Benefits of STEM Toys in Children

It is a fact that kids need play and learning toys in their lives. Children have the preoccupation for toys which plays an important role in their learning. In this era of technology, you will agree with me that humans are becoming more and more sophisticated. By using Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning toys, you will be able to improve your children’s thinking skills, creativity and problem-solving abilities. For parents and guardians who have always wondered what benefits their kids get from playing toys, these learning toys have a significant positive impact in the educational well-being. So, let’s have a look at some of the benefits of (STEM) Learning Toys.

1. Enhancing divergent thinking

Your child will be able to achieve this through designing/playing with a toy that can be used to teach fractions, basic coding, problem solving skills and basic engineering principles. Majority of divergent thinking toys are open-ended like Lego blocks, magnetic tiles, and other loose interlocking blocks. The open-endedness of the toys positively influence children’s ability to problem solve as they require thinking outside of the box. Examples of such available toys are: Super Fraction Box, Learning Resources Horseshoe-Shaped Magnets, Learning Resources Botley The Challenge Accessory Set and Learning Resources Gears Building Sets.

2. Enhancing creativity

According to education experts, the most important thing isn’t to focus on teaching kids’ content. These days, knowledge changes so rapidly, particularly in STEM, that most information is quickly out-of-date. To resolve this, we need to help kids become “creative problem solvers,” which, according to Harvard Education Expert Tony Wagner, is what 21st-century employers really need and struggle to find.

There are a few things you can do to help your child enhance their creativity skills through playing with STEM toys. One thing you can do is to provide them with a variety of different materials and tools to work with. This will allow them to experiment and come up with new ideas. You can also help them to think outside the box by encouraging them to come up with their own solutions to problems. Finally, you can praise them for their creativity and encourage them to keep exploring new ideas. Such toys include Learning Resources Gears Building Sets, Happy Time Building Blocks, Playgro Link n Learn Bath Buddies and Design and Drill STEM Garden.

3. Develop hand-eye coordination capabilities

There are several ways that you can help develop your kid’s hand-eye coordination capabilities through playing with STEM toys. One way is to find toys that require your kid to use their hands and eyes together in order to complete a task. Another way is to find toys that have a lot of small pieces that your kid will need to pay close attention to in order to avoid losing them. Finally, you can find toys that require your kid to move their body in order to complete a task.

Examples of such toys include Learning Resources Ten to the Top Tower, Learning Resources Sand n Water Fine Motor Set, Wooden Princess and Prince Building Blocks and Playgro Chewy Stack and Nest Cups.

4. Promoting spatial skills

Spatial intelligence involves understanding and remembering the relative locations of objects in mind. 2D or 3D objects can be manipulated through mental movement, rotation, or transformation. STEM toys can be used in various ways to promote spatial skills in children. One way is to provide them with puzzles or games that require them to think spatially. Another way is to give them toys that allow them to build things, such as blocks. Finally, you can also have them use tools, such as rulers, to help them measure and calculate distances. Great examples in stock include: Fat Brain Corners Up, Smiley Rubik Cubes, 2-in-1 Wooden Rainbow Tower and Pounding Bench Wooden Toy with Mallet.

5. Stimulating problem-solving and critical thinking

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to stimulating problem-solving and critical thinking with STEM toys, therefore this will vary depending on the individual child’s interests and abilities. However, some tips to get started include choosing toys that are challenging and require some level of imagination to figure out, providing opportunities for children to experiment and fiddle with different materials and designs, and encouraging children to ask questions and explore the world around them. These toys include Educational Building Blocks, Wooden Urban Building Blocks, Jigsaw Puzzles, GALT Jungle Floor Dominoes and GALT French Knitting Set.

6. Improving motor skills

Some of the most popular options for children’s motor skills development include construction toys like LEGO bricks, robotics kits and coding toys. They require children to use their hands to manipulate the bricks and build structures. This can help improve hand-eye coordination and skillfulness of the hands. Robotics kits are another great way to improve motor skills. They require children to use their hands to assemble the robot, and then use their brains to program it to move. This can help improve handiness and problem-solving skills. Examples comprise of Lamaze Rusty the Robot, LeapFrog Busy Learning Bot, Learning Resources Digital Timer and TOMY Toomies Hide & Squeak Nesting Eggs.

7. Developing communication skills

When it comes to toys, there are a lot of different types that can help children develop their communication skills. However, when it comes to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) toys, there are a few specific toys that can help children develop their communication skills.

One example of a STEM toy that can help children develop their communication skills is the LeapFrog Town Train Playset. This toy allows children to explore different learning programs in the Interactive Smart Cube. Not only does this toy help children develop their communication skills through imitation, but it also helps them develop their mathematical skills especially the whole numbers concept. Other toys for enhancing communication skills embraces interactive toys like Lamaze Sprinkles the Jellyfish, Playgro Sights and Sounds Music Box TV and LeapFrog PET Pal Math.

8. Encouraging teamwork

When children are encouraged to work together in a team, they learn how to communicate, cooperate, and problem-solve. When we see young kids play, we can expect some fighting, some crying and perhaps, the occasional hair pulling too. But then there’s also enormous space for cooperation, collaboration, team playing, empathy for the other, and understanding emotional and social dynamics.

While normal toys might not have space for the latter, STEM educational toys offer ample opportunities for collaboration, cooperation, and getting young minds together to work better. Because they are building something from scratch before they play with it, all members of the group feel a sense of ownership towards the building and playing with the said toys. This also encourages team growth and most importantly, learning from one another and understanding their special abilities and what they have to offer to the group too.

Some great STEM toys that encourage teamwork are the Learning Resources Botley Challenge Activity Set, LeapFrog Number Train and Giant Magnetic Solar System.

9. Exploring scientific concepts in a fun and engaging way

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) toys help children explore scientific concepts in a fun and engaging way. STEM toys can range from simple items like magnifying glasses and flashlights to more complex items like chemistry sets and robotics kits.

The toys can help children learn about things like physics, chemistry, and math. Some STEM toys are also designed to help children learn about how to design and build things. These toys can help children learn about things like engineering and robotics. Popular STEM collection in our store include SES Creative Making Soaps Set, Learning Resources Primary Science® ViewScope and GALT Slippery Slime.

In conclusion, there’s much that STEM educational toys have to offer when it comes to the growth of young minds. The experience can be exponential, pride instilling and way more fun than simply buying a toy from the market and breaking it without ever understanding the hard work and fun that goes behind building one.