We’ve chosen 15 of the Best Engineering Toys for Kids, with plenty of great ideas throughout the article. These are all toys we feel are educational, mentally stimulating and most importantly — fun. There’s something here for a wide range of children — boys and girls.
Engineers will always have a job in the future, well, until the robots have evolved to be smarter than humans. Until then, these are toys to make your child smarter than the other kids.
Best Engineering Toys for Kids
Have you ever considered how engineering toys for kids could very well pave the way for a bright future? We have! These vital concepts are all around us and in everyday activities we may not even realize. Introducing your child to engineering can help feed their natural curiosity in the way things work.
When you think of engineering in general, it might seem like something too complex to introduce to children, but it’s really Elementary My dear Watson. In reality, children are born to think and act like engineers. Have you ever watched a child take something apart to see how it’s put together? Inspiring young thinkers to apply this activity with science and math can have an astounding impact on their future and success.
Why is Engineering Important?
It has been and will remain one of the best and fastest rising sectors. Innovation and continued development in our economy cannot exist without engineering in place. The economy has seen a significant improvement thanks to this sector and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Every year there are millions of jobs created both directly and indirectly thanks to the development through engineering. These include building, health innovations, civil jobs and information technology just to name a few.
It has become recognized as an integral part of learning that it has been implemented into a curriculum known as STEAM which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (formerly STEM) in the classroom. If you need further convincing that this field is necessary in our children’s curriculum consider these economic impacts as a result of engineering jobs:
Influence to the GDP growth– Any new software or computer program that engineers innovate to make computers more efficient can lead to an influence on GDP growth. Likewise, the introduction of 3G and 4G connections has helped boost GDP growth on a global scale.
VIDEO | Learn more about STEM learning for kids
The emergence of new industries and services – Through the rise in jobs in this sector, new industries and services continue to emerge. Unique and efficient designs in structures such as tunnels, bridges, railways, and car parks are a result of civil engineering.
Workforce transformation – People who work in this industry are responsible for research and development of new ideas. For instance, the role of a design engineer is to carry out research and come up with great ideas which will lead to new products. A lot of creativity, innovation and strong technical knowledge is a must. Therefore, it has contributed to the rise of entrepreneurship and new jobs.
If you have an aspiring astronomer, automobile enthusiast, or tech junkie on your hands you can bet there’s a place for them in this industry. The field of engineering offers a wide range of job opportunities across different sectors from building things, designing plans in architecture, and coding programmers plus so much more.
Building Sets
Building is a concept that is introduced from early on in life with building blocks and stacking toys typically making up a baby’s first toys. These engineering toys for kids are a little more complex than standard building blocks, but they bring new light to the action of building by adding science and technology principles to create really cool pieces.
Kids First — Automobile Engineer Kit
Features:
- Read the funny story of two inquisitive kids and build simple models of the vehicles they encounter on their comical trip to the supermarket with their dad.
- Build models of the 10 vehicles in the story.
- Large, colorful plastic building pieces make it easy for small hands to put the models together.
- You can build : minivan, crane truck, fire truck, tractor, school bus, motorcycle, cement truck, forklift, pickup truck, and race-car to help their friends out.
- 70-piece science kit
- Includes a beautifully illustrated storybook to inspire their creations.
- A wonderful way to teach kids simple engineering concepts
- Helps develop fine motor skills, science and math skills, visual-spatial skills, and reasoning and concept development skills.
Awards:
- Parent’s Choice Gold Award Winner 2015
- PAL Award Winner 2015
- Featured in Purdue University’s Engineering Gift Guide for 2016
Watch the VIDEO below.
It’s never too early to instill a love for things that move and machines. The Automobile Engineering Kit comes with 70 building pieces for preschoolers to build up to 10 different vehicles. The large colorful pieces make it easy and fun for early learners. The instructions are provided in a friendly storybook style that illustrates how to build the vehicles that are mentioned including a minivan, a crane truck, fire truck, school bus, tractor, and many others. It’s designed for kids build the vehicles one at a time as they follow along to the story. They’ll learn simple concepts in physics and engineering while completing tasks to build various models of automobiles that support math and science skills.
