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!
an abacus helped me learn to count
I’d most want the marble run in my house. Fun for kids, AND dad
My great granddaughter would love the VTech My First Kidi Smartwatch
I loved my easy bake oven, it taught me how to bake.
the little ones in my life would be happy with any of these but the 3Doodler looks cool and I think my granddaughter who loves her art would really like this!
tinker toys and lego…both building toys that taught us about physics and a lot about gravity!
I would love to have the Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit for my little one. The Best Buy toy page has so many great wish list items for the holidays too!
I had a marble run building set as a child, it helped spark my technical and creativity skills to create different paths!
I used to play a lot with Dominos and i think they would be considered a STEM toy now. I used to build the craziest paths with them!
I would love to have the doodle+create pen for my family to enjoy!
My grand-daughter would love the Snakebyte PebbleGear 7″ Kids Tablet – Frozen II
Grandma would spend time teaching her how to read with it.
As a child I was happy to have an Easy Bake Oven. It helped me develop my patience to wait, sharing them with my siblings and the value of money since I soon ran out of mixes to bake.
operation taught me about biology
they all sound great to us but first pick would be the VTECH MarbleRush Ultimate Set thanks
we used to play with our Etch a sketch trying to make pictures that we could show off to our parents, never quite managed the great designs we hoped for! , easy bake oven was another great one i loved especially, taught me about measuring, temperature, measuring time, dividing the baked cake into equal portions too ! MATH all there and fun ,tasty too!
My entire family loved lego!
I absolutely want the marble run
When I was a kid I loved building with Lego!
The Leapfrog touch and learn world map as it helps to show the size of our world and to maybe not be so insular but to have more of a global view from the formative years onward.
I don’t remember the name of iot but it was a gas station complex that you put together and taught me the patienc e needed to build something.
I loved my Knex set and Spirograph. Both taught me about repetitive design and physics.
My grandchildren would have a lot of fun with the Interactive Programmable Intelligent Walking RC Dancing Robot.
Easy Bake Oven. It taught me how to bake a cake.
The osmo coding starter kit would be great for my kids.
The osmo starter kit would be great for my kids.
https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/osmo-coding-starter-kit-for-ipad/14762545 Would be great for my nefew
A building toy called Zaks and Lego great for pre engineering skills
A building toy called Lego , great for pre engineering skills
A building toy called Zaks , great for pre engineering skills
Etch a Sketch – a classic !
I think Snakebyte PebbleGear 7″ Kids Tablet for my kids would be awesome. It’s a screen which they’ll like but has learning to it!
We played Operation and that was science-y! Biology!
We would love to have the Marble Rush Set in our home!
Playing with Legos taught me about building and resource management
My daughter would love to have a
Snakebyte PebbleGear 7″ Kids Tablet – Frozen II
We had kerplunk and that is definitely a stem game that teaches about gravity, force, motion, balance etc.
A “slinky “comes to mind and the scientific explanation of why and how it moves.
The Lego kinetic kits brought a lot of STEM fields together. I would be happy if the 3doodler kit was in our home.
I most want The Marble Rush kit to build engineering/math skills.
The Roybi Smart Educational Robot STEM Toy would be so cool. This robot could teach lessons to kids without them even knowing it.
I spent many hours playing with Legos as a kid. The contraptions I made were cool and made me think of best designs.
The VTech Marble Rush Ultimate looks like a lot of learning hidden in lots of fun!
when growing up it was Legos and Knex. They taught me all about building, math, engineering.
I would want the Osmo Coding Starter Kit for my kids iPads
I used my Etch-A-Sketch when younger, builds imagination.
The Marble Rush kit to build engineering/math skills.
I used legos a lot as a kid. It helped spark my creativity in designing and building things.
I think my granddaughter would love working with a 3Doodler Kit! Lots of great choices here for sure!
I would like to have the Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit for my daughter.
Legos and Knex – taught me all about building, math, engingeering
Grand kids would like Vtech Marble. K’nex honed some of the stem skills
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