The focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) has increased in both schools, home, and society. This is to encourage long-term progress for all, but to the inventive mind (which is every child!) there are specific benefits to consistently exploring these fields. For years, STEM related activities and training have been geared toward boys. Thankfully, our society is finally seeing the importance of getting girls involved in technical fields and that girls are just as capable as boys.
I love the thrill of pride I feel when my children share something new and surprising they’ve created. Whether it’s a unique block construction or a clever solution to a problem, seeing a child invent something is a sweet moment of realization of their one-of-a-kind perspective and unlimited potential. Unless, of course, my child has built herself a makeshift chair to reach a hidden treat … but I digress.
Children are great at seeing the possibilities in the world around us. They just need opportunities and materials, and boom! They’re off in a world of their creation. And the great thing is that as they play, their brain development blossoms! Stimulating creative activities, especially where they have to face problems and see things occasionally fall apart in error, will encourage their growth and tenacity.
Why are STEM Toys Important for Girls?
- Make their ideas into realities
- Use and challenge their creativity
- Be more confident
- See their capabilities, regardless of gender, race, or economic status
- Be prepared for future education and work opportunities
- Observe STEM’s uses in everyday life
We want to give girls everything that can support such growth, but our budgets are limited so we have to be choosy about the toys and tools we provide them. We’re lucky to have so many resources, including how easily we can share their experiences with each other. So here is a variety of top-reviewed STEM gifts for girls who are young inventors and budding scientists in your life!
Top STEM Gifts for Girls
| Product | Features |
|---|---|
| STEM Toys For Girls Ages 3-7 | |
Kid K’NEX Budding Builders Read Review | |
LEGO Friends Andrea's Pool Party Read Review | |
Brickyard Building Blocks Read Review | |
Gears! Build & Bloom Set Read Review | |
Grow 'n Glow Terrarium Read Review | |
Botley the Coding Robot Read Review | |
Talking Microscope Read Review | |
| STEM Gifts for Girls Ages 7-10 | |
GoldieBlox Cloud Dream Lamp Read Review | |
K'NEX Imagine Building Set Read Review | |
Smart Circuits Read Review | |
Klutz LEGO Gear Bots Read Review | |
4M Solar System Planetarium Read Review | |
STEM Simple Machines Read Review | |
UNO Project Starter Kit Read Review | |
Wonder Workshop Coding Robot Read Review | |
Ice Cream Making Science Kit Read Review | |
Interlocking Plastic Disc Set Read Review | |
| STEM Toys for Tween and Teen Girls | |
ELEGOO Smart Robot Car Kit Read Review | |
LEGO Architecture Skyline Paris Read Review | |
4M Water Rocket Kit Read Review | |
KEVA Contraptions Plank Set Read Review | |
Inventions Sketchbook Read Review | |
Lip Balm DIY Kit Read Review | |
Crystal Growing Science Kit Read Review |
STEM Toys for Young Girls Ages 3-7
These STEM toys would make a great gift for the young female inventor at heart.
1. Kid K’NEX – Budding Builders Building Set
This set of K’NEX is geared towards 3-5 year olds, and so has larger pieces than their typical sets. With 100 colorful pieces that can be safely set aside in the set’s lidded plastic box, this early exposure to detailed building will keep kids creating happily for ages!
As they build the designs (a guide with 50 ideas is included!), girls will also be building their fine motor skills, hand-eye-coordination, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities. I love that the set has some unique pieces to inspire young children: large feet, friendly eyes, floppy ears, propellers, even bendable joints that will add new possibilities to their creations!
2. LEGO Friends Andrea’s Pool Party
Did you know there are specific LEGOs for girls? This fun kit is a house and accessories that are perfect STEM toys for young girls. It has 468 pieces that make a pool party scene with a pool, water slide, juice bar, wave machine, and more. Also included are three mini figures and a fun flamingo float.
Unlike more complicated LEGO sets, this one is a modular style, which makes for a faster, easier build for younger girls. Girls can also use their creativity to use the pieces in creating other objects and structures. LEGO recommends this kit for girls 6 and older, but we find it would be fine for a girl as young as 4 (as long as she doesn’t put pieces in her mouth).
3. Brickyard Building Blocks
This is another fun and colorful building set designed for younger children, with larger pieces as your 3 to 7-year-old builds their fine motor skills. The bolts that hold constructions together add a fun dexterity challenge, as they have to be screwed into place with the set’s screwdriver or wrench.
