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!
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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.
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Best Engineering Toys for Kids – Watch on YouTube
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.
For kids who have outgrown basic magnetic tiles but still love building, the CONNETIX PRO Constructor Set adds a more advanced engineering challenge. The smaller tiles use rotating magnets that let kids overlap, offset and stagger pieces, opening up more complex builds like vehicles, robots and structures. It is a great upgrade for older or experienced builders who want more freedom than traditional magnetic tiles.
This LEGO Technic NASA Artemis rocket combines a challenging build with some very cool real-world engineering. Kids can turn a hand crank to separate the rocket into three stages, including the boosters, core stage and upper stage with the Orion spacecraft. Created in collaboration with NASA and ESA, the 632-piece set gives kids a hands-on look at how a real launch system works while still feeling like a fun LEGO project. At over 27 inches tall when finished, it also makes an impressive display piece for kids who are into space.
The GraviTrax PRO Starter Set takes a traditional marble run and turns it into an open-ended engineering challenge. Kids use more than 150 pieces to design increasingly complex tracks while experimenting with gravity, momentum and problem-solving to figure out how to get their marbles where they want them to go. Because there isn't just one correct way to build it, kids can tear everything apart and create something completely different the next time. It's a great STEM gift for kids ages 8+ who love building, puzzles and figuring out how things work.
This engineering set lets kids build 20 different bridge and skyscraper models while learning why real structures stay standing. The projects introduce concepts like force, load, compression and tension using more than 285 interchangeable building pieces. I like that this goes beyond simply following building instructions. Kids get a hands-on introduction to the engineering principles behind the structures they see in the real world. It's a great choice for kids ages 8+ who love building and are ready for something a little more challenging.
Kids build their own working mechanical hand with this screen-free STEM kit, then actually get to play with what they created. The project introduces basic mechanical engineering concepts while giving kids ages 8–14 the satisfaction of building something that moves and works when they're finished. The pieces are made from engineered wood, and Smartivity offers replacement parts if anything gets lost or broken. This is a fun choice for kids who like hands-on projects, robotics, or figuring out how things work.
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 excited about 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.
Playground engineering set
Younger kids will love this playground engineering set. This is a great introduction to engineering.
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.
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!
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.
Choosing the Best Engineering Toys for Kids
The best engineering toys are the ones kids actually want to keep using. Look for toys that give kids room to experiment, make mistakes, change their designs, and try again rather than projects they build once and never touch again.
We’ve found that some of the biggest hits in our house have been open-ended building toys and STEM kits that let kids see how things work in real life. Whether your kid is interested in robotics, circuits, architecture, space, or just loves taking things apart and figuring out how they work, there are some really fun options on this list.
And if you’re shopping for an older kid who is ready to take things a step further, a 3D printer can be a great next step. We’ve been surprised by how many different ways our kids have found to use ours, from creative projects to making things they can actually sell.
