Mr. Losik's "Best STEM Toys for the Holidays" Returns for 2025

 

For over a decade, I have been creating my list of the best holiday STEM gifts. Even though I retired from the classroom a year ago, the tradition continues with 15 new ideas for 2025. There's a little something for everyone aged 5 to 12. Shop early because there are some great Black Friday sales already underway, and lots of these items will go quickly.

Air Toobz - $159.99 - Fat Brain Toys - It's like they took the system that shuttles the money back and forth from the bank to the drive-through and turned it into a toy. Air Toobz lets little engineers build their own air-driven transport system. Here's what comes in a set: 20 colorful EVA foam balls, 6 transparent 12-inch tubes, 6 transparent orange corner tubes, 1 T-tube, 1 silicone funnel, 12 easy-fit connectors, 1 fan unit, a charging cable, and a durable carrying case. Little "Toobsterz", available separately, are fuzzy pets that travel the system just like the foam balls.

Foosbots - $22.95 Fat Brain Toys. While the idea of having a new foosball table in a beautiful game room might be the American dream for some, a couple of handheld Foosbots is a lot more practical. These 2.75-inch high soccer players spin vertically when you squeeze them, with the object of the game being to drive a ball past an opponent's goal line. Each set comes with two "bots" and two silicon goal lines. Games can be played by two or more players on any flat surface. Individual Foosbots can be added for $9.99 each. 

Magshutos Stunt Park - $21.99 Fat Brain Toys. "Load one of the Mag-Pods into the shooter, pull it back with just your finger, aim, and launch. From there, endless trick-shot possibilities explode into action," is how Fat Brain Toys describes "Magshutos", the fun pods that can be launched in endless ways. Each kit comes with a Mag-Pod with magnets that stick to different targets, plus 15 challenge cards. This sets includes one Stunt Module, Mag-Module, 2 Hex Rings, Tunnel Ramp, Rebounder, Launcher, 5 Mag-Pods, 15 challenges, and reusable sticky pads. Extra Mag-Pods can be purchased alone for $10.95.

"Little Woodchucks" Offerman Woodshop's guide to tools and tomfoolery - $23.95 Amazon. - Every year, I include a book in the list, and while I was cutting firewood this summer, I heard an interview with "Parks and Recreation" actor Nick Offerman describing his book for "little woodchucks". I knew it would be a perfect fit for this year's list. It's full of fun projects aimed at getting kids excited about woodworking in doable ways, infused with the real Ron Swanson's signature dry wit. 

"Are you an aspiring small woodchuck (an urchin) ready to get into some good mischief that involves a hammer, nails, and your very own pocketknife? Or are you a parent or otherwise amply-sized woodchuck interested in encouraging eye contact, giggles, handshakes, and other old-fashioned familial engagements, while introducing young woodworkers-to-be to the satisfaction and good, clean fun of hands-on crafting?

Either way, order your copy of LITTLE WOODCHUCKS so you and your wee workers can learn all about butt joints and the joys of woodworking." - Actor and master woodworker Nick Offerman.

LEGO Christmas Ornaments - $12.95 Amazon. LEGO seems to make kits to build everything these days. In the past, I have highlighted architectural and floral sets. Now LEGO is even making Christmas tree ornaments. Each kit makes the 4 ornaments pictured below and makes a fun Advent gift or stocking stuffer.

LEGO Speed Champions - $17-$248 Amazon. Speaking of LEGO making everything...since 2014, LEGO has released over 100 different Speed Champions car kits. I am partial to the Lightning McQueen or the Back To The Future DeLorean sets, but new for 2025 are 10 different F1 race cars. They can be purchased individually for $22 each or as part of the collectors' set for $248.

Fisher-Price Little People Toddler Hot Wheels Track - $43.19 Amazon. When I was little, the only thing more reliable than Santa's visit at Christmastime was that my Uncle Doug would get me something with wheels. One of my earliest memories of his gifts was the Fisher-Price Putt Putt Raceway, and this gift idea for toddlers reminded me of that classic. Not only is it fun, but there are also so many physics concepts to explore... even for 3- and 4-year-olds.

