Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht joined NBC 5 in Dallas to show off the smartest STEM toys of the holiday season. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best gifts of the holiday season, check out our complete Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.
NATURE BAND RHYTHM KIT
Introduce kids to music with this nature-themed percussion instrument set. Crafted with high-quality materials. Designed to withstand hours of joyful play Comes with five nature-themed instruments.
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CONNETIX 48 PIECE ROADS CREATIVE PACK
This 48-piece set includes sleek black magnetic quarter circles, arches, intersections, and ramps. Kids can build roads, raceways, skateparks, cities, and more. It is compatible with all Connetix sets.
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SNAP CIRCUITS FLIGHT DECK
This set guides kids through building paper airplanes, installing a motor circuit to launch airplanes and flying saucers, creating art on a spinning wheel, levitating objects over a fan with air pressure, and more.
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BILL NYE CHEMISTRY LAB VR
Join Bill Nye “The Science Guy” to learn about the properties of matter, chemical reactions, pH levels, and more with the included lab equipment, 40-page book, VR goggles, and companion app.
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3DOODLER FLOW 3D PRINTING PEN SET
Craft DIY solutions to everyday problems, make art, customize a space, and more with this 3D printing pen. Draw freehand or use one of the hundreds of free online projects to make 3D creations.

