Five years of age is the perfect age to introduce your kids to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) toys. The best STEM toys for 5 year olds help improve various skills like problem-solving, cognitive, and motor skills. These toys also help them learn in a fun way by encouraging teamwork, patience, and collaborative play. The lessons they learn will be helping them even when they grow up. Further, they help instill a sense of eagerness in the kids to learn new things (1).

11 Best STEM Toys For 5-Year-Olds

1. Best For Learning Vocabulary: Osmo – Genius Starter Kit For Fire Tablet

Explore the interactive learning toy with the Genius Starter Kit by Osmo, which facilitates hands-on learning in five different ways. This tablet has interactive learning games that allow a child to play with handheld pieces by watching the action on the screen. These learning games motivate the child to do freehand drawing and also improve their spelling and vocabulary. The set includes an Osmo base and reflector for the Fire tablet, tangram pieces, word tiles, number tiles, and much more. To get a better understanding of the product, you can check out this video on YouTube. Pros

Develops problem-solving and listening skills Provides stackable storage Stimulates curiosity and creativity Encourages spatial learning

Cons

Directions may be a bit difficult for some Parent app may be slightly confusing

2. Best For Geographical Knowledge:PlayShifu Orboot Earth STEM Toy

Orboot Earth is an excellent educational toy from PlayShifu that takes your child on a journey around the earth. It makes an excellent gift and is compatible with iPad and Android devices. The set comes equipped with a ten-inch globe, stamps, passport, country flag stickers, and a help guide. Connect your device with the Orboot Earth app and let your children explore more than 400 highlights and 1,000 world facts covering animals, cultures, monuments, inventions, maps, and cuisines of the world in different modes such as storytelling, music, voice interactions, and quizzes. The STEM toy is designed to awaken children’s curiosity and improve their geographical knowledge. Check out the review of this product for more information. Pros

Encourages independent play Stimulates imagination Develops linguistic and cognitive skills Doesn’t require batteries to operate the globe

Cons

Downloading may be time consuming Globe may not be secured to the stand

3. Best For Creativity:Jasonwell STEM Toys Building Blocks

Suitable for multiple ages, this STEM toy from Jasonwell is a 116-piece engineering kit featuring creative activity games to develop children’s fine motor skills, fire their imagination, develop their creativity, and encourage teamwork. The learning toy set is equipped with several building blocks, nuts, bolts, and wheels that can be assembled to build different vehicles, robots, etc. All the pieces are made with non-toxic materials. Pros

Easy to build Stimulates color and shape recognition Bolts designed with a built-in screwdriver slot Free of BPA, lead, and phthalate

Cons

Some parts may not snap as expected Instruction manual may not be clear

4. Best For Basic Math Skills:CozyBomB Monkey Balance Counting Cool Math Games

The counting game set from CozyBomB is designed to improve children’s basic math skills. The Monkey Balance toy introduces numbers in a fun way to enhance your child’s learning capabilities. Each toy set includes 19 cute monkeys, 30 cards, ten numbers, a monkey balance, and two monkey balance pans. The game can be played at different levels—including digital recognition, learning to count, and additional formulas—and the toy pieces are made of non-toxic material. Pros

Strengthens problem-solving skills Improves visual and spatial learning Easy to set up Promotes parent-child interaction

Cons

Monkey may wobble slightly Paint may peel a bit

5. Best For Imaginative Play:Fundia Dinosaur Toys For Kids

Introduce your child to these cool dinosaurs to improve their imaginative skills. The Fundia dinosaur toy set includes a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, a Velociraptor, an electric drill, screws, and three manual screwdrivers. The STEM toys allow children to mix and match the three different dinosaurs to create new ones as per their imagination. Moreover, these toys are made with non-toxic ABS material, have smooth edges, and are CPSC-certified. Pros

Features functional mouth and movable arms, legs, and head Promotes thinking skills Drill comes with low-speed operation Improves hand-brain integration ability

Cons

May contain many small pieces Assembly may be time-consuming for some

6. Best For Motor Skills:Soyee Compatible Magnetic Tiles Building Blocks

The pack contains 102 magnetic blocks, an idea booklet, and a storage bag. The transparent blocks are made of toxin-free materials and have rounded edges, making them safe for children to play with. These magnetic blocks are easy to build and remain firmly held to each other. It is a great way to enhance children’s motor skills and spatial reasoning and let their imagination run free. Pros

