15 Best STEM Toys for Girls
Updated 29 January 2021
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The days where boys and girls were seen as completely different creatures by toy manufacturers are thankfully starting to fade. We all know that girls can be just as interested in careers in science, technology, engineering and math, so it’s encouraging that there are so many great STEM toys out there that are designed for girls as well as boys.
These recommendations offer a mixture of options like flower gardens, bath bombs, and fairy crafting along with robots, dino soap, and chemistry sets. So, whoever you are buying for, there’s something here for her and because we’ve only used real reviews, you can rely on them being the very best STEM toys for girls everywhere.
If you are interested in STEM toys for toddlers then be sure to check out our guide for younger kids and also our list of the best STEM toys for boys.
1PLUS PLUS - Instructed Play Set - 170 Piece Safari - Construction Building Stem / Steam Toy, Interlocking Mini Puzzle Blocks for Kids
This Instructed Play Set from PLUS PLUS is a 170-piece safari adventure that's simple in design, yet it readily captures a child's attention and sparks creativity. What allows these to stand out among other building toys is the ability to create flat mosaic-like works or incredible 3D designs. These shapes are remarkably unique as kids may even make curved designs thanks to how the pieces are made. It is among the 15 best STEM toys for girls that give them the freedom to build just about anything they can think of in 2D and 3D shapes. With this set, they can develop motor skills and learn more about patience as they focus on building each piece.
What we love
- Truly challenges the imagination with 3D and 2D possibilities
- Travel-friendly so kids can take them everywhere
What We Don't Like That Much
- Some of the instructions could be clearer
2Educational Insights Design & Drill Flower Power Studio, Drill Toy, 70 Piece Set , Perfect for Boys & Girls Ages 3+
The Design & Drill Flower Power Studio lets kids spark their imagination and building skills. Concerning STEM skills, this set is a cool way for younger children to learn early math skills. They can also work on their fine motor skills as they focus on aiming and controlling the drill so that they can accomplish the tasks at hand. This kit comes with a single fold-up flower board. Along with that, kids can play with the power drill, six designer plates, a Phillips bit, a flower bit, a butterfly clasp, 60 bolts, and a guide that features 12 patterns. Batteries are needed for the drill to work, and once it's fired up, children can find themselves pleasantly entertained and engaged as they play around with drilling and removing various designs.
What we love
- Cleaning up is made simple as everything stores away in the board
- Parts are a good size for young kids to comfortably hold and manage
What We Don't Like That Much
- The batteries may have to be replaced rather frequently
3YELLOW SCOPE | Foundation Chemistry Kit: Fun & Educational Science/STEM Experiments for Kids
One of the 15 best STEM toys for girls, the Yellow Scope Foundation Chemistry Kit can introduce kids to the basic concepts behind science such as chemical reactions, temperature in chemistry, and even molecular motion. It contains a 32-page lab book that has detailed instructions to guide children toward creating fun and educational experiments. Alongside that, there are also quizzes for them to take to test their knowledge and room to doodle or develop their own science experiments. There are more than 19 projects to go through. It comes with real lab equipment too for the ultimate immersion and learning session. This has things like three beakers, colored safety goggles, a digital timer, and even a high-temperature thermometer. It is a wonderfully thrilling way to teach girls just how fun science and chemistry can be while also encouraging them to trust themselves and play around with the supplies to create personalized experiments.
What we love
- Included materials are high in quality so that they're built to last through multiple experiments
- Journal gives children room to record what they see and come up with their own projects
What We Don't Like That Much
- It would be nice if there was a preview as to how each experiment is supposed to come out
4Roominate Emma's Townhouse
At first glance, the Roominate Emma's Townhouse toy appears to be like any other dollhouse. However, it opens girls up to a world of open-end play where they can discover a love of engineering and figuring out how things work. Featuring more than 120 pieces, rather than just be a simple dollhouse, children are the designers here as they can create various constructions. Although there is a guide, kids can go about this their own way and design a tall townhouse, a two-story townhouse, or a single-story that's wide. They can make the furniture in different shapes and add details to various rooms like the kitchen. Also, they can use the included motor and power on the ceiling fan to watch the "blades" spin around. The possibilities are near-endless.
