The Best Engineering Toys for Kids

Are you looking for the best engineering toys for kids? We’ve got you covered with these recommendations. These engineering gifts are perfect if you want to gift educational toys for kids and they are so much fun too!

This post contains affiliate links.

Engineering projects are so much fun for kids and they can teach them important future job skills. The STEM field is growing quickly and having some good foundational engineering skills can go a long way towards helping kids succeed in later educational and career goals.

These engineering gifts also have the benefit of being loads of fun. Kids will be so excited to unwrap these and they will stay busy for hours.

For more great gift ideas, check out our Ultimate STEM Gift Guide for Kids.

Best Engineering Toys for Kids

These are some of our favorite engineering toys for kids. My husband works as an engineering teacher so my kids have enjoyed more than their fair share of engineering projects at home and they’ve loved all of these.

Tinker Crates

We’ve subscribed to several of the Kiwi Co. subscription lines for years (My older son LOVES Eureka Crates). For kids and tweens, Tinker Crates are always a huge hit. We’ve loved the variety of projects we’ve enjoyed with these and my kids always get so excited when their crate comes in the mail. Subscripte to Tinker Crates here or see our full review of our Tinker Crate subscription here.

Thames & Kosmos Pepper Mint Engineering Kits

The Thames & Kosmos Pepper Mint Engineering Kits are a fantastic way to get kids exciteda bout engineering. These kits have a story element that I love and include lessons in physics, engineering, and electrical science!

Lego Chain Reactions Set

For kids who love watching Rube Goldberg Machines, this Lego Chain Reactions Set would make an amazing gift. Use the Lego bricks you already have plus the specialized pieces included in the kit and make some amazing chain reactions.

Snap Circuits

Snap Circuits are some of the best electrical engineering toys that I’ve seen. We’ve been using these for years and I’ve lost count of how many different sets we own now. This is such a great hands-on opportunity to learn about electricty and it makes an amazing gift idea! They have all different sizes of kits too so you can find something to fit any budget.

KEVA Contraptions Plank Set

The KEVA Contraptions Plank Set is one of those toys that just continues to get use year after year. We bought this in 2012, according to my Amazon history, and it feels like it still gets pulled out at least weekly.

Structural Engineering kit

This Structural Engineering kit lets kids explore bridges and skyscrapers in such a hands-on way.

Arckit Architechture kit

The Arckit Architechture kit lets kids design and build their own houses. These reusable pieces turn kids into real architects.

playground engineering set

Younger kids will love this playground engineering set. This is a great introduction to engineering.

3D Hydraulic Crane Engineering Set

This 3D Hydraulic Crane Engineering Set looks like so much fun and shows kids exactly how hydraulics work.

Magna-Tiles

Magna-Tiles are a great engineering toy to have on hand. Kids can build just about anything that they canthink of.

Strawbees Imagination Kits

Strawbees Imagination Kits come with challenge cards to get kids started or they can use the pieces in the kit to create anything they can imagine. This is a unique engineering kid and one that is a huge hit with kids and tweens.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Solar Model Kit

For kids who are interest in space engineering, this NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Solar Model Kit includes 3D Puzzle Models of Real NASA Space Explorers.

Metal Earth building kits

Metal Earth building kits are a huge hit with my kids and they come in so many different options. These are great for older kids who have outgrown Lego sets but still love to build and they look great put on display on a shelf after they are built.

The RattleBack Physics Toy

This funky little physics toy is a great way for kids to see physics in action … and pass it off as a magic trick.

Straw Constructor Set

Kids love to build? This Straw Constructor Set makes a great gift idea!

Green Science Solar Rover Kit

This Green Science Kit lets kids create their own solar rover using a soda can.

Lego Architecture sets

Lego Architecture sets are a fun way to create some of your favorite places and they look great on display too! These sets tend to be more difficult than most Lego sets so they are a great option for teens or adults who are collectors.