The 101 pieces (and resulting projects) can be stored in the accompanying storage tub when not in use. This is another fun option that will help your little girl develop her motor skills, logical thinking, hand-eye coordination, even social collaboration as she creates with others.
4. Gears! Build & Bloom Set
Colorful gears, bright flowers, fun bees and butterflies, and more make up this vibrant building set! Your girl can create endless variations as she brings a garden to life, and as they do she’ll be also be building imagination and fine motor skills.
Working with these spinning gears will encourage younger children to persevere: setting up their flowery scenes will take additional time to get all the aspects they want to be both included and spinning, and they will have to fix problems they encounter as they go along. Children ages 4 and older are ready to explore this engaging toy.
5. Grow ‘n Glow Terrarium
Girls have a natural ability to care for living things, and this tabletop garden aquarium is great for a young budding scientist. The kit comes complete with a jar, seeds, rocks, sand, soil, and some cute animal and plant figurines. Included stickers can be used to decorate the outside of the jar.
This terrarium is easy to maintain. Simply use the included spray bottle to water the plants as instructed and watch the garden begin growing in just a few days. An LED light on the underside of the lid lights up the terrarium at night.
The manufacturer recommends this for kids ages 6 and up, but if you are willing to help your daughter a little, this can be a great STEM toy for girls ages 4 and up. It’s a great introduction to indoor gardening.
6. Botley the Coding Robot
This coding robot is perfect introduction to coding for girls. A Toy of the Year Award Finalist for 2019, this STEM toy is a great choice. Unlike most other coding toys, this one requires no screen. That’s right–no computer, tablet, or phone needed. Kids simply use the included remote control to program the robot. This toy is ready to play with right out of the box. Simply insert 5 AAA batteries (not included), and the toy is ready.
The robot can be programmed to maneuver an obstacle course, push a ball, and several other commands. As a child plays with the robot, she will unlock hidden features. Younger kids will have a great time with Botley the robot.
7. Educational Insights Talking Microscope
Would you love to see your young daughter develop an interest in science? Me too! This toy microscope is ideal for preschoolers because it is so easy to use and will expand their knowledge of all kinds of plants and animals.
As kids examine one of the 20 slides, they’ll hear scientific details about what they’re seeing in the voice of wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin. Each slide contains 3 beautiful, full color, and up-close images. With over 100 facts and questions, this microscope will certainly keep any young girl entertained for hours! Just keep in mind that 3 AAA batteries are required but not included.
STEM Gifts for Girls Ages 7-10
As girls get older, they can use more of their mind. These STEM gifts are specifically designed to help girls increase their problem solving ability and teach them fundamental engineering principles.
8. GoldieBlox Cloud Dream Lamp
Can you imagine the confidence a young girl would gain from making a lamp that actually turns on and off? She will not only learn how a circuit functions, but will also learn about clouds, condensation, and evaporation. This will either give her a head start before she learns about clouds in school or support what she has already learned.
The Cloud Dream Lamp also lets a young girl use her creativity. She will love to make something as cool as a cloud lamp to decorate her room. The cloud is adorable and looks super cute when it’s hung up. Trust me, she will love it!
The kit comes with a lantern, a LED light strip, a remote control, glitter stickers, beads, and glue. It also includes a great reusable storage box and some fun fact learning cards. It’s a perfect project for girls 8 and older. GlodieBlox is a company that encourages girls to have fun with science and technology as they use their creativity to build something.
9. K’NEX Imagine Building Set
This is an ideal beginning set of K’NEX for children ages 7-12, with (hooray!) a re-closable plastic bin to stow it away between play sessions. Design diagrams are included, and the instructions are clear but still challenging enough to help kids develop new skills.
The set comes with 522 pieces, which will allow girls to explore infinite creations of their own, along with the guide’s designs for animals, vehicles, and much more. There are parts that will allow for movement in your children’s creations, which brings an extra level of fun to their explorations! And they’ll be developing their fine motor skills, problem-solving expertise, and spatial awareness along the way.
10. Smart Circuits
Don’t tell my kids, but I totally want to play with this after they go to bed! This amazing toy is actually a computer microprocessor, and is a great introduction to electrical engineering for kids starting at age 8! It comes with a 48-page guide, where children will learn about the electrical principles behind it, as well as how to create a room alarm, a quiz show game, a doorbell, and more!
This lab will encourage kids to learn more about the hidden workings of electronics all around them and hopefully lead to fun inventions of their own!