Learning Resources — Playground Engineering & Design STEM Set
104 Pieces —
Features
- Kids design and build their own playground
- Develop early STEM and critical thinking skills
- Added art component incorporates STEAM lessons
- Includes a swing set, seesaw, twisty slide, and more
- For ages 5 and up
Educational Benefits :
- Learning Style: Visual, Tactile
- Skill Development: Problem solving, Following directions, Fine motor skills, Eye-hand coordination,
- Sequential thought, Critical thinking, Spatial relationships, Creativity
Watch the VIDEO below.
Overview
Who knew engineering toys for kids could be so cute? This set encourages critical thinking and problem solving in an adorable play set that allows kids to build and create their own playground. It comes with over 100 pieces and accessories to build a swing set, seesaw, a twisty slide, tire platform, and plenty of other playground activities. The set features 10 challenge cards with illustrated guides to build different pieces of the playground. Kids can exercise their imagination and creativity by combining designs or building their very own unique ride. It even comes with 2 plastic kids to play once their designs are complete to provide open-ended play for children ages 5 and up.
K’NEX Education – Intro to Simple Machines: Gears Set
198 Pieces —
Features:
- 198 parts and pieces that can be clicked together to build 7 fully functioning gear models of real-world machines.
- Accommodates 2-3 students working as a team and appropriate for elementary classrooms in grades 3 through 5
- STEM Concepts: making work easier, mechanical advantage, gear ratios, spur gears, crown gears, mechanical systems and more
- Packaged in a reusable plastic storage tray with a snap-on lid for quick clean-up and easy storage
- Building with K’NEX puts children on a path towards a fundamental understanding of STEAM/STEM subjects.
- K’NEX Education sets come with lesson plans and experiment guides written by educators that feature hands-on, inquiry-based projects.
- All teacher guides and experiment guides are aligned to national standards, including ITEEA, NSES, NCTM, NGSS and Common Core.
- K’NEX Education sets let students build replicas of real-world machines to gain an understanding of the principles that make them work
Overview
K’NEX is widely reputable in engineering toys for kids that support STEAM learning in a way that’s engaging. This K’NEX set provides a great teaching mechanism in and out of the classroom as an introduction to simple machines. Designed for 3rd – 5th graders in mind, this set is full of building activities that provide hands-on exploration of models that replicate the way real-world machines work.
Watch the VIDEO BELOW
The pieces and parts of this set can be clicked together providing an ideal opportunity to improve hand-eye coordination while incorporating other valuable skills. The experiments and activities achieved with this set can open their eyes to grasp a better understanding of the scientific concepts that are used in machines around us. The set comes with 198 pieces with building instructions along with a teacher’s guide to build up to 7 functional models of real-world machines such as a crank fan or chainsaw. The set supports 2 to 3 people working together for each machine to promote social skills and teamwork or foster bonding between a parent and child for a fun and engaging learning activity.
Visit the K’Nex site to learn more
Klutz LEGO Chain Reactions Craft Kit
Features:
- NAPPA Silver Award Winner
- Design and build 10 amazing moving machines – teach your bricks new tricks
- Comes with 80 page instructions, 33 LEGO pieces, instructions for 10 modules, 6 plastic balls, string, paper ramps and other components
- Includes a 80 page instructional book with Klutz certified crystal-clear instructions
- Includes more than 30 essential Lego elements
- Recommended for children ages 8+
Watch the VIDEO below to see what you can build
Inspire creativity with this LEGO chain reactions kit that invites kids to build on their skills and reimagine their ordinary lego bricks into something new and exciting. This kit comes with essential elements to transform LEGOS into actual moving machines. Included in the kit are 33 LEGO pieces and clear illustrated instructions to build up to 10 different modules. Additional pieces like plastic balls, paper ramps, string, and other elements add even more fun to create chain reactions. They’ll be able to design and create functional modules with elements that swing, pivot, lift, drop, and pull.
K’NEX Education – Forces, Energy, and Motion Set
442 Pieces
Features:
- 442 parts including 2 battery-powered motors, 2 fly-wheel motors and 4 spring motors, PLUS over 16 wheels!
- Enough parts for 12-16 students working in teams and appropriate for grades 5 through 9
- STEM Concepts: velocity, acceleration, energy transfer, potential and kinetic energy, Newton’s Laws, mathematics of motion and more
- Packaged in a re-usable plastic storage bin for quick clean-up and easy storage
- Building with K’NEX puts children on a path towards a fundamental understanding of STEAM/STEM subjects.
