Back to Blog
Trends in STEM

STEM Gifts for Kids Who Love to Create

This holiday season, we want to help you give the kids in your life a gift that will encourage their innovative spirit. So we’ve put together a fun selection of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) toys, books and experiences, both from the National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF) and from some of our favorite brands.

Categorized by price, this gift guide includes ideas for everyone from toddlers to teens, so you can cross off every kid on your holiday shopping list and give them something truly special to unwrap this year! 

If you’re doing your holiday shopping on Amazon.com, you can also use the link smile.amazon.com/ch/34-1580038 to donate a percentage of your eligible purchases to NIHF as you shop. Your support will help bring fun, hands-on STEM education programs to more children across the country.

 

-----------------0-$25-----------------

Free STEM Activity Guide Ages 3+

This collection of STEM activities incorporates easily found materials from around the house so that families looking for something fun to do together can do so right away! Featuring 10 easy-to-follow challenges, from designing a smart room-cleaning robot to (safely!) taking apart everyday items to better understand how they work, our free guide is fun on its own or as an easy add-on for any gift.

 

Coding Critters Ages 4+

This 22-piece playset offers a screen-free way for young children to build coding skills. With the included storybook and interactive mode, kids can also simply play without the need to code.

 

Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid-Body Guitar and Rocked the World Ages 10+

Beautifully illustrated and told with a childlike sense of wonder, “Guitar Genius” tells the story of how NIHF Inductee Les Paul created the first solid-body electric guitar, as well as many other inventions that transformed modern music.

 

A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon Ages 10+

Made famous by the 2016 movie “Hidden Figures,” “A Computer Called Katherine” focuses on the life of mathematician Katherine Johnson, whose pioneering calculations helped NASA launch America’s first manned space flight.

----------$26-$50----------

 

Educational Insights Design & Drill See-Through Creative Workshop Ages 3+

Designed for preschoolers, this interactive toy helps develop fine motor skills by using a toy drill, screwdriver and wrench. Additionally, 120 colorful plastic bolts allow kids to explore their creative side by designing fun patterns.

 

Magna-Tiles Ages 3+

These 3D magnetic tiles encourage children to let their imaginations run wild by combining STEM concepts like math and science with creativity and design. With 32 translucent, colorful shapes, this gift helps kids develop critical spatial and tactile skills while providing countless hours of free play fun.

----------$51-$99----------

 

Snap Circuits Classic SC-300 Electronics Exploration Kit Ages 8+

With Snap Circuits, kids can explore circuitry in a safe and accessible way, by snapping electronic components together with corresponding colors, symbols and labels. Without the need for specialized tools or soldering, children can start practicing engineering as soon as they open the box.

 

JuniorScope Microscope for Kids Ages 6+

Thanks to its high-quality glass lenses, this microscope allows kids to explore objects at 40x, 100x and even 400x magnification! Perfect for backyard experiments, the JuniorScope is battery powered and portable enough to take out into nature to observe the microscopic world.

 

Keva Contraptions 200 Ages 5+

Designed specifically to encourage countless hours of creative free play, this STEM toy allows kids to build intricate ball track structures and develop design thinking skills. Through hands-on exploration and play, kids learn about the elementary properties of physics and engineering.

----------$100+----------

 

Summer 2021 Camp Invention Connect Grades K-6

Looking for a fun and innovative experience for the young creator in your life? Camp Invention Connect is a weeklong, at-home program that introduces fundamental STEM concepts through hands-on fun.

Featuring action-packed activity kits shipped directly to each participant, this program gives kids a choice between a screen-free, self-led experience or the opportunity to connect with a certified educator and fellow campers online for authentic collaboration.

For 2021, we’re excited to announce our Camp Invention Connect program, Recharge, with
all-new activities that really get kids thinking big. You can reserve a spot for a special kid today and save $40 by using the discount code “STEMFUN40” at checkout.

 

December 2020 Camp Invention Connect™ Grades K-6

Can’t wait until next summer for Camp Invention Connect? Dec. 28-31, kids can join a special at-home version of the Elevate program enjoyed by tens of thousands of children this past summer! With all the necessary materials shipped directly to kids’ homes, each day is packed with engaging activities that can be completed either off-screen or with the help of a certified educator who guides live collaboration sessions!

 

FlashForge Adventurer 3 Lite 3D Printer Ages 10+

Perfect for kids who are interested in exploring the amazing capabilities of 3D printing, the FlashForge Adventurer 3 Lite has everything they need to design and create 3D plastic structures or even prototypes of the next great invention. A full-color touch screen and detachable nozzle for easy cleaning make this one of the most user-friendly 3D printers on the market.

Related Articles