Here's what the 2025 version includes:

•Two 60-degree Hot Wheels racing loops, a double spiral racetrack, and a ring of “fire” stunt ramp

•Easy-lift ramp sends 1, 2 or 3 cars zooming down and around the tracks for cool racing and stunt action (Includes 2 Wheelies cars, additional vehicles sold separately.)

•50+ sounds and musical tunes play as kids launch their Wheelies cars

•Includes car “wash,” gas station, and mechanic stops for added pretend play

Poraxy Remote Control Puzzle Car - $9.95 Amazon. Both a 3D puzzle and a functioning remote control car, this vehicle kit from Poraxy is easily the best value on this year's list. It's great for kids 8-12 who enjoy a construction challenge that results in a functioning racecar. 

Construction Vehicle Advent Calendar - $23.79 Amazon. The vehicle theme continues with this cool Advent calendar. As kids count down to Christmas, they open a different door each day to reveal a new die-cast construction vehicle or engineering accessory. Not only will they know how many days are left until Santa makes his journey, but they will also have something new to add to their construction site.  

National Geographic Motorized Marble Run - $29.97 Walmart. The marble run has been around for decades and continues to prove to be a great toy and learning activity. What makes this one different is the motorized spiral elevator that not only takes marbles to the top of the structure, but can also serve as a catch basin at the end of the run, creating an endless loop of marbles traveling through the elements. 

Picasso Tiles $15 and up PicassoTiles.com. What started as a company creating simple plastic tiles that attach to each other with magnets has evolved into one that offers all kinds of themed playsets that still use the original magnetic tiles. The company is dedicated to making learning fun. It states, "We believe that open-play is essential for children’s development, as it allows them to develop skills that are not typically taught in the classroom. We are an art-focused STEM-backed company that prioritizes creativity while also letting kids learn on their own." 

PicassoTiles can be found at several retailers, but check their main website for their complete line of products and several holiday discounts. 

Flycatcher smART Sketch 2.0 Projector - $79.95 Flycatcher Toys. This year's list has been light on the technology side, but this gadget is one that really fosters engagement and all kinds of learning benefits. The projector displays images for users to trace from Flycatcher's library of themed cartridges or from the companion app, which allows kids to upload their own photos. It's especially fun this time of year to place cookies under the projector and trace festive patterns with frosting. 

Themed cartridges hold 60 images each and run $19.99 each. There's also an AI version of the projector for $114.99 that listens to user voice prompts and then generates that image for them to trace. So, if you tell it to create a picture of Santa by a Christmas tree, an original drawing will pop up to trace. 

Brainometry 3D Pattern Blocks $18.99 Learning Resources. The STEM Explorers Brainometry set from Learning Resources combines the benefits of geometric pattern blocks with the fun and challenge of building in 3D. Each set comes with 24 stackable blocks and 10 double-sided activity cards, housed in a sturdy storage case.

"Develops critical thinking and mathematical skills through colorful pattern-matching activities that challenge young minds while making learning fun and engaging for ages 5+" - Learning Resources.

BLDR Squishmallows - $4.99 and up Jazware. The world of LEGO-compatible plastic bricks continues to expand. Last year, I recommended generic creative and engineering bricks. This year, we dig into the world of BLDR and specifically their Squishmallow series. Playsets start small with individual characters, but expand to include all kinds of buildings. 

D&D Kids Planting Root Viewer $12.99 Walmart. Here's a great way to bring a little green inside this winter and see kids marvel at what really happens when plants grow underground. D&D creates all kinds of fun learning kits, and this one is described this way. 

•Real-Time Root Growth: The transparent planter lets kids watch roots develop below the surface, turning gardening into a fascinating science adventure.

•Complete Growing Kit: Includes root viewer box, nutrient-rich soil, Spring Onion and Cilantro seeds, tracking stickers, fun decals, and a step-by-step guide.

•Educational Booklet: The illustrated booklet teaches kids all about plant life while guiding them through planting, growing, and observing.

•Indoor Gardening: No outdoor space? No problem! This kit brings the joy of gardening indoors, rain or shine.