- K’NEX Education sets come with lesson plans and experiment guides written by educators that feature hands-on, inquiry-based projects.
- All teacher guides and experiment guides are aligned to national standards, including ITEEA, NSES,
- NCTM, NGSS and Common Core.
- K’NEX Education sets let students build replicas of real-world machines to gain an understanding of the principles that make them work.
Overview
The Forces, Energy, and Motion set comes with a vast assortment of parts to design and build up to 11 different vehicles. With 442 pieces, kids can create up to 4 vehicles at a time with experiment instructions for designing race cars, a motorcycle, and even wind sails among other things. Included with the set is a Teacher’s Guide that also provides more educational value by teaching the concepts of math and science. They’ll gain useful skills while learning the principles of energy transfer, friction and inertia, as well as Newton’s Law of Motion. The hands-on learning activity puts those principles into action that can’t be comprehended from a book alone.
K’NEX — 70 Model Building Set
705 Pieces
Areas of child development: hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and exercising their imagination.
Features:
- Set contains 705 classic K’NEX pieces to create 70 different building ideas.
- Enjoy creating 70 different models including a shark, plane, hot air balloon and more!
- Comes in a treasure chest style package to store all K’NEX parts, or partially and fully built models.
- Set comes with an easy-to-follow instruction manual. Ideal for kids 7 and up.
- STEAMagination – It’s the connection of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, & math) with a child’s curiosity and creativity. It powers the fun of each K’NEX set.
- K’NEX supports the developmental growth of hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, & spatial awareness.
- K’NEX rods and connectors are responsibly made in America at a landfill-free, zero-waste green manufacturing facility in Hatfield, Pennsylvania.
Overview
This model building set is complete for the aspiring engineer with over 700 pieces to design and create endless shapes, figures, and functioning models that move. Interchangeable parts including wheels, rotors, wings, and tracks allow builders to create models that roll such as cars or even simple machines like amusement park rides. It comes with step-by-step instructions that illustrate how to build up to 70 models that are easy to follow. The rods and connectors snap together and can be reassembled to let little imaginations run wild with endless possibilities.
Circuits and Electronic Games
These engineering toys are sure to give them a jolt of excitement with the introduction of electricity and circuits to create electrifying projects.
Snap Circuits Jr. — SC-100 Electronics Discovery Kit
Features:
- Electrical parts provide students grades 2 and up (age 7+) with hands-on experience designing and building models of working electrical circuits
- Snap-together parts require no tools and ensure correct connections
Includes 30 parts, and instructions for over 100 projects, including working models of a photo sensor, a flashing light, and an adjustable-volume siren - NOTE: Requires 2 AA batteries (sold separately); Also Kindly refer the Instructional Video from the
- Image Section and User Manual from the Technical Specification before use which is highly recommended.
- Awards: The National Parenting Center-Seal of Approval, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children’s Products, Dr Toy Best Educational Products
- Valuable component to a rounded STEM curriculum
- Build working models of a photo sensor, a flashing light, and an adjustable-volume siren. More than 100 exciting projects in all with included 30+ snap together parts
Watch the VIDEO BELOW
Overview
This discovery kit comes with real circuit components that snap together for do-it-yourself projects without the use of tools or soldering. Creating electronic circuits that work is a snap in this 30-piece kit with clear instructions on 101 different projects. Children can expand the possibilities with this kit once they’ve become familiar with the techniques to come up with their own projects. It’s also compatible to use with additional Snap Circuits sets to take their skills to the next level.
SmartLab Toys — Smart Circuits Games & Gadgets Electronics Lab
Features:
- Build unlimited electronic games and gadgets
- Learn about electronic engineering using the modular system and microprocessor
- Includes 6 base boards, battery module, variable resistor module, microprocessor module, tricolor
- LED module, speaker module, photodiode module, tilt switch module 6-LED array module, 2 push button modules, 31 jumper wires, 48-page book
- STEM Focus: Electronics
- For ages 8 and up
Overview
The Smart Circuits games and gadgets electronics lab provides endless electronic projects for kids to build their own working games. It comes with a computer microprocessor and 10 smart modules along with step-by-step instructions to create up to 50 circuit builds. It’s suitable for kids between the ages of 8 to 15 years for learning about how electronics work to make lights, sounds, and different functions operate using circuits and sensor modules. Once they learn and understand how each modules work they can build their own gadgets and come up with new games on their own. The illustrated instruction book teaches the principles of science and technology with electric currents, conductors, resistors, light waves, and other important elements. Kids can design, build, and play with their projects again and again.
