STEM and STEAM education help prepare future generations with skills that will set them up for success. You likely have heard these terms and may be familiar with some of the benefits of STEM and STEAM toys that encourage skill development within the context of play and fun. This contest will help you understand a little bit about some of these toys, and gives you a chance to win amazing toy prize packages.
STEM and STEAM education in a fun interactive package
STEM toys help children learn skills related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEAM toys help spark creativity and imagination with artistic tasks that naturally align with the STEM skills. With most STEM toys, children are developing a range of technical and non-technical skills, making the distinction between the two terms less relevant. After all, even a basic game of gin rummy with a deck of cards involves counting (math), strategy, and planning. For that reason, I’ll stick to using the more common STEM in the rest of this article, with the understanding that children playing with these toys are developing a variety of abilities including creativity, language skills, spatial skills, etc … a combination of skills from a variety of domains.
With STEM toys, variety is the spice of life
Looking at the image at the top of this article, there are some toys that seem more obviously STEM than others. All of those toys are prizes in this contest, but not all will appeal to every child. A child who loves building might prefer the hands-on fun of the Vtech Marble Rush sets. Another child may really love the logistical challenges of the Osmo Coding kits. Yet another may be intrigued by conceptualizing a 3D plastic creation using the 3Doodler kits. You may look at these toys and know exactly which one is most appealing to your child. Or you may wish your child could experiment with a few to develop and stimulate their minds in a variety of ways.
Each of the STEM toys carried at Best Buy allows children to have fun and develop some skills that can prepare them for a successful future. One toy may help reduce screen-time while building listening and reading skills (LeapPods Max), while another might use a tablet screen for unique learning experiences (Snakebyte Pebblegear tablets) or even use a tablet to introduce complex scientific concepts like light diffraction (PlayShifu Tacto Laser). As you explore the range of STEM toys, you will quickly find some that will be perfect for your children.
Experimentation teaches value of failure and success
We all want our children to be happy forever. These toys are fun to play with, but they also teach the kind of lessons we only learn through trial and error. Lessons like: you can’t do something well without having done it poorly first. Many toys have a learning curve: skills improve over time. You know from your own childhood; there were many toys we had when we were young that would now be considered STEM toys. I remember my first model building experience; it was some kind of naval corvette, and needless to say, the boat sunk!
I did have fun though and that’s another thing that your child will learn and carry with them in the future: though it can take some work, science, technology, engineering, and math can also be a lot of fun. Which reminds me of a quote from American author Frank Sonnenberg: If work isn’t fun you’re playing on the wrong team.
The toys we are giving away in this contest will encourage children to ask questions, embrace failure, and be openly creative. The best part is that each winner will get a package of toys covering a variety of STEM skills! We’ll be reviewing most of these on the blog in the weeks to come so return to the blog often to learn more.
How to enter
Entering this contest is easy and you can enter in two different ways:
- In a comment below, tell us about one toy that you had when you were a child that would now be considered a STEM toy AND tell us what skills it helped you to develop.
- In a comment below, tell us which of the toys mentioned in this article, or shown on Best Buy’s toy page do you most want in your home for your children.
What you can win
At the end of this contest we will randomly draw six (6) winners from all eligible entries. Each winner will receive one of six prize packages; each package will include up to four of these toys:
| 3DOODLER START PLUS |
| 3DOODLER CREATE PLUS BLACK |
| LEAPFROG LEAPPODS MAX EN / FR |
| OSMO CODING STARTER KIT |
| OSMO LITTLE GENIUS STARTER KIT |
| SHIFU TACTO COMBO CLASSICS AND LASER |
| SNAKEBYTE VDF PEBBLEGEAR CARS 7″ TABLET |
| SNAKEBYTE VDF PEBBLEGEAR FROZEN 7″ TABLET |
| SNAKEBYTE VDF PEBBLEGEAR TOYSTORY4 TABLET |
| VTECH MARBLE RUSH CORKSCREW RUSH SET |
| VTECH MARBLE RUSH ULTIMATE SET |
| VTECH KIDIZOOM CREATOR CAM |
This contest runs from Oct 1st to Oct 16th.
Remember you can enter in a variety of ways as discussed above. Spread the word with all of the parents you know. Your child will likely be playing with their children so no matter which family wins, your child will benefit.
Win STEM toys Contest Rules and Regulations
Good Luck!
The 3ddoodler would allow creative expression as did Lego when I was young.
I would have to say my toy that would be considered Stem was Knex. Teaching structure and building skills.