•Hands-On Learning: Watch science come to life with the Root Viewer Kit, sparking curiosity, responsibility, and a love for nature right from the windowsill.

Hopefully, this year's list has given you some ideas that are both fun and highly engaging. Everything is hands-on, and kids learn without even realizing it. There is a wide array of price points across this list, and it's designed to appeal to a broad range of ages and interests. 

Holiday STEM Toys: Mr. Losik's 2023 Wish List

It's another holiday season and here comes another round of great gift ideas that aren't just fun, but are also good for kids. Whether we're fostering curiosity and creativity or bolstering social interaction, every one of these items is likely to put smiles on faces this December. I have been doing this list annually for a long time so be sure to check out previous versions going back to 2018. 

Whether you turn on your Christmas lights before the Thanksgiving dishes are done or after, finding the right present can be a yearlong task. I am always on the lookout for the right stuff for the upcoming year's list and I am always listening to my students to find out where their excitement lies regarding the latest and greatest toys that also carry some educational value. Just like every lesson or experience I design for my STEM classroom, I am looking to see which learning domain it fosters. Is it cognitive (gaining knowledge) or affective (appreciation for the beauty of the natural world or artistic culture)? Does it strengthen creativity? Is it social or does it build large and small motor skills? I don't mean to dampen the spirit of the season with this nerdy stuff but just wanted to share a little bit of the thought that goes into selecting each of these items. Okay, enough of that, onto the good stuff!

Educational Insights checks in this year with its GeoSafari Jr. line a handful of great options for 3 to 8-year-olds designed to bring them closer to their natural worlds. 

First up are the Kidnoculars binoculars that magnify things 2x and have comfortable eyepieces and a handy neck strap. Their best feature is the $12 price tag. 

GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars

GeoSafari Jr. Mighty Magnifiers

While the kidnoculars are great for spotting nature far away, the Mighty Magnifiers are wonderful for taking a closer look at nature up close. At around $16, the two items make great companions in an explorer bundle. A super cool feature is the built-in LED that makes these fun after dark as well.

Additionally from the GeoSafari Jr. line comes the SubScope. Priced at just under $40, young explorers can check out underwater habitats without getting wet...or at least that is the goal. With three built-in LEDs, the scope helps illuminate what's swimming around down below. Exploring ponds and lakes is great, but pack it on your next tropical adventure and check out some mangroves or tide pools. 

GeoSafari Jr. SubScope

For kids 8+ who might be looking for something on the techie side, Educational Insights offers Pyxel, the coding robot dog. While priced at $89, Pyxel is $100 less than some comparable robotic coding toys like the Sphero Bolt. As a STEM teacher, one of the main things I notice when it comes to kids learning to code is that the experience is so much more meaningful when they can make something in the real world happen as a result of their coding. It would be great if Pyxel just moved like an RC toy, but with an array of sensors, it doesn't take much for kids to really deepen their computational thinking and creativity with the code they're building. Pyxel uses the Blockly language that students in my STEM classes use as early as kindergarten so most will have a familiarity with it. 

Here's another techie suggestion for older kids. Just as Pyxel was all about coding the toy to do what you want, the Snap Circuits RC Snap Rover $89  is all about building the vehicle that can eventually be controlled with a wireless remote. Snap Circuits kits are great at teaching scientific and technical principles, but they also allow for modifications and creativity. The rover is like a puzzle in that kids need to pay attention to detail for it to function correctly, but then like an RC vehicle, they can further modify. This one was highly recommended by my students. 

RC Snap Rover

Let's take a look at some of the newest offerings from a list mainstay, Fat Brain Toys.

Nothing fosters kids' interpersonal social skills like board games, and man almighty do kids need help with their interpersonal social skills! Fat Brain's Make That Most Magnificent Thing Game $19.95 is based on the Ashley Spires picture book The Most Magnificent Thing $11.95 where a girl faces the challenges of building something "magnificent" from everyday items. In the game, all players are given the same task like "Build a musical instrument," and they are given two minutes to gather item pictures, arrange their contraption, and prepare a story about it. When time is up, each player explains their creation and then the group hands out award ribbons in categories like "Best Story" or "Most Creative Name". 