Circuit Maze Board Game
Features:
- An electric current logic game
- Builds sequential reasoning and logic skills
- Introduces electricity and current basics to players 8 and up
- 60 challenges provide hours of electrifying fun
- Requires 3 AAA Batteries, not included
Includes:
- 1 Game Grid
- 60 Challenge Cards With Solutions
- Instruction Manual
- 17 Game Tokens: 1 two-part Power Supply, 3 LED Beacons, 2 Straight, 1 Bridge, 1 Double-Corner, 2 T-Shaped, 5 Corner, 1 Switch and 1 Blocker
Overview
This award winning circuit maze board game consists of 60 different challenge cards that indicate a path to create an electrical circuit. There are tokens you must figure out how to arrange on the game grid in order to light up the LED beacons. The pieces are clearly marked to indicate positive and negative ends and solutions to the challenges are provided on the back of the cards for kids to check their work and ensure it’s set up accordingly. It’s a game that builds up logic skills and sequential reasoning to sharpen problem solving skills.
Elenco 130-in-1 Electronic Playground & Learning Center
Features:
- A classic electronics trainer with 130 experiments
- Learn basic principles of electronics and electricity, physics and magnetism
- Projects include: AM broadcast station, Electronic Organ, LED strobe light, Timer, Logic Circuits and much, much more
- Includes easy-to-read, lab style, illustrated manual
Overview
This learning center is loaded with various functions for 130 different experiments that teach the basic principles on electricity, physics and magnetism. It comes with an illustrated manual and uses simple methods with spring and wire connections for various projects that can be achieved including logic circuits, an LED strobe light, timer, and so much more. You can easily move from one project to the next with the jumper wires so there’s no soldering required. This kit is recommended for ages 10 to 15.
Robotic Toys
Robots have such an intriguing factor that still remains marking some of the Holiday Hot List toys of the year. Robotics have made their way beyond just toys, however, setting milestones in the medical industry, production, and much more.
Wonder Workshop — Cue Robot
Features:
- Cue is a witty robot with attitude that is powered by breakthrough Emotive AI
- Build your skills with games and challenges and makes programming your own interactive experiences fun for any level
- Choose your favorite avatar and explore an amazing depth of personality, expressions and actions
- Send and receive text messages to share witty comments, memes and funny jokes, keeping you coming back for more.
- Unlock cue’s secret to coding for any skill level by easily switching between block and JavaScript programming
- Discover a freestyle environment to program robot adventures using cue’s proximity sensors, encoders, gyro, accelerometer, microphones and more.
- Engage Cue’s intelligent auto modes (seek, avoid, and explore) to navigate tight corners or obstacles while expressing personality at every turn.
- Cue is for ages 11+ and works with iOS, Android and Kindle Fire HD 8, 10). 2017 SILVER PARENTS CHOICE AWARD WINNER!
Watch the VIDEO BELOW
Cue is a robot intended for ages 11 and up that lets your kid make the rules. It works with iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire HD for an interactive experience unlike other engineering toys for kids. The Cue Robot introduces coding as a fun experience to program it with games and challenges that strengthen skills. You can choose from one of 4 avatars based on the personality of your choice for a custom Cue. It is equipped with intelligent auto modes and features advanced technology like proximity sensors, accelerometer, gyroscope and wheel encoders, and precise distance tracking just to name a few.
The more your child explores with Cue the more they learn and improve their coding skills to see what Cue can do. You can use blocks or JavaScript programming to tap into your coding potential for even more interaction with the robot. Control movements, expressions, and create reactive sensor behaviors. You can even text Cue to chat through the App using memes, jokes, and sharing witty comments. Older kids and even adults can take part in the fun of programming the robot for adventures that keep it interesting.
Wonder Workshop — Dash Robot
Features:
- A robot for kids 6 and up; responsive to its world; your child can bring it to life with free apps available on iOS and Android. Comes with hundreds of exciting coding adventures and projects available in Wonder and Blockly apps.
- Program Dash to move, dance, light up, make sounds, avoid obstacles, and even react to their voice using the innovative free app : Wonder
- Kids can program Dash to be the real robot pet, pal or sidekick of their dreams.
