For this topic, let's take a trip down memory lane. During school days, there was at least one science chapter or concept that you read, memerized but still it was never completely understood. Because sometimes just simply reading about a concept isn’t enough to understand what is happening.

Even today, this problem persists. Memorizing multiple definitions at the same time can quickly become confusing for a child, but if they have the means to experience it themselves, then suddenly these definitions are not abstract anymore.

This difference between knowing a definition and actually understanding it is exactly where STEM learning toys make a difference.

What Are STEM Toys?

These toys are built around concepts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Without moving away from play and fun, they encourage children to construct, experiment, and, if something does not work, push them to figure it out and fix it.

STEM toys are not a replacement for traditional education; they are a modern method of approach that works alongside it, providing experiential learning and allowing children to physically interact with concepts they may already be learning at school.

Children aren't simply told what a motor, gear, circuit, or sensor does. They get an opportunity to use it and see the result themselves.

How Do STEM Toys Break Down Difficult Concepts?

Let's take gears as an example. Reading about how gears work and how a gear system can change speed and torque is one thing, but constructing a car with a fully functional gear system creates an entirely different understanding.

STEM robotics kits like Blix Discovering Motion help kids understand the concept of movements. Projects like a gear-changing car give them an experience of using a gear system to change speed and, along the way, learn the concept of circular motion. And this is not the only type of motion and concept kids can gain experience of. By building over 10 projects, kids gain knowledge about simple machines and mechanisms, combined with concepts like force, torque, power, and energy.

Another STEM toy would be the Blix Forklift Power, where kids build a motorized forklift along with 5 different industrial machines. Any child who sees a forklift for the first time or sees an industrial area with all the machines will surely bombard the parents with questions like:

“What Are These?” “How Do They Work?” and “Can I drive it?”

Eventually it gets very difficult for parents to answer every question perfectly. With this kit, it gets much easier for the kids to understand these mechanisms that make all these industrial machines work, satisfying their growing curiosity along the way.

This is what makes some of the best STEM toys and best educational toys effective. They don't simplify concepts by removing the science. They make the science easier to grasp by giving kids a hands-on experience.

Bringing STEM Learning Into Children's Daily Routine.

STEM Toys are not meant to be another study session. Parents can simply introduce age-appropriate STEM toys during regular playtime and allow children to explore projects at their own pace. Schools can take a slightly different approach with the same idea and set up a STEM lab, helping students understand scientific concepts and strengthening what they have learned in class

Whether at home or in school, sometimes understanding a difficult concept simply requires the children to experience it on their own in a safe and fun way.