 

Hey Clay ($19.95) is quality air-dry clay that hardens within 24 hours and comes packaged in a big range of kits depending on what young sculptors want to build. Some of the kits available on Amazon include:

Winter Holidays

Ocean

Animals

Monsters

Dinos

Forest Animals and others

Along with 15 jars of clay per kit, access to a free interactive app is also included that gives step-by-step instructions and teaches kids and tweens professional sculpting techniques. 

screenshot from the instructional app

In over 30 years of working with kids, blocks are still one of the best things kids can play with. Fat Brain's Timber Planks are a cornerstone of my STEM instruction and have been featured on previous lists. This year I wanted to share something for the littlest builders. These are rated for 3 years and older and have reflective edges in order to create a sensory experience as well. The Montessori Woodwerks Reflection Blocks 27 Piece Set ($49.95) encourages kids to not only stack and create but to strategically arrange the blocks so the shatter-proof mirrored surfaces play off of one another and create optical illusions. 

reflection blocks

I always like to include a book in the list and this year, I really like Boxitects ($11.95) by Kim Smith. It's a picture book that encourages kids to be creative and find joy in making things, but the real message is that learning to work with someone else can be tough but also tremendously rewarding. 

Hopefully, this helps with your Christmas and holiday shopping for elementary-aged kids. Again, be sure to go back and check out the lists from previous years for even more ideas. 

Here are some additional quick recommendations as picked by my students.

• Butterfly Gardens
• Kinetic Sand
• ThinkFun Gravity Maze
• Tempera Paint Sticks
• Robotic Tumbling Pet Hedgehog
• Eco Robots
• LEGO Gingerbread House
• Volley Shot
• Digital Bookmark with Timer
• 5000 Awesome Facts

Mr. Losik's 2020 Holiday Gift Guide: 13 Great Ways to Engage the Brain this Christmas Season

 
Normally, I am solidly in the camp of not rushing the Christmas lights, music, or tree trimming until after the dishes are done on Thanksgiving Day, but if rushing the holiday season this year helps increase our joy and gets 2020 off to dumpster of history faster, then pour the eggnog and put Nat King Cole on the record player. It's never too early to be thinking about great holiday gifts that elicit hours of fun and engage the brain along the way. 

2020 has stopped a lot of things but it's not going to stop my tradition of sharing great learning-related gift ideas. This year's list showcases a dozen ideas from a really old school to the adventurous. Also, don't forget about checking out my past lists as well. 

• 2019
• 2018
• 2015
• 2014

You will want to make your purchases early this year as retailers and shipping companies like FedEx and UPS expect a surge in online ordering due to the dangers of and restrictions from the Coronavirus pandemic. Some of these items are on a lot of Christmas lists so supply could be an issue as well if you wait too long. Links provided are to Amazon listings but by all means, shop around for the best deals.

Classic Spirograph and Spirograph Jr. - $9.99-$21.99

Here's a classic that has made a recent comeback and continues to allow kids to create fun artwork while unknowingly learning all kinds of geometric concepts. First designed and sold by a British engineer in 1965, Spirograph is a great quiet activity for families who just might be spending more time indoors together in the coming months. Just like everything else these days, there are a ton of YouTube videos for cool ways to take art with Spirograph way beyond the instructions.

Strawbees Inventor Kit - $34.99

Maker Kit - $20.99

Strawbees have been growing in popularity with STEM teachers over the past few years and more and more kids are wanting to experience the fun they have with them in the classroom at home. A series of connectors make it easy to build elaborate structures out of straws. A couple of different options are listed here. Like the other great building toys, kids can start with the instruction manual and then create whatever they can dream up.

Back to the Roots Self-Watering Planter - $25

With a Michigan winter ahead of us, watching something green growing in your kitchen brings hope for warmer days ahead...as long as that green thing isn't growing in a corner of your fridge. Back to the Roots offers all kinds indoor grow kits to explore on their website. Families that buy kits for home this holiday season can also give one to the elementary school of their choice because Back to the Roots will be donating one-for-one to an elementary school of the buyer's choice. Just post a picture of you and your kit to social media and tag it with #GrowOneGiveOne.