- No instructions needed! Our Wonder and Blockly apps feature built-in challenge tutorials that teach you how to program Dash from the very beginning of each program! Forget robot camp – you can easily learn Blockly and Wonder right in the app!
- Fully assembled, no batteries required. Comes with USB charging cable and two Building Brick Connectors to extend play with LEGO and LEGO Technic compatible bricks.
- Awards: 2015 National Parenting Gold, Time to Play Magazine 2015 Holiday Most Wanted List, Opening Minds Innovation for Schools, ISTE Best of Show for Schools
Overview
Dash is the child-friendlier version of Cue that is tailored more for younger crowds of 6 years and up. It’s a great introduction to early coding skills that can also aid in developing patience and problem solving skills. This friendly interactive robot is compatible with Apple or Android devices using the Wonder or Blockly app to bring this little guy to life.
Dash can be programmed for a variety of functions like reacting to your child’s voice by following commands to dance, move, make sounds, light up, and get around obstacles. The app features easy-to-follow tutorials to easily program the robot so instructions aren’t needed. It comes with a USB charger cable as well as building brick connectors for additional function and capability.
OWI — Hydraulic Arm Edge Kit
Features:
- Step away from the grid – Hydraulic Robotic Arm – No Electricity or batteries needed
- Discover hydro-mechanical technology and have fun operating your own hydro-mechanical robotic arm
- Removal the gripper and activate the suction apparatus. Enables operators to “vacuum” and lift objects
- 6 Axes of movement: Gripper opens to 1.89 inches, Wrist rotation 180 degrees, Wrist mobility 98 degrees, Elbow range 44 degrees, Base rotation 270 degrees, and shoulder motion 45 degrees
Overview
This is a different level of engineering that requires no electricity or batteries to create a functional piece that can carry out actions. The Hydraulic Arm Edge kit introduces hydro-mechanical technology in this robotic arm that can function to lift as well as ‘vacuum’ objects. The detailed instructions demonstrate how to properly assemble and command the arm to perform 6 axes of movement. It features a gripper that opens and closes up to 1.89 inches, 180-degree wrist rotation and 98-degree wrist mobility, 44-degree range of elbow movement, shoulder motion of 45-degrees and a base rotation of 270 degrees. A suction apparatus is engaged when the gripper is removed to grasp objects of a larger surface area with a 50-gram lifting capacity.
4M Tin Can Robot
Best engineering toy for kids.
Features:
- The 4M Tin Can Robot teaches the value of recycling by re-purposing a used can into a fun and functional robot.
- No special tools or knowledge required; the kit contains detailed instructions and all the necessary parts.
- Just add a used soda pop can and let the fun begin.
- Use the kit to create a silly robot or a motorized monster, or a combination of the two.
- Requires one AA batteries (not included). Recommended for ages 8 years and up. Works well and long with Polaroid Batteries.
Overview
This robot kit implements recycling with engineering to transform a used tin can (not included) into a working robot. It comes with all the necessary components and instruction guide to turn a soda can into a motorized creature or silly robot. The kit encourages little imaginations to explore and discover mechanical principles in how things work and move. In addition to the soda can, users will also need a AA battery and Phillips screwdriver to put together and operate.
Code Master — Programming Logic Game
Features:
- Ultimate coding board game
Learn the following skills : planning, sequential reasoning and problem-solving skills - 10 Maps with 60 Levels; 12 Guide Scrolls; 12 Action Tokens
- 8 Conditional Tokens; Instructions with Solutions
- Single player game
- Builds planning, sequential reasoning and problem solving skills
Overview
This is a one-player board game designed to help teach the principles of coding while incorporating logic. The objective of the game is to get your Avatar to the portal while collecting Crystals along the way. Planning and problem solving skills are put to the test as there is only one sequence of actions that will result in success. There are 12 action tokens that are used to develop a program to reach your goal at all 60 levels of the game. It’s a first step into the complex concepts of coding using an offline approach.
This field offers a very vast and versatile platform for learning in children and teenagers. These engineering toys for kids are not only fun, but will provide opportunity to build and foster skills that will last their lifetime. As those gears are turning in their little heads they’ll gain valuable knowledge and understanding that might shape them to be the next generation of engineers.
