Toys That Develop Engineering Skills

Engaging Simple Machines Adventure

The K’NEX Education – Intro to Simple Machines: Wheels, Axles, & Inclined Planes Set offers a vibrant collection of 221 durable pieces that inspire creativity and engineering skills in children ages 8 and up. By engaging in hands-on building projects, kids not only learn about fundamental scientific concepts like motion and forces but also develop critical thinking and teamwork as they collaborate on their own exciting creations. This set is a fantastic way to spark curiosity and foster a love for learning in a fun and interactive environment. 8+ years
Why we love it:
Engaging Simple Machines Adventure includes 221 durable pieces that turn building into a collaborative quest, making learning about science feel less like studying and more like an epic masterpiece in the making.

Create & Race: DIY Wooden Cars

Make By Me Build & Paint Your Own Wooden Cars is the perfect hands-on project for little builders and budding artists! Designed for ages 6 and up, this DIY wood craft kit encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and imaginative play as kids assemble and paint their very own race cars. With 12 vibrant paints and cool sticker sheets, your child can create unique designs while learning about colors and patterns. It’s a fantastic way to foster creativity and engineering skills—all without needing any extra tools! 6+ years
Why we love it:
Create & Race: DIY Wooden Cars includes 12 vibrant paints and sticker sheets, making it an unforgettable hands-on experience that inspires creativity and transforms little builders into race car designers.

Gravity Maze Logic Adventure

ThinkFun Gravity Maze is an exhilarating journey for young minds aged 8-12 that combines the thrill of marble mazes with critical STEM learning. This engaging game challenges kids to engineer their pathways and solve puzzles while boosting their problem-solving and strategic thinking skills. As parents and educators, we love how it fosters a sense of creativity and collaboration, turning learning into an exciting adventure at home or in the classroom. Get ready to watch your child build incredible mazes that ignite their imagination! 8-12 years
Why we love it:
Gravity Maze Logic Adventure introduces thrilling marble mazes that transform critical STEM learning into a captivating puzzle journey, encouraging kids to dream big and strategize boldly.

Creative Wooden Vehicle Craft Kits

The Melissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Craft Kits Set is the perfect blend of creativity and hands-on learning for kids aged 4 to 8. This bundle includes a Plane, Train, and Race Car, allowing children to not only assemble their own working vehicles but also express their artistic flair with paints and stickers. Engaging in this kind of craft play enhances fine motor skills, sparks creativity, and fosters imaginative storytelling. It's a fantastic way to encourage screen-free play, making it a go-to gift for nurturing creativity and engineering skills in young minds. 4-8 years
Why we love it:
Creative Wooden Vehicle Craft Kits come with a Plane, Train, and Race Car, allowing kids to build and decorate their own vehicles, blending hands-on learning with artistic expression.

Baja Rey Fender Fun Learning Set

The Losi L/R Rear Fender Set White Baja Rey is a fantastic addition to your child's collection of educational toys. This interactive set encourages hands-on learning through vehicle assembly, fostering engineering skills and problem-solving as kids explore how parts come together to create a functioning model. Parents and educators will appreciate how it blends play with practical learning, helping children grasp basic mechanical concepts while having a blast with their remote-controlled toys. 8+ years
Why we love it:
Baja Rey Fender Fun Learning Set includes interactive vehicle assembly, making learning about mechanics feel like an exciting adventure for budding engineers.

Engaging Hape Railway Diesel Freight Train

The Hape Railway Diesel Freight Train set is an exciting way for children to explore the world of transportation and engineering! With its vibrant, wooden components and realistic magnetic connections, this train encourages imaginative play while fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills as kids learn to load and unload the removable ore blocks. Compatible with other wooden railway systems, it promotes cooperative play and social skills, making it a fantastic choice for both solitary and group learning activities. Safe, durable, and delightfully engaging, this train set is sure to be a beloved part of your child's playtime adventures. 3+ years
Why we love it:
Engaging Hape Railway Diesel Freight Train features colorful wooden components and magnetic connections, making transportation science a fun way to load creativity and unload those problem-solving skills!