Young Modeler Kits - $28 - $32

The wooden desktop modeling kits from Young Modeler are great for the aspiring contractor, architect, or crafter. Young Modeler is a Korean company founded by Yeongjong Park who was an office worker for 20 years but loved building wooden models of boats. He and a friend started the company and now they offer a number of different structures from various homes to cafes to Old West saloons. Models can be left plain or given special paint and customization. One of the best aspects of these models comes with their numerous details like landscaping and other unique building features.

Lego Architecture Kits - $45.99

Speaking of classics and building, check out the architecture kits from Lego. These come in a variety of individual landmarks or full cityscapes. The series originated in 2008 with the Sears Tower and other single buildings like John Hancock in Chicago and the Seattle Space Needle. Over the course of the last twelve years offerings have spanned the globe. Venice, Berlin, and New York City became the first city sets to be offered in 2016. New for 2020 are Tokyo and Dubai. Not only are these great buildings and places to construct, but undoubtedly kids will also want to get on Google Earth and go learn more about what they just built.

BeeBeeRun Construction Kits - $24.98

This one is geared for the 3 to 6-year-old crowd and especially those who love to take things apart and put them back together. The BeeBeeRun kits use the same parts and included tools to build five different vehicles. Well, five vehicles according to the instructions can be built, but the real creativity starts when kids start "Frankesteining" the parts to come up with their own hybrids of different types of cars/plane/copters.

Tello Drone - $99

The big bummer about a lot of drones is how hard they are to fly and also how weather-dependent they are. While the Tello doesn't do well in strong winds, it's super easy to control and is safe enough to fly indoors. In fact, it even has a mode where it will land on your hand. It uses on-board cameras to avoid collisions and will record video and take still photos. For the price, you get a seriously engineered drone at a relatively affordable entry-point. The Tello is my drone of choice for learning in STEM.

Snap Circuits Arcade - $44.97

Electrical engineering has never been more fun than with Snap Circuits. The fun gets ramped up even higher with the Arcade edition of Snap Circuits. Kids use 30 different electronic components that snap into place and are contained in super-safe housing. Just like learning to code doesn't necessarily make a kid a video game designer, I wouldn't let the kids rewire the house after playing with this gift. What you can be certain of is that there is a ton of logic and problem solving that comes from the completion of many of the 200 projects.

Magic Motion Mobile - $19.99Fat Brain Toys is a staple of this list, and this little guy from them earns his place here in multiple ways. This is another gift for the 6 and under crowd, but the technology rivals any toy for any age group. It's a remote control car that doesn't require an app or a controller, just the waving of a hand. Magic Motion Mobile vehicles are motion-controlled cars that are controlled simply by dragging your hand or a ball in front of them. In follow-mode it will track whatever is in front of it. Flip a switch for escape-mode and hovering your hand above the car moves it forward. A hand in front of the bumper sends it in reverse. This is especially great for the younger siblings who see big brothers and sisters playing with more complex RC toys. Now they can be cool like the big kids.

 Marble Run Super Set - $36.99

Here's a great unplugged activity that delivers a ton of learning about physics and problem-solving while providing hours of creative play. Marble run sets are a blast because there's no limit to how many ways they can be set up. Also, they are a nice break from all of the screen time we've all probably had too much of lately.

Bananagrams Party Edition - $14.99

This one's been around since 2006 and was founded by 76-year-old Abe Nathanson as a way to bring three generations of his family together, united by their love of word games. Countless other families, including mine have done exactly that over the years from the Nathansons' invention. Bananagrams has delivered new spins on their classic over the years. Why not check out this holiday season their "Party Edition"? Think Banagrams meets all of the fun strategy cards in Uno like Draw Four or Reverse. Drop a monkey wrench into your opponent's game plans by playing one of several tiles that can really change the game. Bananagrams is a great way to keep everyone's brains working while having a blast together around the table.

