO GREAT | OWI 14-in-1 Educational Solar Robot | OWI 14-in-1 Educational Solar Robot features a 14-in-1 educational solar robot kit that allows teens to work out a robot and transform it into 14 different robot modes, with unique movements and designs. The robot can be changed from a running beetle to a rowing boat, a walking crab, or even a zombie-chaser. | |
Playz Electrical Circuit Board Engineering Kit | Playz Electrical Circuit Board Engineering Kit is one of the best stem toys for teens that enables users to create their circuits. It is a suitable toy for kids who want to learn about science, physics, mechanical, structural, and electrical engineering. | ||
4M 5576 DIY Robotics Stem Toys | 4M 5576 DIY Robotics Stem Toys is one of the best stem toys for teens that features a hands-on science kit that teaches robotics basics by constructing a working robot crab. This toy challenges teens’ imagination and facilitates learning excitingly. | ||
Educational Insights Kanoodle | Educational Insights Kanoodle features a puzzle game that includes 12 puzzle pieces, 200 puzzle challenges, a 48-page illustrated puzzle book, and a carrying case. It is a perfect brain teaser and a travel game for teens. | ||
Elenco Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 | Elenco Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 is one of the best stem toys for teens that allows users to assemble over 100 different electronic circuit projects with more than 30 electronic parts. With this toy, teens can construct a photosensor’s working models, a flashing light, an adjustable-volume siren, etc. |
Detailed Reviews of the 77 Best Stem Toys for Teens
Kididdo Educational STEM Gift for Boys & Girls
Kididdo Educational STEM Gift for Boys & Girls is super fun and a cool remote-control car for girls and boys. This RC car kit building blocks set offers the best combination and a creative, fun, and educational playset.
Product Highlights
This stem toy is designed to improve your kid’s creativity, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills. It can help kids learn about the importance of collaboration and teamwork. You can build a fully motorized, independently RC-controlled car racer, powered by a rechargeable NI-CD 2/3AA300mAh 7.2V battery pack, while the controller requires 3 “AAA” batteries.
The Good
This toy is certified toxin-free and made of premium quality harmless and safe ABS plastic for children. It is durable and made to last. The 326 well-made pieces of engineering building blocks are built to develop your kid’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills. It also comes with a comprehensive manual book.
The Bad
Users complain that the remotes all operate on the same frequency, so you can’t race. Some users complain that they received toy sets with missing pieces.
PROs
- Fun and educational playset
- Improves creativity, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills
- Certified toxin-free
- Made of premium quality and safe ABS plastic
- Durable and made to last
- Detailed manual book
CONs
- Remotes all operate on the same frequency so you can’t race each other
- Some parts are missing
4M STEM Toys Educational Gift for Kids & Teens
4M STEM Toys Educational Gift for Kids & Teens is one of the best stem toys for teens that features a kit containing all the materials needed to assemble a robotic hand with fully-articulated fingers.
Product Highlights
This toy features cord pulling to make the robotic fingers curl inward in realistic gripping action. It is ideal for young science enthusiasts who are interested in robotics. A detailed assembly instruction included is also included.
The Good
It is ideal for ages eight years and up and is meant to challenge a child’s imagination. This educational toy is a fun and hands-on way to learn about the science of robotics. This toy doesn’t require batteries. They encourage your child’s inquisitive nature while teaching them to explore the world around them.
The Bad
Users complain that the toy is hard to assemble. Some users complain that the toy keeps breaking and is not durable. Some parents said that its mechanics is not so exciting compared with others.
PROs
- Realistic gripping action
- Detailed assembly instruction included
- Challenges a child’s imagination
- Fun and hands-on way to learn about robotics
- Doesn’t require batteries
CONs
- Hard to assemble
- Not durable
- Not so interesting mechanics
OWI 14-in-1 Educational Solar Robot
OWI 14-in-1 Educational Solar Robot features a 14-in-1 educational solar robot kit that allows teens to work out a robot and transform it into 14 different robot modes, with unique movements and designs. The robot can be changed from a running beetle to a rowing boat, a walking crab, or even a zombie-chaser.
Product Highlights
With this toy, boys and girls will learn about solar energy and robotics while having fun. This kit includes educational instructions, and two levels of complexity for the robot builds. It features a retractable robot head that can be quickly stored in the upper body.
The Good
This product is powered by the sun, so there are no batteries required. The robot moves through solar energy and allows kids to create and use their infinite imagination. It has unique accessories that can make the robot move on land or water. It has a transparent housing to see the movements of the gears.
The Bad
Users complain that it has lots of small parts that break easily. Other customers said that its solar panel is too weak to operate the whole robot. Some users also reported that it is hard to assemble.
