Purdue University has released its 12th annual Engineering Gift Guide, featuring 10 carefully selected toys and tools designed to spark curiosity and learning in microelectronics among children and teens.

Produced by the INSPIRE Research Institute for Pre-College Engineering, part of Purdue’s School of Engineering Education (ENE), the guide highlights gifts that blend play with purpose, introducing young learners to the foundational concepts of circuitry, robotics and programming.

This year’s guide continues to focus on microelectronics, a vital and cross-disciplinary field that powers everyday technologies like smartphones, computers and smart appliances. The selected gifts aim to help children understand how microelectronic systems work and how they are designed, coded and applied in real-world contexts.

“Microelectronics are everywhere, from the devices we use daily to the systems that drive innovation,” said Tamara Moore, professor of engineering education, co-director of INSPIRE and director of SCALE K-12, an ENE research program dedicated to embedding microelectronics learning into K-12 schools and curricula. “This year’s toys help kids connect the dots between coding and circuits and the engineering thinking behind the technology.”

Jennifer Heap, who oversees the Engineering Gift Guide, emphasized the importance of making engineering accessible and inspiring. “Each year, we aim to select gifts that not only entertain but also empower children to think like engineers,” Heap said. “This year’s focus on microelectronics reflects our commitment to helping kids understand the technology that shapes their world and inspiring them to imagine how they might shape its future.”

The INSPIRE Student Research Team, guided by faculty and staff, reviewed dozens of toys and kits, evaluating each for educational value, engagement and accessibility. The final list includes gifts that support hands-on learning, creativity and critical thinking. This variety ensures that families, educators and gift-givers can find options that align with their learners’ interests, skill levels and available resources. The full guide includes helpful details such as age ranges, estimated costs and skill level indicators to support informed and confident gift selection.

Engineering the Future: 2025 Microelectronics Gift Guide:

1. Hello Ruby: Journey Inside the Computer by Linda Liukas — A whimsical picture book that turns complex tech topics into playful adventures, helping kids explore logic gates, CPUs, and software through storytelling and activities
2. BitsBox — A subscription-based coding kit that delivers app-building projects to a child’s doorstep, turning screen time into learning time
3. ELECFREAKS micro:bit Nezha Pro Ocean Kit — A sensor-rich building kit that merges environmental awareness with engineering design, encouraging kids to create devices that make a difference
4. Makey Makey Backpack Bundle — An inventive expansion kit that encourages kids to turn everyday objects into interactive circuits, fostering creativity and engineering thinking
5. Code Piano Jumbo by Let’s Start Coding — A hands-on coding toy that lets kids experiment with music and programming, making abstract concepts tangible and fun
6. Chibitronics LED Circuit Sticker Kits — Two creative kits that blend art and electronics, helping kids explore circuitry through light-up sticker projects
7. Pro-Bot by Terrapin — A programmable robot that combines movement, sound and drawing to teach coding and problem-solving in a dynamic, artistic way
8. My Robotic Pet: Coding Chameleon by Thames & Kosmos — A buildable robot pet that teaches coding logic and design through interactive play and programmable features
9. Sphero BOLT+ and Sphero Blueprint Engineering Kit — A robotics duo that introduces structural engineering and coding, from rolling robots to sensor-powered creations
10. Smart Cutebot Pro by ELECFREAKS — A powerful robot that brings microelectronics to life with sensors, motors and coding challenges; ideal for classrooms and makerspaces

“This guide is the result of months of collaboration among students, faculty and staff,” Heap said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see how these toys can open doors to engineering for kids and families everywhere.”

Each item was evaluated using INSPIRE’s research-based framework, which considers engineering design, STEM integration, computational thinking and accessibility. The full guide is available online and includes links to purchase and explore each gift.

Moore added, “We want kids to see themselves as engineers, problem-solvers, designers and creators. These toys help make that vision real.”

About the School of Engineering Education

Purdue’s School of Engineering Education (ENE) is a national leader in transforming engineering education through research and innovation. As the first school of its kind in the United States, ENE supports inclusive, interdisciplinary learning from pre-college through professional practice. INSPIRE and SCALE K-12 are two of its flagship research centers, dedicated to advancing STEM education and broadening participation in engineering.