PlayMake 4 in 1 Wood Shop - $110.00 

Just like previous list member Worx ZipSnip, this power tool is a game-changer when it comes to kids being able to actually (safely) cut and craft. This one is definitely an investment but at $110, it's still almost $200 cheaper than a Nintendo Switch gaming system. The tool converts to a drill press, a band saw, a lathe, and a sander. Reviews on Amazon are favorable and one parent stated that they are on their second machine because four boys used the first one for six years and it finally gave out on them. We might have to invest in one of these for the STEM program.

Swurfer Tree Skate Swing - $79.99  This final item is going on my "grownup Christmas list" as well. As someone who's stayed stoked since riding my first wave on an air mattress at the legendary Big Surf in 1980, let me tell you that there's something incredibly special about the feeling you get from sliding down the face of a wave. Just like skateboarding and snowboarding deliver that same "stoke" so does this tree swing from Swurfer. The Charleston, SC company offers all kinds of swings now besides the tree skate featured here and why I included these products in an educational toys list has more to do with the sensory aspects that certain types of swings provide. To any swing, there are a bunch of physics concepts that kids unknowingly explore, but swinging can also be tremendously therapeutic. Children with autism benefit greatly from swinging, but we actually all do. That's why there are front porch swings and rocking chairs. You can just sit on the front porch or you can add that gentle motion to relax even further. The Tree Skate provides the simple fun of swinging while giving riders an adrenaline shot if they so desire. The tree skate can handle riders up to 200 pounds and the motion required to make it move is a great core-building exercise.

Christmas and the holidays are bound to be very different this year, but even if it's not what we're used to, there's a joy to the season a global pandemic can't take away. Hopefully, these ideas help with your shopping and deliver some of that joy to your kids this holiday season. 

Embrace The Learning Curve This Christmas Morning

The more I talk to kids about what they are dreaming about showing up under the Christmas tree, the more I hear about really cool, high tech gadgets like virtual reality headsets, 3D printers, robots like Spheros or Ozobots, and drones.

Here is a newsflash. All of those items are amazing and all of those items can be really hard to use at the start. I am not trying to play The Grinch here; I am telling you now so you can be ready for the learning curve.

When kids dream of drones, they don't dream of a parent muttering words that could get them on the naughty list while trying to assemble it. They don't dream of an endless series of 3 second flights either. They dream of that thing lifting off in the living room and capturing with its camera the majesty of a Christmas morning. Reality is that these toys can make many dreams come true but it will take time. Here are some tips.

1. Prepare yourself. Whether you receive the gift or give the gift, understand that the cool stuff you saw happening in the YouTube promotional video probably was highly edited and performed by the inventors of the device. Make that kind of high level use your goal....someday, not right out of the box.

2. Seek out help. Speaking of YouTube, most companies now post many product support videos online. When I bought my XYZ Mini Maker 3D printer I found their online support videos to be far more detailed and helpful than the printed instructions. You can also often find videos created by other users of the product that share their own tweaks and helpful hints. Use all of the knowledge that exists and that people are willing to share. It can make a big difference.

3. Make it about the journey. Instead of pouting that your first 3D printed phone case turned out more like something stuck to the pan at the bottom of great grandma's egg casserole, have a laugh and know your skills will greatly improve. Try and figure out what went wrong so you can improve upon future designs. Keep that lumpy pile of goo so that when you are cranking out really cool stuff you can look back and see how far you have come. It has taken me months to produce anything really useful with my printer.

4. Remember 1 thing. Everything is awesome! We are so lucky to be living in the day and age we do....especially over the holidays. If you need a reminder, just listen to the old Christmas carol "Up on the Housetop." Here is what those kids got from Dear Old Saint Nick:

"Next comes the stocking of little Will
Oh, just see what a glorious fill
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks
Also a ball and a whip that cracks"

No VR headset for little Will? Bummer. Poor Will probably had to go fix the roof and then drive the oxen to town that day once all of the wrapping paper was cleaned up. The point is.....if you get something amazing, be grateful, and when (not if) it doesn't work perfectly right at the start, be happy about that. Don't get mad. Getter better at it.