Playground Engineering STEM Building Set

The Learning Resources Playground Engineering & Design STEM Set is an exciting way for kids ages 5 and up to explore their creativity while mastering essential STEM skills. With 104 vibrant pieces, including a swing, seesaw, and two energetic kids, this set encourages imaginative play and problem-solving. By following the design process of Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, and Improve, children will develop critical thinking and engineering skills that set the foundation for lifelong learning. It's more than just a toy; it's an adventure where learning and play go hand in hand! 5+ years
Why we love it:
Playground Engineering STEM Building Set includes 104 vibrant pieces that transform learning into a creative adventure, making engineering fun and accessible for young minds.

Medieval Trebuchet 3D Puzzle

The Eco Wood Art 3D Puzzle Trebuchet offers an exciting journey into the world of medieval engineering! This engaging 94-piece challenge is not just a puzzle, but a hands-on learning experience where we’ll explore gravity, gears, and the fascinating principles of design. Perfect for family bonding, this wooden puzzle sparks curiosity and hones problem-solving skills while we're enjoying quality time together. It’s the ideal blend of fun and education that we, as parents and educators, can’t resist! 8+ years
Why we love it:
Medieval Trebuchet 3D Puzzle, with its 94 pieces, turns our living room into a medieval workshop where we can tackle engineering principles and bond as a family—all without catapulting our phones.

Gears! Gears! Gears! Rover Fun

The Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Rover Building Set is an exciting way for children aged 4 and up to unleash their imaginations! This vibrant 43-piece set allows little builders to create their own moving vehicles while enhancing their fine motor skills, creative thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Each chunky gear snaps into place with ease, making it perfect for young hands as they explore STEM concepts through play. Plus, it’s compatible with all other Gears! sets, ensuring that the creative possibilities are nearly endless! 4+ years
Why we love it:
Gears! Gears! Gears! Rover Fun comes with 43 vibrant pieces that spark creativity as kids build their own moving vehicles, making STEM learning as playful as it is educational.

CareBit: Build and Discover Robotics

The Off Bits CareBit Build Your Own Robot Toy Construction Set is a fantastic way to engage kids in STEM learning. With its unique focus on building robots using real nuts and bolts, this kit not only fosters creativity and critical thinking but also nurtures problem-solving skills as children collaborate and invent. It's the perfect educational gift for parents and educators looking to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators. 6-10 years
Why we love it:
CareBit: Build and Discover Robotics features real nuts and bolts, making engineering feel like a thrilling hands-on adventure that sparks creativity and teamwork.

Endless Creativity with Quadrilla Marble Run

The Hape Quadrilla Mega Skatepark Marble Run Attachment inspires spatial thinking and logical reasoning in children 4 years and older. With its seven uniquely colored blocks offering various functions, this toy promotes engineering skills and creativity, making it an enriching experience for family playtime. We love how it turns learning moments into playful challenges, fostering teamwork and problem-solving as we build and experiment together. 4+ years
Why we love it:
Endless Creativity with Quadrilla Marble Run features seven uniquely colored blocks that turn family playtime into an engaging engineering challenge—talk about a fun way to build brains together!

Dive into Learning with LEGO Sea Creatures

LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Deep Sea Creatures offers an exciting opportunity for young builders to create a shark, crab, squid, and angler fish, fostering creativity and engineering skills in children aged 7 and up. As kids assemble and transform these colorful sea animals, they're not only enhancing their problem-solving abilities but also engaging in imaginative play that brings the wonders of marine life right to their living rooms. This set also encourages fine motor skills and teamwork when built with friends or family, making it an enriching choice for both fun and learning. 7+ years
Why we love it:
Dive into Learning with LEGO Sea Creatures offers an exciting chance for kids to create and transform colorful sea animals, turning their living rooms into an underwater adventure.

