All gifts from the Engineering Gift Guide Reviews and sorted by age.
Indi, by Sphero, is an endearing, car-like programming robot intended for children ages 4+.
Design & Drill Adventure Circuits, by Educational Insights, is a circuitry toy that introduces circuits and electricity to children ages 5-12.
Design & Drill Marble Maze, from Educational Insights, is a marble run puzzle for children ages 5+.
Castle Building Set, by Learning Resources, is a building toy for ages 5-10.
TreadMobiles, by Learning Resources, is a 108-piece build-your-own vehicle kit for ages 5+.
This adaptable fort-building toy by Fort Boards is perfect for bringing a child’s construction and building skills to the next level.
The book “Girls Can Be Engineers” by Jamila H. Lindo encourages young children to be excited about any career, regardless of their gender.
STEM Explorers Brainometry is a fantastic toy for small children to begin practicing concrete STEM skills.
This set of child-friendly tools by Makedo is perfect for children who are already interested in creating their own inventions.
Know a curious kid who wants to learn more about how things are made? The All About Smart Manufacturing picture book from Industrial Insights LLC demonstrates how every item in your house is a product of engineering. Manufacturing engineers have a hand in getting every product that we use onto store shelves. This book shows the process of manufacturing, and what different processes and robotics are used to store and transport products. Learn to question where the items you use and see every day come from, and how much work goes into producing them. Readers can expect to practice their engineering communication skills, and logical and computational thinking skills. ― Daisy Coble, Purdue Reviewer
While practicing engineering skills is important, so is understanding the challenges engineers tackle. With Dream, Invent, Create: Engineer the World by Start Engineering, explore the world through technological achievements and the problems engineers are currently facing. Help the children in your life to understand the context of engineering and how they can use engineering to solve real-world issues with this engaging educational book. ― Erica Corbeels, Purdue Reviewer
Looking for a gift for a young math whizz? Clocking in at $19.99, MathLink® Cubes Brain Puzzle Challenge from Learning Resources is an affordable collection of games and puzzles that packs an educational punch. Practice counting, pattern recognition, and even basic coding skills in a fun and engaging way. This gift grows with them through different activities for all ages. Give the gift of math proficiency this year with MathLink® Cubes Brain Puzzle Challenge. ― Erica Corbeels, Purdue Reviewer
The House that Cleaned Itself, written by Laura Dershewitz and Susan Romberg and illustrated by Meghan Rader, is a picture book telling the story of Frances Gabe and her self-cleaning house.
Geometiles, by Imathgination, is an entertaining shape-building toy intended for ages 6+.
This high-quality building kit from Elenco walks users ages 6 and up through a design.
This build-it-yourself toy by Kididdo is perfect for older kids who want to challenge their building skills.
This 3-in-1 building set from Kididdo contains three separate remote-controlled vehicle designs and a provided instruction booklet.
This 2-in-1 building set from Kididdo walks the user through building a ‘speed racer’ remote-controlled vehicle.
This 2-in-1 building set from Kididdo walks the user through building a ‘speed racer’ remote-controlled vehicle.
Qubits is a versatile building toy for ages 6 and up that can be used for more than just fun.
This building toy by Thames and Kosmos is the perfect introduction to hands-on engineering experience while introducing fundamental physics and mathematical concepts.
Math Wizard and the Enchanted World Games, by Osmo, is a game for children ages 6-8, or grades 1-2, to strengthen math, critical thinking, problem solving, and iterative design skills. This gift requires the Osmo base (sold separately) and an iPad or a Fire Tablet to download the Math Wizard app.
Math Wizard and the Amazing Airships, by Osmo, is a game for children ages 6-8, or grades 1-2, to strengthen math, critical thinking, problem solving, and iterative design skills. This gift requires the Osmo base and an iPad or a Fire Tablet to download the Math Wizard app (be sure to check compatibility before purchasing, as many but not all devices are supported).
100 Easy STEAM Activities by Andrea Scalzo Yi is an instructional guide for young STEM readers that includes directions to complete 100 at-home, hands-on activities for ages 6-11.
A Day in Code: An illustrated story written in the C programming language by Shari Eskenas details the story of two siblings that created C files to be able to talk about their day and have their computers understand.
The Mega Cyborg Hand by Thames & Kosmos is an incredibly entertaining look into hydraulics, exoskeletons, and spatial reasoning.
The Girl with a Mind for Math, written by Julia Finley Mosca and illustrated by Daniel Rieley, is a beautifully illustrated picture book telling the story of famous engineer Raye Montague.
Snap Circuits Code Journey, by Elenco, is an engaging programmable rover that provides an applicable, real-world example of coding to younger users that strengthens their computational thinking skills, spatial reasoning skills, and concepts of iterative design.
