The Toy Association has unveiled its “Summer Learning STEAM Toy List,” which includes 30 officially accredited STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) toys that will support learning and keep young minds sharp over the summer.
Families can now shop the list of toys below, which includes an ant tunneling kit, a light-up dinosaur terrarium, an electrical circuit-building set, and many more innovative STEAM products that inspire creativity and teach children about life sciences, mathematics, engineering, and more.
Each product on the list has passed a rigorous evaluation process to earn an official “STEAM Stamp of Approval,” and meets the strict criteria set in The Toy Association’s STEAM Toy Assessment Framework, developed in partnership with The Good Play Guide. The toys were first tested by children under professional observation, before being evaluated by The Good Play Guide, which uses a scientifically proven toy evaluation method backed by Dr. Amanda Gummer, who has a PhD in neuropsychology and more than 20 years of experience working with kids and families.
“Each of the carefully curated STEAM toys on the list can offer children hours of educational fun,” said Anna Yudina, senior director of marketing initiatives at The Toy Association. “Parents can feel confident in knowing these are quality toys that will invite kids to be actively and independently involved in their learning, while teaching them fundamental STEAM skills in creative and exciting ways. We encourage families to take advantage of all the excellent options featured on our list as they look to keep children engaged in their learning over the summer months!”
The “Summer Learning STEAM Toy List” (listed alphabetically by product name):
- 92 Piece Ball Run Pack (Connetix)
- Ant Mountain (Insect Lore)
- Build-A-Bubble (South Beach Bubbles)
- Builder Motor Set (Brio)
- Carnival Plus Set (Magformers)
- Cookie Festival (Weplay)
- Cubendi (Fun in Motion Toys)
- Curious Kingdom (Playper)
- Deluxe Jumbo Cardboard Blocks (Melissa & Doug)
- Discovery #MINDBLOWN Action Circuitry Electronic
- Experiment Set (Discovery)
- Discovery #MINDBLOWN Dinosaur Construction Set
- (Discovery)
- DUPLO My First Puppy & Kitten with Sounds (LEGO)
- Freefall (ThinkFun)
- Geomag 75pcs (Geomagworld)
- Get Well Doctor’s Kit Play Set (Melissa & Doug)
- Giant Tumbling Timber (Giantville Games)
- Gravitrax Starter Set (Ravensburger)
- Jumbo Circus (Weplay)
- Marble Rush Tip and Swirl Set (VTech)
- Mini Diamond 120pc + Figures + Car Set (PicassoTiles)
- National Geographic Dinosaur Terrarium (Blue Marble)
- National Geographic Mega Craft Kit (Blue Marble)
- National Geographic Mega Science Magic Kit (Blue
- Marble)
- Snap Circuits Green Energy (Elenco)
- Snap Circuits Junior (Elenco)
- Stanley Jr. DIY Pull Back Airplane Kit (Red Toolbox)
- STEM Master Builder 24pc Set (Magformers)
- STEM Starter Builder 15pc Set (Magformers)
- Supercolor Panels 78pcs (Geomagworld)
- Trestle Tracks Deluxe Set (Fat Brain Toy Co.)
The Toy Association’s STEAM toy accreditation program was launched in 2021 in partnership with the Good Play Guide, following years of research to identify and detail specific characteristics of a good STEAM toy for various age groups. To learn more about The Toy Association’s ongoing STEAM initiative, visit toyassociation.org/STEAM or contact steam@toyassociation.org.