11. Klutz LEGO Gear Bots
For any child (or grown-up!) who loves LEGOs, this really is a must have! It comes with everything you need to build 8 different models that move when you crank a handle. Girls will learn all about cams, cranks, axles, and other mechanical engineering skills that have real-life applications. Something to be aware of is that you can only build one of these at a time, unless you have other LEGOs you can use.
One of the best things about this kit is the book that comes with it. It has step-by-step instructions to build each of these action-packed models. And they are cool models: Heli-cact-er, Yeti, Lounge Lizard, Pterodactyl or my personal favorite, an octopus that spins records, just to name a few. And each model comes with a paper character that you fold and attach to the Lego models. . . very cool!
12. 4M Solar System Planetarium
This kit has all of the magic ingredients to make learning fun for a girl: creativity, imagination, and decoration for her room. She will enjoy exploring our solar system. After she assembles the sun and planets, she can paint them with the included paints. Then she can set them in motion for a glow-in-the-dark mini-planetarium for her room! The learning continues as she watches the planets move in their orbit.
The kit not only includes the planets (Pluto is not included), rods, string, stencils and glow paint, but it also has a wall chart filled with facts about the solar system and 10 sets of questions. It’s a perfect for girls 8 and older. What a great learning opportunity! And can I just mention how totally cool it would be to have a solar system in your room?
13. STEM Simple Machines
This extensive kit allows girls ages 8-16 (and beyond!) to engage in a new kind of building experience. Some of its elements resemble K’NEX pieces, but this set includes the tools needed to incorporate levers, pulley drives, worm drives, inclined planes, and more into a functioning vehicle. The included guide has some 60 model ideas, and children can use this as a starting point to dream up new inventions of their own!
Engino has additional Simple Machine sets, but I recommend this one because of how practical the lessons are in this particular kit. The components included teach lessons on multiplying or reducing force, varying speed, and changing motion within a vehicle. Children naturally wonder about how things work, and its empowering and motivating when they begin to understand the functions around them.
14. UNO Project Starter Kit
While the name may not be the catchiest, this Arduino programming kit is another great resource for introducing girls to the world of electronic creations. Its PDF guide with 24 lessons will teach beginners about programming that can be used in many of the common electronics used at home.
So much more than a toy, this kit is allows children aged 10 and up to better understand and build upon everyday items like cell phone technology, LED lights, GPS, motors, and speakers. Learning how to use this will certainly take some time, and probably parental involvement, but will encourage your girl to experiment in an arena full of possibilities.
15. Wonder Workshop Coding Robot
Dash from Wonder Workshop is a delightful coding robot that is fantastic for girls 7 and up. Use a phone or tablet to program this darling robot. Dash comes with five free apps that help girls teach the robot to move around a room, launch a ball from a catapult, respond to voice commands, and dozens of other exciting options.
With hundreds of possible missions, Dash will keep girls busy and interested as they become more and more proficient. Choose from just the robot or bundle it with a variety of accessories and challenges. While this toy is a bit pricey, it combines fun and learning in a way that few toys do.
16. Ice Cream Making Science Kit
Using science to make sweet treats–what could be more fun? This science kit allows girls to enjoy 18 different experiments to make ice cream, sorbets, and popsicles. Included in the kit are cups, spoons, sticks, and flavorings including vanilla, strawberry, and banana. Doing the experiments is quite easy and most girls will be able to do them without much (or any) adult help. However, waiting for the treats to freeze takes a little patience (about 2 hours’ worth).
17. Interlocking Plastic Disc Set
Creative STEM Gifts for Tween and Teen Girls
These fun gifts and toys give tween and teen girls practical background and experience with essential science in the real world. Your girl inventor will love these gifts that will expand her mind.
18. ELEGOO Smart Robot Car Kit
For a great hands-on STEM toy, check out this robot car kit. Your girl will enjoy putting together the pieces and then programming the car to actually move. This kit is geared for kids 12 and older, but younger girls could put it together with a little adult help. This robot kit for girls is the perfect introduction to robotics. Complete with all needed parts and tools, this toy comes with excellent instructions that are easy to follow. This is definitely an excellent choice!
19. LEGO Architecture Skyline Paris
There is no denying the beauty and elegance of this Paris skyline by LEGO. It would be a great addition to a teen’s bedroom. The build is fun, and the finished project is a fantastic showpiece. With 649 pieces, this set showcases most prominently the Eiffel Tower but also includes the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre complete with its glass pyramid, the Grand Palais, the Champs-Elysées, and more.