What we love
- Motor is surprisingly powerful
- Intended for kids as young as 6-years-old
What We Don't Like That Much
- Some children may need help snapping some of the pieces together
5ThinkFun Balance Beans Math Game For Boys and Girls Age 5 and Up - A Fun, Award Winning Pre-Algebra Game for Young Learners
The ThinkFun Balance Beans Math Game is one of the 15 best STEM toys for girls that can help them develop critical thinking skills as they engage in a fun pre-algebra game. Along with the game tray and base, this comes with nine game tokens. There are three single beans, three doubles, and three triples. These adorable beans are of various colors so that they may be good tools for young children to learn color recognition. Along with the tokens, the game comes with 40 challenge tokens. The challenges go from easy up to hard, and they provide math challenges for the kids to solve. When the seesaw tray is balanced, kids win and can move on to the next challenge. Since the challenges get harder, it is a good way to get children to use their reasoning and logic skills.
What we love
- Cards outline the problem clearly for kids to understand
- Does well at teaching math and force as they try to balance the seesaw
What We Don't Like That Much
- Some children may go through the game and all the challenges rather fast
6Playz Bath Bomb Bonanza Science Activity, Craft, & Experiment Kit - 23+ Tools to Make Magic Soda, Foaming Eruptions, Floating Bombs & More for Girls, Boys, Teenagers, & Kids Ages 8+
The Playz Bath Bomb Bonanza is a great way to excite little kids and teach them a little about science at the same time. This incredible STEM activity kit teaches them about base and acid reactions as well as carbon dioxide so that they understand the power behind that thrilling fizz they see once a bath bomb hits the water. There are more than 20 tools inside the kit. Not only can they make their own bath bombs, but kids can also create magic soda and foaming eruptions. Besides being a STEM educational tool, the set can also teach children about following directions as it features a colorful, picture-filled lab guide with clear instructions on how to create each experiment. It's the perfect learning set for young children and teens alike.
What we love
- Features a helpful guide with straightforward instructions and tips on how to make everything
- Does a good job at teaching kids about various scientific reactions in a fun way
What We Don't Like That Much
- It might be beneficial if the molds inside the kit were a bit larger for older kids to enjoy
7Gifts2U Magnetic Robots,35PCS Magnetic Blocks Set for Kids with Storage Box, Stacking Robots Toy STEM Educational Playset for Boys and Girls Ages 3-6 Style A
The Gifts2U Magnetic Robots offer a quirky and cute way for girls to get into playing with STEM toys. It is a set filled with 35 pieces that can be used to create five magnetic robots dubbed: Jupiter, Mercury, Saturn, Mars, and Venus. These can allow kids to play along with the fun and interesting "Five Planet Guards Union" game. Perhaps one of the more exciting aspects about this set is that the pieces go together and come apart with ease as they are magnetic. Girls as young as preschool age can enjoy the robots all the same as older kids. This is a wonderful introduction to robotics that can teach some basic principles about their construction and functions. With the big googly eyes, bold patterning, and incredible colors, the robots can be an instant attention-grabber.
What we love
- Magnets are high in quality and stick together well
- Pieces are large and easy for young children to handle
What We Don't Like That Much
- The wheels could have a more secure fit
8LiKee Wooden Pattern Blocks Jigsaw Puzzle Sorting and Stacking Games Montessori Educational Toys for Toddlers Kids Boys Girls Age 3+ Years Old and Classroom (36 Shape Pieces& 60 Cards in Iron Box)
The LiKee Wooden Pattern Shapes Puzzle comes with 36 wooden pieces for kids to experiment with as they create various constructions. It can be an ideal way to spark their imagination with artwork that's more unique that requires some critical thinking skills and motor skills. Not just that, but the many different pieces can assist kids in understanding shapes and colors better. This does come with 50 different pattern cards that feature buildings, trees, animals, a rocket ship, funny people characters, and more. Children can learn how to follow directions and build what is on the cards. They can just as easily make their own unique designs instead. Everything is designed with little hands in mind, so the 0.1in. thick pieces are simple to grasp, letting kids explore and play around with different builds with ease.
What we love
- A good way for young kids to learn about shapes, colors, and build designs
- Numerous pattern cards for children to use as a guide
What We Don't Like That Much
- The puzzle may come in two separate containers rather than one to store it all together
9Dino Soap Making Kit for Kids - Dinosaur Science Kits for Kids All Ages - STEM DIY Activity Craft Kits - Crafts Gift for Girls and Boys
For those girls out there who are dinosaur fans, this Dino Soap Making Kit may be the perfect gift to teach them some STEM skills. This cool kit comes with three dinosaur models: a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Stegosaurus, and a Styracosaurus. Kids can play around with all three or just use their favorite ones. This is a fun science project that lets kids make amazing soap creations to keep for themselves or to share with friends and family. There are six soap-based blocks to work with as well as four pop sticks, two fragrances, a beaker, a trimming tool, a working tray, and glitter. There are four liquid colors to use too: yellow, red, green, and blue. Everything in the kit is made from safe material so that they can be freely used for handwashing as well as in a kid's bath without worry.