Snap Circuits Light, by Elenco, is a fantastic introduction to circuits for children 8+.
Coding Charms, by hand2mind, is a screen-free coding kit for children ages 8+.
Iggy Peck’s Big Project Book for Amazing Architects by David Roberts is a fantastic introduction to the engineering process for children ages five and up.
Snap Circuits Junior (20th Anniversary Edition) is a gift that consistently promotes engineering design thinking by asking its users to solve complex, real-world problems.
This build-it-yourself circuit kit by Elecno includes all the basics needed to get started with Snap Circuits and so much more.
For many years now, the Snap Circuits line of toys has been fantastic for learning and practicing circuitry and other engineering concepts, and Snap Circuits MyHome Plus is no exception.
This do-it-yourself circuit kit from Elenco pairs up with a user-friendly smartphone app to create a graphical, block-based coding experience fit for beginners and experts alike.
This build-it-yourself music machine kit by Smartivity is a great way to introduce the design process to kids.
This building kit for children 8 and up is perfect for the child who’s always wondering how things work!
This 3-in-1 RC building kit from Kididdo has an instruction booklet that walks the user through creating three separate remote-controlled vehicle designs.
This introductory coding kit from Let's Start Coding comes with over 100 experiments for children ages 8-15 to try completing independently.
This game from Looney Labs may come in a small box, but entire galaxies are contained within. Players (ages 8+) must develop strategies to fight over alien terrain while managing limited resources.
This build-it-yourself robotics toy by Thames and Kosmos not only walks you through building two different designs of robots but also introduces the basics of coding in an accessible manner.
This toy is the perfect introduction for those interested in vehicle design; it allows users to build multiple vehicles while simultaneously exploring complex physics and science concepts in an accessible way.
The WindBots: 6-in-1 Wind-Powered Machine Kit explores wind power and spatial reasoning with just enough engineering knowledge to pique a user’s interest.
Over the last two decades, coding has become one of the most important skills someone can possess. The Boolean Box Micro: Bit Base Kit is an incredible introduction to problem-solving, computers, and coding.
50 in 1 Tinker Lab Kit is a kit for ages 8+ that contains materials to complete fifty different STEAM projects.
Artie Max the Coding Robot by Educational Insights is a small, robotic drawing machine designed for children 8-12 years old.
Electronics can be a tricky concept to understand, but the Electronics & Robotics Kit* by TinkL Tinker Lab@Home from Butterfly EduFields allows children to build their own machines and robots complete with circuitry. Use wires and sensors to build many unique machines, from musical alarms to drawing robots. Learn how to build different designs with complex sensors and integrated robotics while also testing and improving on your design. Concepts of engineering, iterative design, and spatial reasoning are all practiced using the Electronics & Robotics Kit. ― Jaden Hernandez, Purdue Reviewer
Has your child ever wondered how rockets steer, plane controls work, or space telescopes maintain their position? The gyroscope, the amazing technology behind all of these inventions, is a great introduction to complex machinery to any child. The Tightrope-Walking Gyrobot by Thames and Kosmos uses a motorized gyroscope to walk along thin objects including the edges of rulers, ropes, and anything else you dare to try. Accompanied by a detailed manual, users gain knowledge about gyroscopes and the roles they play in our world, as well as the physics behind them. This toy is a great choice for any user looking to improve their physics knowledge, practice spatial and logical reasoning, and learn more about the technology around them. ― A.R. Miller, Purdue Reviewer
Upper Story LLC’s Spintronics Act One is a uniquely inventive toy that teaches kids about making circuits without the use of electricity or batteries. Users mimic different parts of an electrical circuit with physical hardware; wires become chains used to link together different resistors and connect switches to the motor. The included graphic novel encourages users to safely build different types of mechanical “circuits'' driven by the included pulley powered motor, while evaluating different circuits and communicating their findings in a way that meets professional standards. Allow a child in your life to go on a fun adventure while learning how to draw and construct circuits used in a variety of engineering jobs. ― Daisy Coble, Purdue Reviewer
If you can’t get enough of UpperStory LLC’s Spintronics and want a bit more of a challenge, Spintronics Act Two is a great addition. Act Two builds upon all of the concepts of Act One by introducing even more physical representations of elements of circuitry. While you do need Act One to play Act Two, Act Two adds many more complex challenges for any child yearning to learn more about circuitry. Along with more base tiles and chains to allow for bigger more complex circuits, the set includes new pieces to learn about circuit components such as inductors and transistors. You also can buy the Spintronics Power Pack if you want to make your circuits even bigger by providing more resistors. These additions to Act One allow for even more freedom in designing and building safe, mechanical "circuits." ― Daisy Coble, Purdue Reviewer