Girls love that this isn’t the typical block style of LEGO. Instead, it has a much more realistic, classy look. It’s a great project to work on alone or with a friend!
20. 4M Water Rocket Kit
4M has a wide variety of small science kits available, but their water rocket is the highest reviewed and certainly leaves the biggest impression! Girls will be eager to help blast this rocket off to some 4 stories in height again and again! The kit allows children (with adult help) to assemble a blast station using water pressure to launch a recycled soda bottle. A bicycle pump is needed to create the pressure.
While this kit is singularly focused, it opens up opportunities to discuss the science principles that make the rocket work, and invites children to see new possibilities in everyday objects. And in the spectacle, it will likely lead your child to share the fun and explain the science to friends!
21. KEVA Contraptions Plank Set
Deceivingly simple, this 200-piece pine plank set can be used to inspire myriad creations using physics principles. The kit comes with an idea book to jumpstart kids with building ramps, paths, scaffolding, and more, with no connecting pieces needed. This aspect will encourage girls seven and up to build precisely (boosting those fine motor skills) and to problem-solve as they encounter difficulties.
Carefully crafted to standard size and dimensions, the pine pieces can be built into elaborate and secure creations. Two balls are included so kids can test and put their designs to use, bringing them the excitement and satisfaction of a well-engineered structure. Recommended for children 7-11 years old.
22. My Crazy Inventions Sketchbook
Full of both practical and silly inspiration, this book is much more than a sketchbook, as it opens the door to new levels of creativity. Each page shares either some history about famous inventions, tips on how to be an effective inventor, or an invitation to design a new version of an already-existing item.
In addition to that, it encourages children to record their ideas. As your girl ages, she can look back on her old ideas and have either a good laugh, or see how she can make something even better! Best of all, you can’t lose any pieces with this item! Unless it gets lost altogether… but unlike a LEGO piece, it’s unlikely to hurt if you step on it.
23. Lip Balm DIY Kit
Since this set appeals to a teen’s interest in beauty, crafty, and chemistry it is sure to be a favorite! She’ll discover the science behind cosmetics and acquire a newfound appreciation for what goes into making her favorite lip balms, lotions, and scrubs.
I love that it comes with enough supplies to make 10 lip balms so a teen girl can share with her friends. It also includes plastic tubes, 2 tins, a sticker sheet, and an instructional video. She can even customize her creations with flavors and oils from home, like lemon, chocolate, or olive oil. How fun!
24. Crystal Growing Science Kit
I can say with confidence that this crystal growing kit will encourage your tween or teen girl’s interest in STEM! It allows them to engage in a hands-on geology experiment involving chemicals and scientific principles. Detailed instructions outline the steps needed to create 10 colorful crystals, including one that is glow-in-the-dark and a few geodes.
After 7-10 days they will be finished growing and she will marvel at the incredible, unique resulting crystals. Since the crystals last indefinitely, she can use them to decorate her room and remind her of how much fun she had playing with science.
STEM Toy Summary and Recommendations
Each of these possible gifts comes with set instructions or model ideas, but they also inspire further exploration. Curiosity comes so naturally to children, with their creative and open minds, so tools like these will encourage them to see ways to improve their world. Many of these items will require an adult’s support, so be prepared to assist, especially when a girl is at the younger end of the age range or is just starting to explore with it. Working together will refresh your perspective on the world too, and you might find yourself staying up late to tinker with one of these items on your own!
FAQs
Why is STEM important for girls?
Society acknowledges that STEM is no longer just for boys. Learning STEM concepts not only helps girls better understand the world they live in, but also prepares them for satisfying, influential careers. Additionally, developing STEM skills will increase girls’ capabilities, challenge their minds, and grow their confidence.
What features are good in a STEM toy for girls?
Look for STEM toys that will encourage growth, creativity, and tenacity. When girls face projects with problems needing to be solved, they develop important analytical skills. Avoid toys which are too easily completed since girls enjoy being challenged. Also, activities which allow them to come up with their own ideas foster inventiveness.
How can parents encourage girls to get involved in STEM?
By supplying their daughters with STEM opportunities, parents give their girls a gift which will enhance their lives. The more girls interact with STEM projects, the more likely they are to pursue science in general which will lead to exciting futures. Review the products on the list we’ve compiled to find excellent options to get your daughter involved in STEM.
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