Top 5 Electronic STEM Toys

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #poweringtheholidays #CollectiveBias So many great STEM toys require batteries. I’m sharing my top 5 electronic STEM toys today. These toys have moving parts and flashing lights while teaching kids pre-coding skills, coding, or electronics. My list includes suggestions for a variety of ages from toddler to elementary school.

Powering the Holidays with Energizer Batteries

Don’t forget the batteries to go along with your electronic toys. Some of the toys come with batteries. Some don’t. The ones that do come with batteries usually need replacing soon. The demo batteries aren’t designed to last for long. Head to Wal-mart and stock up on Energizer® Batteries. Click here to receive a $5 Walmart eGift card with your $15 Energizer® battery or lights purchase.

Find the Energizer Batteries at the front of the store near the cash registers. There should be one on both sides of the store. This is where I found the Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries.

My store also had a large green display in the back of the store near the electronics department. I found the Energizer MAX® AA and AAA batteries there. The Energizer MAX® batteries last for 10 years in storage so don’t worry about stocking up. Head to Sporting Goods to find the Energizer® Brand Headlights. You’ll find a variety of lightweight, hands-free lighting options.

I’m sharing 5 of our favorite STEM toys that require batteries. You’ll find something for every kid on your list from toddlers to elementary school (maybe even some middle schoolers).

Snap Circuits

Snap Circuits uses pieces that snap together to build circuits. It’s a great way to learn about how circuit boards and electronics work. The photo above shows one of the first projects – a simple battery operated fan. You can also build radios, voice recorders, alarms, doorbells, electronic games, and more.

My son went to a STEM faire early this year and spent nearly an hour building with Snap Circuits. He saved his allowance to buy his own set. There are actually several sets. The difference between most of the sets (Jr. on up) is the amount of pieces which in turn affects the number of projects you can build. They are recommended for ages 8+. There is also a Snap Circuit Beginner set recommended for ages 5+ that has less pieces (and projects).

Harry Potter Coding Wand

Kano sent us the Harry Potter Coding Wand and it has quickly become one of my son’s favorite things. Combining his love for coding with his love of Harry Potter was a perfect match for him. I love how this STEM toy uses the world of Harry Potter to introduce coding to kids. It’s recommended for ages 6+. Read our full review here.

Botley the Coding Robot

Learning Resources sent us Botley for a robot party in my son’s 2nd grade class last year. Recommended for ages 5+, Botley is a completely screen-free coding experience for kids. Use a remote to program Botley to complete a series of actions.

He can detect and avoid objects in front of him, follow looping commands, traverse obstacle courses, and follow black-line paths. Botley combines many features of other popular robots into one robot. I love this versatility. Botley the Coding Robot is a Toy of the Year Awards finalist for 2019.

DUPLO Steam Train

The DUPLO Steam Train is new this year and it’s on my toddler’s Christmas list. (I had to break it out early to share with you.) At first glance, it seems like a regular DUPLO train. It has a battery-powered engine.

Kids push the train to get it started. Stop the train by holding it. I love how intuitive this is for kids. That’s exactly how they try to play with vehicles anyway.

What’s special about this train set is the colored action bricks you place on the track. Each action brick causes a specific response from the train. This teaches preschoolers early coding skills.

Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar™

My toddler got this one for his 2nd birthday earlier this year. We were a bit robot obsessed at the time. He was feeling left out until the Code-a-Pillar. This robot toy is simple for toddlers and preschoolers to use. The pieces can assemble in any order to make the Code-a-Pillar go. It helps them learn pre-coding skills, like sequencing and cause and effect.

Do you have a favorite electronic STEM toy? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.