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:
| 3DOODLERÂ START PLUS |
| 3DOODLERÂ 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 |
| VTECHÂ 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!
I had the classic Lego as a child which taught me problem solving skills
I had a Lego set when I was a child and it helped me develop my dexterity skills.
Would love to gift the GJS GEIO Gaming Robot
I love my Labyrinth boxes as a child
Leap pod max for kiddos
I’d like to win the the Osmo Coding kits for my child so she can start learning the logics of coding.
I used to mix baking sofa and vinegar together to watch it foam which taught me a lot about chemical reactions.
I would love to have the LeapPods Max in my home for the kids to play with. I know that they would really like it and learn from it.
I had Lincoln Logs growing up and used them to build different structures all the time.
LEGO, because I used it to make gearing and linkages!
I know someone who would love to get a Snakebyte PebbleGear Kids Tablet.
I had a bridge building set and that taught me the structure and strength of a bridge.
I would love the Osmo Coding Kit to introduce my grandson to coding.
I had a set of tinker toys that I loved
I had an etch a sketch. …spent hours playing with this…was great for the imagination.
Leapfrog – fun toys
Lego would be my pick. It helped on systematic thinking.
Oh my .. I am even pre-tv.age so my most creative toy was a pencil and paper, but they filled my day with math calculations and making fashion design. Would love VTECH KIDIZOOM CREATOR CAM for my granddaughter to develop her wonderful mind!
Legos
I would like lego technic toys for my children
I had Capsella toys, which taught me to invent motorised toys which could also go on water.
I’d love to have this, because it looks like all ages (including the adults!) would have a great deal of fun with it.
A gyroscope! It was such a fascinating item, so triggered a great interest in science which helped me in many ways over the years.
I would like to have the OSMO LITTLE GENIUS STARTER KIT for my daughter
I most want the Snakebyte Pebblegear tablets in my home!!
Had a meccano set which was great for learning to build many items like a ferris wheel and to make it move with the wind up motor
Leap Pods Max would be nice
I most want The Marble Rush kit to build engineering/math skills.
Legos a lot as a kid. it helped spark my creativity in designing and building things which I am using .
When I was a child, I had a Speak N’ Spell toy which I think would be considered as STEM …. I learned how to read, spell and pronounce words correctly.
I would love to own the LeapPods Max for my kids
As a child the one thing that our neighbors got me for Christmas was a Lego set that i shared with my siblings and it taught me creative thinking, teamwork, communication, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills. One of the best gifts received.
I would most want the OSMO CODING STARTER KIT in my home for my child.
When I was a child I had a circuit builder set to complete circuits to turn on a light and this helped me develop my logic skills.
I would want LeapPods Max toy the most
I loved building with Ringa-majigs as a kid. They were great for improving my critical thinking when building a structure, fine motor skills and encouraging my creativity. I would looooove the vtech marble rush for my home!
I loved my owl calculator, it helped me get better in math. I was so proud when his green eye lightup.
The toy I most want in my home for my children is the VTech Marble Rush Ultimate Set!
When I was a child I played with Lego, which helped me to develop the ability to follow instructions and explore spatial planning.
I would like to bring home the osmos little genius starter kit. I have 5 kids who would all learn a lot from it.
Legos were always my favorite. They helped me visualize and turn small ideas into big ones.
I had wooden blocks as a kid. It helped me to learn building skills.
I’d love for the kids to have the Osmo Coding starter kit for ipad. This will help to teach them coding skills which will be so useful for their future
One toy was a carpentry kit-It It made me interested in building and measuring and helped me figure thing out when they didn’t go as planned.
I most want the Osmo Creative Starter Kit… This kit combines games, technology, and creative tools to help my child learn.
I had Lincoln logs and Tinkertoy
Lincoln logs were a learning toy when I was young.
I had a lego set and it helped me develop my dexterity skills.
I had a fun circuit builder toy that let you build simple electric circuits to run a light, fan etc and make them blink, or reverse.
My daughter would love the OSMO CODING STARTER KIT – she’s always looking for new ways to stretch her coding abilities
I had a wooden Marble run maze – it helped me conceptualize in advance how to get the marble through the run
the https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/moorebot-scout-ai-home-monitoring-robot-black-english/16237031?source=collection&asSlot=1
would be great for the kids learning new stuff
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