Would love to have the Osmo Creative Starter Kit in my home. https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/osmo-creative-starter-kit/14139598?source=category&asSlot=2
OSMO CODING STARTER KIT
Lego helped me with hands on building experience.
2- I’d love this for my children: “WowWee Robosapien Programmable Robot Model Number: 8081 Web Code: 15458978”
1- My lego sets gave me the spark, challenge & creative imagination to design & build stuctures/buildings.
A Vtech Marble a rush set would be most welcome to keep the kids busy.
Etch-A-Sketch when younger, builds imagination.
I had K’nex as a child, and it helped me learn how to build and join pieces together
I would want the Osmo Coding Starter Kit for iPad for my kids.
I had an Etch a Sketch when I was young and would draw and create.
The toys that I would most like my kids to have the opportunity to play with are the following:
SHIFU TACTO COMBO CLASSICS AND LASER
Osmo Coding Starter Kit for iPad
VTech Marble Rush Corkscrew Rush Set
and the VTech Marble Rush Ultimate Set
Thanks for the contest!
For me, it has to be Legos and K’nex. It made me work on my creativity, engineering skills as well as space awareness. Thousands of hours of fun!
Thanks for the contest!
I absolutely loved playing Mastermind. I feel that it helped teach me deductive reasoning and logic. Both the VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam HD digital camera and the Snakebyte PebbleGear 7″ Kids Tablet would be welcome! Thanks for the chance at this awesome giveaway
As a child, I loved to build with Lego as well as Marble run. This would help me with my engineering and problem solving skills as well as science concepts. I’m my home right now I would love to have a Vtech Marble a rush set which would keep my boys occupied for hours with their creative thinking hats.
My children would enjoy the Vtech Marble Rush set as . As a child I LOVED my etch a sketch as it helped me with understanding spacing.
I had Lego and the skills learned were building and creativity.
I would want a Vtech Marble Rush set for my home.
I had a Lego set as a kid that would be considered a STEM toy. The Lego taught me strategy skills and building skills.
The classic Rubiks Cube would now be considered a vintage STEM toy I reckon
The VTech Marble Rush Ultimate Set would keep the kids entertained
The SNAKEBYTE VDF PEBBLEGEAR CARS 7″ TABLET would be a great addition for the little one as it opens up a world to them & keeps them busy with games, apps & e-books how awesome would that be.
I had a view master & really liked it. Would ask my parents to get me different sets to view in it and loved to go sit in a corner & click to see all the pictures.
I think that my children would enjoy the Vtech Marble Rush set. I hope it would help to encourage co-operation between them!
My brother and I played with mechano sets throughout our childhood. Hours and hours of fun building and learning.
The VTech Marble Rush Ultimate Set would be so awesome to have in the house.
I had a microscope. It was so cool to see that there was so much life around.
View Master
I think the 3ddoodler would be really great – so many creative uses
I had a toy cash register – it definitely helped with my math skills.
For imaginative learning, the kids would love the Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit!
I had K’NEX as a child, with the real moving parts it helped me to build my curiosity with understanding what makes things work and versatility to create different models from the same set of building pieces.
I want the Vtech Marble Rush Launchpad Set for my grandchild.
I had a basic Lego set as a child that would be considered a STEM toy. The skills I developed were: planning ,designing and creativity.
The 3Doodler kit would be very cool for my children to design and build with.
I enjoyed Lego as a child. It helped me learn patience, creativity and dexterity.
As a child I loved my etch a sketch, and any of these toys would be great .
I would like to have the Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit for my daughter.
I had Knex growing up and was able to build trucks and airplanes.
I would love to have the osmo coding for the kids
I think my kids would like the Osmo Coding Starter Kit for iPad.
We had Lego growing up and built many houses, bridges and other buildings.
My son would love the Roybi Smart Educational Robot STEM Toy. This robot could teach lessons to my son and he would love to interact with him.
I would imagine my lego sets would be most like a stem toy as I had the challenge of building something that would look good and maintain its shape.
I most like a Osmo Coding kit for our household to teach my kiddos the essentials of coding and get into systematic thinking.
Lego was a toy I enjoyed as a kid and it has taught me about planning, structures (engineering) and creative imagination.
Legos a lot as a kid. it helped spark my creativity in designing and building things which I am using .
I most want The Marble Rush kit to build engineering/math skills.
The Osmo Coding Starter Kit for iPad would be great for my grandchildren.
Comments are closed.