Educational STEM and STEAM set Develops team-building skills Bright geometric shapes Open-ended design for hours of play Convenient storage bag

Cons

Should be used under parental supervision A few magnets may be weak

7. Best For Team-Building Skills:Scientoy Build A Garden STEM Toys

Nurture a love of nature in children with this STEM toy set from Scientoy. As children build a colorful garden, they would also improve their team-building skills and hand-eye coordination. This set includes 130 toy pieces made of eco-friendly materials and can be stored safely in a green storage box. The pieces are easy to wash, and hence, they can be used on a beach and in the garden. Each toy piece has smooth edges to protect the delicate hands of children. Moreover, it makes a great toy set to teach young children about the different parts of a plant. Pros

ASTM-, CPC-, CPSIA-certified Non-toxic and BPA-free Encourages building, sorting, and matching Enhances fine motor skills Easy to assemble

Cons

May not come with clear instruction Some parts may be a bit flimsy

8. Best For Color Recognition:Kids Korner Peg Board Building STEM Toys

Equipped with a foam board, these plastic building blocks from Kids Korner are creative construction toys that can be played anytime, anywhere. The colorful connecting pegs develop children’s color recognition, counting, stacking, and motor skills. In addition, the stack and lock design makes it an ideal toy to develop children’s hand-eye coordination and imagination as they build any shape they can think of.  Besides, the toy set is perfect for keeping your child busy when traveling. Pros

Suitable for children with autism Stimulates manipulative skills Doubles as a bath toy Teaches independent play

Cons

Foam board may not be as thick as expected Some may have sharp edges

9. Best Movable:Hahaland 5 in 1 Take Apart Robot Toy

Hahaland’s robot and vehicle toy set is one of the best STEM toys for five-year-old boys and girls as it encourages both solo and collaborative play. The STEM toy robot and vehicle set includes five take-apart military vehicles and a one-piece robot with easy-to-follow instructions. No batteries are required, and the set is equipped with a child-friendly hand screwdriver and a large screw for easy installation. The construction pieces meet all the safety standards and are made with durable ABS material for long-lasting use. Pros

Robotic sounds and flashing lights Movable vehicles with wheels Rounded edges make it safe for children Thick and sturdy

Cons

Assembling may be a little challenging May have too many parts

10. Best Non-Toxic:Lukat STEM Toys Building Blocks Kit

The educational STEM toy from Lukat is a perfect gifting item for both boys and girls. This engineering building block kit lets your child build their own trucks, robots, helicopters, and more with blocks, tools, nuts, and bolts provided with the kit. This set of 165 pieces encourages your children to plan and build several toys, thus promoting teamwork and social skills. Further, the toy pieces are made of non-toxic and BPA-free material and can be stored conveniently in a sturdy storage box. Pros

Boosts logical thinking and problem-solving skills Improves hand-eye coordination Enhances creativity and imagination Phthalate-free

Cons

Assembling may be a bit hard May contain small parts

11. Best For Tactical skills:Plumia Magnetic Tiles STEM Toys

Plumia’s 52-piece translucent magnetic tile set encourages your child to come up with innovative creations using their imagination. The magnetic blocks are made of durable, food-grade ABS material that is non-toxic and free of phthalate and latex. These STEM toys can be a supplementary educational tool to develop children’s math, science, and tactical skills. Moreover, the colorful set can keep your children entertained for hours. Pros

Has burr-free edges Waterproof Convenient to store Develops parent-child interaction Enhances problem-solving skills

Cons

Some may not snap together Magnets may not be as strong as expected

How To Choose The Right STEM Toys For 5-Year-Olds?

Here are a few tips to guide you in choosing the right STEM toy for five-year-olds.

Why Trust MomJunction?

Priti Bose is a product writer who is passionate about finding the latest and most useful toys for children of all ages. Her systematic research approach involves analyzing several credible sources and gathering information about the products with the highest positive reviews. For this list of the best STEM toys for five-year-olds, she has followed the same process and put together a list of toys your children will love. She has also included a buying guide to help you make an informed purchase.

References:

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