Hape Discovery Scientific Workbench

The Hape Discovery Scientific Workbench is a fantastic platform for young minds to explore and experiment! Designed for children aged 4 and up, this vibrant workshop invites curious kids to dive into over ten exciting experiments, introducing them to fundamental physics principles like momentum and levers. As we explore together, we can inspire creativity while fostering essential STEM skills in science, technology, engineering, and art. This beautifully crafted play set not only engages their imagination but also promotes critical thinking and hands-on learning, making it a beloved addition to any educational playtime. 4+ years
Why we love it:
Hape Discovery Scientific Workbench features over ten exciting experiments that ignite curiosity, making science feel like an incredible adventure as kids explore fundamental physics principles.

Gears! Flight Gears for Creative Minds

Gears! Flight Gears invites kids to unleash their imagination while mastering essential STEM skills. With 44 colorful pieces, including propellers and wheels, children as young as 4 can build their own moving, flying machines, sparking critical thinking, problem-solving, and engineering skills. This engaging toy not only supports creativity but also encourages collaborative play, making it a perfect choice for parents and educators who value hands-on learning experiences. 4+ years
Why we love it:
Gears! Flight Gears includes 44 colorful pieces that transform any creative idea into an aviation adventure, making STEM learning exhilaratingly hands-on and collaborative.

Renewable Energy Adventure Kit

The OWI Inc X in 1 Renewable Energy Kit invites young learners aged 8 and up to explore the exciting world of renewable energy through hands-on building. By constructing five dynamic vehicles, three engaging dinosaurs, and two windmills, children will develop vital manual dexterity, boost their problem-solving skills, and increase their confidence in science. This kit is not just a fun project; it's an interactive experience that seamlessly merges learning with play, making it a fantastic choice for parents and educators looking to inspire the next generation of innovators! 8+ years
Why we love it:
Renewable Energy Adventure Kit includes five dynamic vehicles and three engaging dinosaurs, making science feel like an exciting DIY adventure that sparks creativity and curiosity!

Glow-in-the-Dark Marble Run Adventure

The NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Glowing Marble Run construction set is an exhilarating way for kids to dive into the world of STEM learning! With 250 pieces, including 50 glowing glass marbles, this kit empowers children to unleash their creativity and engineering skills as they design, build, and watch their marbles race down the twists and turns of their very own marble maze. Not only does it foster critical thinking and problem-solving, but it also adds the magical element of glowing marbles—recharging them with the included UV light adds an extra fun scientific twist! Perfect for a group of friends, this interactive toy encourages collaboration, exploration, and endless imaginative play. 5+ years
Why we love it:
Glow-in-the-Dark Marble Run Adventure with 250 pieces transforms learning into a thrilling race, making STEM concepts glow with excitement and teamwork.

Bright Ideas with E-flite LED Set

The E-flite LED Set Ultrix EFLU6455 is an exciting addition for young aviators and aspiring engineers. This innovative set enhances learning through play, enabling children to engage in the world of aviation while developing problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and teamwork. A great choice for parents and educators, it encourages creativity and critical thinking as kids explore aerodynamics and light design in a fun, hands-on way. 8+ years
Why we love it:
Bright Ideas with E-flite LED Set encourages young aviators to explore aerodynamics while adding a dazzling touch of light design to their creations.

Build & Power with Wind Energy!

The Thames & Kosmos Wind Power V4.0 STEM Experiment Kit offers kids a chance to dive into the fascinating world of renewable energy by building a real, working 3-foot tall wind turbine. This engaging kit not only teaches children about wind energy and the importance of sustainability, but it also enhances critical thinking and engineering skills as they experiment with generating electricity to power a small model car. Perfect for outdoor fun, parents and educators will appreciate how this award-nominated kit fosters hands-on learning and ignites curiosity about science and the environment! 8+ years
Why we love it:
Build & Power with Wind Energy! allows kids to construct a real 3-foot tall wind turbine, making renewable energy come alive in a fun and engaging way.

