Looking for holiday toys that are as educational as they are entertaining? Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht stopped by ABC in Chicago to show off some great new toys that teach kids aspects of S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) while they play. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best toys of the holiday season, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.

CODING CRITTERS

Interactive pets introduce kids to critical thinking, problem-solving, and other STEM skills through play sets, storybook coding adventures, and two interactive modes. A character-specific, 20-page storybook includes coding challenges. Interactive pets introduce kids to critical thinking, problem-solving, and other STEM skills through play sets, storybook coding adventures, and two interactive modes. A character-specific, 20-page storybook…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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ARTIE 3000

This WiFi-enabled coding/drawing robot puts kids in control. The easy-to-use drag and drop programming can be used on a Mac, PC, or tablet. As kids tell Artie what to draw next, they learn left-brain skills like basic programming, geometry, and math, while engaging the right side of their brains to create cool, colorful designs using…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $69.99
  • Age:
  • 7+

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AMAZING RESCUE 50-PIECE SET

Kids can click together magnetic pieces to build a fire station and a fire truck. This set includes 24 magnetic pieces, two characters, and emergency vehicle accessories.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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CONFECTIONERY SCIENCE

Kids learn about sugar density and more as they create and decorate a skull, make rock candy, and whip up gummy gems and chocolate lollipops. The set includes everything kids need to get started, except food ingredients.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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GUMBALL MACHINE MAKER

Kids learn physics concepts as they build their own gumball machine and watch the gumball perform stunts and tricks through trial-and-error experiments. Each segment of the track teaches a different lesson in mechanical physics. Kids learn physics concepts as they build their own gumball machine and watch the gumball perform stunts and tricks through trial-and-error…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.95; $67.50 CAD
  • Age:
  • 6+

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CRAYOLA COLOR CHEMISTRY ARCTIC LAB

Kids can explore color with 50 winter-themed science experiments, including 15 ready-to-go projects that don't require any additional household items. Experiments include creating fake snow that grows on trees, color-changing, window-cling snowflakes, and more.Kids can explore color with 50 winter-themed science experiments, including 15 ready-to-go projects that don't require any additional household items. Experiments include…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 7+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Business Operations Manager at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

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