Pyxel is a great STEM toy that can teach kids to code, no matter their coding level. This cool pet is fun for both beginners and those who already have some coding experience. There’s a simple remote for basic fun, and there’s Blockly coding for beginners. Taking it a step further, you can also use it to learn Python.

This is another variation on DIY robots. Kids can use this 3D printing pen to build anything their young minds can imagine out of plastic. The 3Doodler Start Plus is slim and lightweight, making it easier for little hands to hold. After 30 minutes of charging, the pen melts the plastic sticks, allowing kids to draw them into any shape, but the nozzle and melted plastic aren’t hot, so they won’t burn little hands. (I’ve tested it; you can hold the tip against your skin and draw on your fingers. I don’t have to worry about giving it to my kids.) Draw directly on paper or a table, and the plastic creations pop right up. It comes with 72 filaments and an activity guide with 10 new projects.

Kits from National Geographic are a great way to spark your child’s interest in science. Even if your kids aren’t totally into science yet, they’ll be impressed by the variety of slimes and putties included in this kit, including glow-in-the-dark putty and bouncing putty as well runny nose slime.

The kit comes with seven pre-made slimes and putties and all the ingredients so kids can make their own. There’s also a study guide so you can learn all about slime and putty and try some experiments.

This award-winning STEM toy goes one step further than the standard marble maze. Not only is it fun, but it also introduces kids to the mechanics and engineering of problem solving. Players can choose from 60 challenges of varying difficulty levels.

This fun and challenging K’nex kit will keep budding engineers busy for hours. The best part? The end result is a giant 3-foot-tall electric Ferris wheel that will provide even more hours of endless entertainment. This kit is recommended for ages nine and up, but keep in mind that younger children may need some adult supervision to help them complete more complex pieces.

Kids who love candy (and who doesn’t?) will love this gummy lab kit. Not only will they learn different chemistry concepts, but they’ll also taste delicious food in the process. The kit comes with everything you need to make the candy, including plastic molds, carrageenan (natural gelatin), cherry and lemon flavoring, and storage bags. Maybe if you’re really good, they’ll share.

If you’re looking for a coding toy, Artie teaches programming line by line by drawing lines on paper. Kids can program this expressive robot companion to load three color markers on its back to create graffiti designs. It features built-in tutorials and easy-to-follow guides so kids can start using it right after unboxing it, and there’s the instant satisfaction of seeing what’s happening on paper. It teaches five coding languages: Blockly, Snap!, JavaScript, Python, and C++.

Artie can also sense colors, follow lines and be controlled remotely, and has a “cliff sensor” to avoid falling off the table.

Circuit Explorer is a bit like Lego, but this STEM skills toy teaches the basics of how circuits work in programming. Children learn that they need to connect the wires on the sides to complete the circuit and make the object light up or move. Choose from three different sets featuring a rocket ship, a Mars rover and a space station, or mix and match parts to invent your own monster machine. They can even be connected with LEGO bricks.

There’s a whole world of LEGO available for education, but you won’t find it on the toy aisle. Kits from the LEGO Learning System contain hundreds of bricks and instructions to guide students through several lessons. Each kit is targeted at children of different ages. These teaching kits are designed for the classroom, but anyone can buy these educational toys directly from LEGO for hands-on learning at home. (There are also teacher guides to help parents.)

Our favorite is the Spike Essential Learning Kit for grades 1-5, which includes some tech pieces like a light matrix, color sensor, and motor. Children also use apps to program their creations. The kit contains 449 bricks and 40 lessons that teach computational thinking, design engineering, physics and math skills – all told through stories with adorable LEGO characters. If you want something cheaper that doesn’t include the technology and programming components but still wants to keep the physical and math lessons, check out the $150 BricQ Motion Essential kit.

Thames & Kosmos makes some of the best homemade engineering toys, but they are often hard to find. (We’re looking at you, candy claw machines and giant robot hands.) Here’s a fun gem we still see used a lot: This wacky, flailing, inflatable-arm-waving tube man has a blower that lets Children use it to experiment with air pressure, airflow and aerodynamics. Air basketball. Air cannon. Air controls people. Suitable for ages eight and up, we emphasize “up” because you’ll want this on your desk. (No judgment here.)

Want something tastier? Draw with chocolate in the kitchen using Skyrocket’s Chocolate Pen. The heated tray keeps the chocolate gooey while your battery-operated pen draws sweet treats into the cartridge. Draw, eat, repeat. This fun pen comes in a variety of colors and makes filling the molds easy for little hands. You can also draw any shape you want on the wax paper and it will cool after 10 minutes. Of course, this activity is more of a creative art, but you can teach chemistry lessons with cool candies. Technically, this makes the dessert a science.

Even if you’re not the crafty kind of person, there are some easy ways to get your kids crafty. I subscribe to KiwiCo Clubs which provide hands-on learning activities in crates. They include science and engineering courses delivered through the mail, suitable for people of all ages. I am a long time subscriber for my kids and love the quality of the items. It doesn’t just work on tiny ticks; There are boxes for all ages and even engineering boxes for 14-18+. Subscriptions start at $24 per month, but you can also purchase items individually in the KiwiCo store.

No programming skills are required to make your own robot. This Kids First Robot Factory from Thames & Kosmos is perfect for introducing kids to basic engineering concepts. The Manual is an illustrated storybook that guides children through building eight different battery-operated motorized robots. With this building toy, kids can also build their own contraptions, and as they read the story, they’ll learn why each robot moves the way it does.

I love this geometric brain training toy. There are many variations on the magnetic building block trend, but I personally love Magformers because of the way it is designed and the options for different types of box sets so it can easily be expanded to suit different age groups. My tip: Get a starter set with wheels so kids can speed up their creations. Some models can even be controlled remotely.

Suitable for ages 5 and up, this adorable robot teaches basic programming, has a variety of challenges, and has no screen, so no phone or tablet is required. Botley can detect objects and move around them, follow loop commands, navigate obstacle courses, and follow black lines designed by your child. Comes with a 46-piece activity set, so there’s plenty to keep kids busy.

Even the little ones in your life as young as 18 months can learn about STEM with these magnetic foam generators. The soft blocks easily connect and rotate so you can build creatures with heads, wings, elbows, and other body parts. Don’t worry about the blocks getting dirty as they are dishwasher safe and suitable for bathing.

My 2 year old is still not tired of them a year later and my 5 year old still plays with these to form various vehicles and creatures. Getting a toy with a good shelf life is always a win, and you can expand this capable educational toy with multiple box sets.