Race Into STEM Learning!

The Smartivity Speedster 3D Wooden Model Engineering STEM Learning Toy for Kids Ages 6 and Up takes playtime to the next level, combining fun with foundational concepts of physics. As children assemble this engaging race car, they not only develop engineering skills but also grasp the principles of motion, elasticity, and momentum in a hands-on way. It's an exciting choice for parents and educators looking to inspire curiosity and critical thinking through active learning. 6+ years
Why we love it:
Race Into STEM Learning! features a hands-on assembly process that turns curious minds into little engineers while making physics feel like pure play.

Magical Building Blocks for Toddlers

Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Building Blocks are a delightful way for toddlers to explore their creativity and engineering skills! With their innovative design that allows for easy 360-degree rotation and a satisfying click-together experience, kids will love constructing anything from boats to towers during bath time or playtime. These safe, non-toxic blocks not only float but also offer an engaging multi-sensory experience, promoting shape recognition and color exploration while encouraging hours of imaginative play. As parents and educators, we appreciate how these blocks nurture developmental growth in our little ones, making learning both fun and effective. 3-5 years
Why we love it:
Magical Building Blocks for Toddlers float and click together effortlessly, turning bath time into a splashy construction zone where learning meets endless fun!

Magnetic Foam Block Building Fun

Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Building Blocks offer a magical way for toddlers to explore their creativity and engineering skills! With their unique soft foam design and easy-to-click magnetic system, these blocks are perfect for little hands to maneuver and build. Not only do they promote sensory play through their vibrant colors and shapes, but they also stimulate problem-solving and imaginative thinking, making them an essential addition to any educational toy collection. Plus, parents can rest easy knowing they're safe, non-toxic, and incredibly durable for hours of engaging bath-time adventures! 3-5 years
Why we love it:
Magnetic Foam Block Building Fun features a unique soft foam design that encourages toddlers to explore their creativity while keeping bath-time messes at bay.

Build and Explore with Smartivity Telescope

The Smartivity Telescope STEM Toy invites kids to ignite their curiosity by constructing their very own pocket telescope. This engaging DIY project not only fosters a love for science but also develops key skills like problem-solving, spatial awareness, and independent thinking, all while keeping screen time at bay. Perfect for both boys and girls aged 8-14, it’s an exceptional way to encourage creativity and confidence in young minds as they embark on their scientific adventures. 8-14 years
Why we love it:
Build and Explore with Smartivity Telescope includes everything needed to construct your own pocket telescope, combining hands-on fun with essential STEM learning that sparks curiosity without screens.

STEM Adventure with Catapult Marble Run

The Learning Journey: Techno Gears Marble Mania - Catapult 3.0 is more than just a toy; it's a captivating journey into the world of STEM! This impressive construction set, featuring over 80 vibrant interlocking pieces, ignites curiosity and creativity as children build their very own marble run with exciting elements like a pendulum marble drop and a thrilling marble launcher loop. As kids design and experiment, they're developing critical problem-solving and engineering skills, boosting their confidence with each successful design. It’s a fantastic way for parents and educators to encourage hands-on learning while having a blast! 6+ years
Why we love it:
STEM Adventure with Catapult Marble Run includes over 80 vibrant interlocking pieces, turning building and experimenting into an exciting way to develop engineering skills and confidence.

Spring-Powered STEM Fun!

The Thames & Kosmos SpringBots STEM Kit invites young learners to explore the fascinating worlds of potential and kinetic energy through hands-on building. By assembling three unique spring-powered models—a speedy race car, an adventurous walking robot, and a precise countdown timer—kids engage their critical thinking and engineering skills while discovering how gears and springs work. This kit is a delightful choice for parents and educators looking to inspire curiosity and creativity in STEM, all without the need for batteries! 8+ years
Why we love it:
Spring-Powered STEM Fun! features hands-on building of three unique models, making physics feel like an exciting adventure while sparking curiosity without any batteries needed.