What we love
- When the experiments are over, kids have functional soap molds that they can use
- Comes with a good amount of colors so that children can make several different designs
What We Don't Like That Much
- This only comes with one stand to hold a single mold at a time
10Stoie's International Wooden Music Set for Toddlers and Kids- Eco Friendly Musical Set with A Cotton Storage Bag - Promote Environment Awareness, Creativity, Coordination and Have Lots of Family Fun
Stoie's International Wooden Music Set is a great toy for the budding musician. It is excellent for promoting coordination, creativity, and the set can also be the perfect tool to bring the family together. All of the instruments are wooden too so they are more environmentally-friendly, safe for kids to handle, and reliable in the face of frequent use. With this 13-piece set, kids will receive a tambourine, hand drum, castanet, maracas, a flute, a wooden block and stick, a chime and stick, a wooden sounder with a stick, and two handbells. The design of these instruments comes from all around the world so kids can become open to learning about different cultures.
What we love
- Comes with a cotton drawstring bag for easy storage
- With a natural wood design, the instruments seem to hold up well to rough use
What We Don't Like That Much
- The maracas could be filled less so that they are a little louder
113Doodler Start+ Essentials (2021) 3D Pen Set for Kids, Easy to Use, Learn from Home Art Activity Set, Educational STEM Toy for Boys & Girls Ages 6+
The 3Doodler Start Essentials is a child-safe 3D pen. There aren't any hot parts so that parents can rest easy knowing their kids can have fun and learn the process of 3D creations with no risks. It's a wonderful starter package that comes packed with different colors so that kids can stretch their creativity while they learn. This comes with an Activity Guide that works as a good instructional base for them to learn. There are also plenty of free stencils and tutorials on the company website that kids can use instead to create and learn at their own pace. Still, the booklet contains a variety of cool projects that will help them understand the process more so that they can make simple pieces to more complex 3D creations.
What we love
- 3D pen is highly intuitive and easy for kids to learn how to use
- Gives kids room to learn as it's helpful for beginners and those with more experience
What We Don't Like That Much
- It could help if the filament could come out at a faster pace
12VATOS Smart Games IQ Logic Game for Kids Brain Teaser Puzzle Games Rush Hour Police & Thief Car Brain Game STEM Educational Toy Board Game 120 Challenges for Boys and Girls Age 3 4 5 6 7 8+ Years Old
Police & Thief is a smart logic game that allows kids to dive into immersive role-playing. This single-player game is good for kids as young as three-years-old. There are 120 challenges, and as they go through the cards, the challenges are designed to steadily increase in how difficult the puzzles are to solve. This way, the game can stay with kids as they grow and learn. In the game, they must prevent the red car and the green car from escaping. Once they choose a card and set everything up, they must then fill in the remaining pieces so that the thieves won't be able to escape. This can help develop a child's critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they learn to adapt to the given situation and understand the various ways that the cars may escape.
What we love
- Pieces are well-made and easy for kids to handle
- There is a comfortable increase from starter level to more "expert" levels
What We Don't Like That Much
- Younger children might need help with some of the complex puzzle themes
13Fairy Craft Kits for Girls, Fun DIY Arts and Crafts Project for Kids Ages 8-12, Fairy Night Light Lantern Jars Indoors Outdoors Fairy Garden Yard Porch Kits Decorations Supplies 2 Packs
These Fairy Lanterns are such a wonderful idea to help young girls engage in creative learning. Although parents will have to purchase batteries separately, the kit includes everything kids need to build two lanterns. It has two Mason jars, two lights, and several crafting supplies. These supplies include glue, six fairy silhouette papers, 12 flowers, six butterflies, four holographic glitters in various colors, and more. All of these accessories allow children to create something unique to their personality and imagination. They can combine various color schemes and silhouettes to create their perfect fairy companion while teaching them the intricacies of putting something together. Once the lights are powered on, the lantern turns into a beautiful and soothing companion LED light that can make a wonderful atmosphere in a bedroom, nursery, or playroom.
What we love
- Items are packaged well so that all the accessories are easy to find
- Comes with plenty of accessories to keep kids busy
What We Don't Like That Much
- It might be helpful to use a different adhesive for some of the pieces