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!
LEGO Super Mario: Adventures with Mario Starter Course – 231 Pieces (71360)
Model Number: 6288910
Web Code: 14575590
lego; it helped me understand plans and think in 3d.
I think Lego would be considered a STEM toy. I had lots of it and it helped me learn structural integrity and design as I would build things.
For my kids, I want the Osmo coding starter kit. It’s just the most relevant for right now.
My transformers… it helped teach problem solving as well as math since it was like 3D geometry.
Hmmm. Maybe a barrel of monkeys game. I had to learn how to balance things properly
Easy bake oven. All sort of experiments there.
I had mouse trap as a child, would that be considered here? Would love to win marble rush set for my daughter!
Like to buy the Osmo Starter kit for my preschooler
I used an Etch-A-Sketch to draw houses. I think it helped develop my spatial skills and perspective. My first “CAD” drawing. ha ha
Osmo Coding Starter kit would be right up my grandsons alley
I want the VTech KidiStar DJ Mixer – English since my child loves music and buttons.
I had kinex and that would be advertised as a stem toy today. They help teach me how to decipher blueprints and build the structures in with the kinex.
Would like to have the chip Robotic dog in our house
I really want the Osmo Coding kits because I think coding will soon become a basic skill our kids will need to know and understand in the future and I would love to give my child the opportunity to develop that skill now.
I had an Etch a Sketch when I was a kid. Not only is this toy great for the hand-eye coordination, it also makes you think about how to create 3-D objects. It is great for spatial awareness, and cause and effect
I can’t remember what it was called but it was a science kit with basic accessories and a book full of different science experiments I could try. It included growing crystals, using crystals to reflect light, magnets, etc.
One toy I had was etch a sketch, and that is similar to the 3Doodler Create toy, as it helps with artistic skills. I would love to win this!
I would love the 3d doodler, my daughter would love making interesting things with it. I also had marble works as a child !
I had the classic Lego which taught me problem solving skills
I would love the Osmo coding starter kit for my son. I remember my Etch A Sketch – such a classic magic screen. It allowed my creativity and imagination to soar.
I would love the Osmo Coding Starter Kit – my son would love this!!! When I was a kid, some of my friends had a chemistry set that was fun to use. It definitely was fun to see what would happen when 2 chemicals were involved in a reaction and now I use those same principles when I cook!
microscope would be amazing
I used to love my speak and say! I’d play on that thing for hours!
I would like the 3Doodler Create+ (Plus) Essentials 3D Printing Pen Set at home for my granddaughter. She is already very creative and I know she would love this!
I had a microscope as a child and it taught me a lot about the planet and then I went to school to work in Dental.
Osmo Coding kits to teach coding and the (PlayShifu Tacto Laser sound like awesome skill builders!
Meccano was great for developing dexterity and creativity, and for building whatever you could imagine.
I had a toy microscope when I was young, it was cheap. but it did work. It gave me a strong interest in science after I looked at an onion skin and saw all the cells, among other things.
VTech Marble Rush Ultimate Set would make my kids so happy!
The Meccano Set we had at home many years ago, we created lots of different bridges and roads for our toy cars to go on.
microscope would be ideal for my grandson.
We would love the Moorebot Scout AI Home Monitoring Robot
I played with K’nex as a kid. It would definitely be considered a STEM toy now.
I was lucky enough to have a microscope which helped develop a love for biology which has been passed on to my kids!
Lego was a classic toy where one learned skills to engineer, with plenty of physics lessons learned through play also.
I would love the Osmo Coding Starter Kit for iPad for my family
i had a microscope and it taught me to be curious
The Osmo Coding Starter Kit for iPad would be so awesome to have for our grandchildren in our home. To get a head start in coding would be so valuable.
I remember playing with my Meccano set for hours and hours and days on end. Let me use my creativity skills.
I’m sure my grand kids would appreciate the Osmo Coding Starter Kit for iPad.
We’d all like the VTech Marble Rush Ultimate Set.
We had LEGO that helped with our spatial relationships.
The PlayShifu Orboot Earth – Augmented Reality Interactive World Globe would be pretty cool for learning about the world and travel.
Tinker Toys and it helped me learn how to build things.
A Meccano set was a favourite and it helped me to develop problem-solving and fine motor skills.
The coding kit would be awesome for my step kids
Lego! It helped me build my planning / design skills, creativity and also ability to specially imagine items.
I prefer building blocks or something like VTech Marble Rush Ultimate Set
I think my grandson would love one of the 3Doodler kits but any of the other STEM toys would be appreciated, too.
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