PROs
- 14 different robot modes, with unique movements and designs
- Powered by solar energy
- No batteries required
- Can move on both land and water
- Transparent housing allows users to see gear movements
CONs
- Lots of small parts that break easily
- The solar panel is too weak
- Hard to assemble
Playz Electrical Circuit Board Engineering Kit
Playz Electrical Circuit Board Engineering Kit is one of the best stem toys for teens that enables users to create their circuits. It is a suitable toy for kids who want to learn about science, physics, mechanical, structural, and electrical engineering.
Product Highlights
This toy gives kids the chance to explore how various electronics work, including lights, sounds, magnetism, and radios. Both Boys and girls will learn how to wire, build, and engineer over 25 exciting electronic experiments offered in this toy. It is ideal for ages eight years old and above.
The Good
This toy will let you experience a real science and electronics center. It also includes a 64-page illustrated instruction manual for the assembly of circuits and fascinating multi-experiments. Experiments range from simple to challenging, allowing kids to grow and learn more about STEM while having fun.
The Bad
Many users said that the toy is a little complicated to be played. Some also said that it is small, and some of its parts are not durable.
PROs
- Enables users to create circuits
- Teaches electronics work, lights, sounds, magnetism and radios
- Over 25 exciting electronic experiments
- Includes 64-page illustrated instruction manual
- Fun and gradual learning
CONs
- Complicated to use
- Small-sized toy
- Some parts are not durable
4M 5576 DIY Robotics Stem Toys
4M 5576 DIY Robotics Stem Toys is one of the best stem toys for teens that features a hands-on science kit that teaches robotics basics by constructing a working robot crab. This toy challenges teens’ imagination and facilitates learning excitingly.
Product Highlights
When the toy is activated, the robot crab scuttles under its power and changes direction when it encounters an obstacle. You can put it on a table and watch it perform acrobatic tricks. It is affordable and easy to assemble.
The Good
It is suitable for ages nine years and up. The kit contains detailed instructions and all the necessary toy parts. It is an educational toy that integrates learning and development. It fosters creativity and mechanical skill.
The Bad
This toy does not come with a battery though it requires one to operate. Other customers said that it is too easy to assemble, making it less challenging and boring.
PROs
- Hands-on science on robot crab construction
- Affordable and easy to assemble
- Detailed instructions and complete toy parts
- Integrates learning and development
- Fosters creativity and mechanical skill
CONs
- No batteries included
- Easy to assemble; less challenging
Educational Insights Kanoodle
Educational Insights Kanoodle features a puzzle game that includes 12 puzzle pieces, 200 puzzle challenges, a 48-page illustrated puzzle book, and a carrying case. It is a perfect brain teaser and a travel game for teens.
Product Highlights
This toy set includes 200 logical thinking puzzles from basic to challenging levels. It is perfect for enhancing problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic thinking skills. It is suitable for ages eight years old and up.
The Good
It makes an excellent activity for kids to stay engaged and entertained. Using combinations of colored connected beads, players complete colorful logic puzzles in two unique formats: tricky 2D puzzles and twisted 3D pyramids. The puzzle pieces fit inside the handy pocket-sized case with built-in game boards to play it anywhere.
The Bad
Users complain that the mechanics of the toy is too easy. Some users said that they received packages with missing pieces, and it does not come with instructions.
PROs
- Includes 12 puzzle pieces, 200 puzzle challenges, 48-page illustrated puzzle book
- Perfect brain teaser and travel game
- From basic to difficult puzzle levels
- Perfect for enhancing problem-solving, critical and strategic thinking
- Fits inside a handy pocket-sized case for easy storage
CONs
- Too easy toy mechanics
- Arrived with missing pieces and no instructions
Elenco Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100
Elenco Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 is one of the best stem toys for teens that allows users to assemble over 100 different electronic circuit projects with more than 30 electronic parts. With this toy, teens can construct a photosensor’s working models, a flashing light, an adjustable-volume siren, etc.
Product Highlights
It is designed for ages eight years old and up. This toy comes with a clear, easy-to-understand illustrated instruction manual. It doesn’t need any tool to be assembled. It gives your child an exciting, hands-on introduction to electronics.
The Good
This innovative kit contains over 30 color-coded, real circuit components that snap together to create working electronic circuits and devices. It includes large color illustrations and simple directions for each project. Each piece is numbered and color-coded for easy identification.
The Bad
Users complain that they find the stem toy boring and not challenging to experiment with. Some users said that their package arrived with missing parts and a mislabeled switch.
PROs
- Can make 100 different electronic circuit projects
- Contains over 30 color-coded, real circuit components
- Clear and easy to understand illustrated instruction manual
- A hands-on introduction to electronics
- Pieces are numbered and color-coded
CONs
- Not challenging to experiment with
- Arrived with missing parts and mislabeled switch
Conclusion
While electronics seem fascinating, the theory and mechanics behind them can be a little intimidating, especially for teens. The best STEM toys are hands-on, fun, and engaging to learn engineering concepts and develop coding skills. Continue your child’s passion in the STEM field with the best stem toys for teens. It’s also an ideal way of developing stem skills in teens that will prepare them for the 21st century’s demands. Find out more about toys.