Page 83 - North State Parent Family Resource Guide Fall/Winter 20/21

Birthday Party Destinations
NORTH STATE PARENT FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE FALL/WINTER 2020/2021 SCIENCE & NATURE
STEM Toys Can Boost Knowledge, Understanding and Interest
BY KIMBERLY BLAKER
It is more crucial than ever today that children develop a keen interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly referred to as STEM. Over the coming decades, the pace of scientific and technological advancement is expected to continue climbing at an exponential rate. STEM fields will see continued growth while other professions decline. We must prepare future adults for a drastically different job market.
STEM also stimulates and teaches critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These competencies will go a long way in any career as well as in life.
So how do you help your child develop an appreciation for STEM and boost their knowledge and understanding in these subjects? Play that provides opportunities to apply concepts and skills is one of the best ways for kids to learn.
Toys that teach STEM
Qurious Space for ages 3+. This 4-in-1 family card
game teaches kids about the solar system, Milky Way Galaxy and more. Kids learn simple strategy and creative problem-solving skills while developing vocabulary and enhancing their memory.
Magformers for ages 3+. These magnetic geometric construction kits let kids build 3D structures such as houses, pyramids and balls out of colorful magnetic triangles, diamonds, trapezoids and squares.
MuddWatt STEM Kit: Clean Energy from Mud! for ages 8+. Kids will love conducting these experiments with soil by adding ingredients from the fridge to build a living fuel cell. A free app then gives kids the tool to measure the power and track microbe growth.
STEM toys encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills with hands-on play.
Snap Circuits for ages 7+. Keep kids busy and learning with these electronics discovery kits that provide more than 100 projects. The kits have won numerous awards and come in several variations. Contents include phototransistors, LEDs, resistors, ICs, DC motors, flying propellers, electromagnets, lamps, switches and more. Among the projects are an AM radio, burglar alarm, doorbell, flying saucer and voice recorder.
Sequence for Kids for ages 4 to 7. The goal in this strategy-building card and board game is to be the first to place four chips in a row. The challenge is to think strategically and finish before your opponent uses a unicorn card to remove a chip.
Gravity Maze for ages 8+. Kids use spatial reasoning skills to arrange towers to create a path for a marble to reach its target tower. It includes 60 challenge cards ranging from beginner to expert.
Osmos Genius Kit for ages 5 to 12. This kit boasts five games that turn an iPad into a hands-on learning experience. This kit enhances visual thinking, creative problem-solving skills and self-expression.
ThinkFun Rush Hour for ages 8+. Winner of a national Mensa award, this traffic gridlock game of logic sharpens planning and sequential reasoning skills.
IQ Fit for ages 6+. This spatial reasoning and problem-solving game boasts 120 challenges in which kids must fill the board with the missing 3-D pieces. It’s a compact travel size game and a great value.
DoughLab STEM Kit: Bake and Learn for ages 6+. This yummy bread-making experimentation kit includes five experiments through which kids discover the perfect recipe and learn about the power of yeast.
Rock On! Geology Game for ages 5+. Kids explore the Earth’s geological treasures in this fun science game. It comes complete with an assortment of rock and mineral specimens.
Big Bag of Science for ages 8+. More than 70 fun activities can be performed with this kit in the areas of chemistry, physics, biology, geology, magnetism, weather and flight. Kids use real scientific tools, which are included in the kit, to do experiments that’ll amaze family and friends.
ETI Toys Lil’ Engineers Engineering Blocks for ages 3 to 6. This box of colorful, multi-size and multi- shape blocks, screws, nuts, plates, wheels and connectors keep kids engrossed for hours. Kids can build 12 different toy designs while developing their motor skills, eye-hand coordination, logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Prime Climb for ages 10+. Learning to add, subtract, divide and multiply is a breeze with this award- winning mathematics board game.
Goobi Construction Set for ages 3+. Kids learn about magnetism while constructing 3D structures out of colorful plastic bars, iron balls and tripods. Children will develop a sense of proportion while improving eye-hand coordination, problem-solving skills and learning the basics of physics, geometry and architecture.
Green Kid Crafts, Rainforest Discovery Science Box for ages 3 to 10. This kit embraces creativity while providing scientific exploration. Kids can conduct a rainforest pollution experiment, create a rain stick and build a rainforest terrarium, among other activities.
PleasesayyousawitinNorthStateParentmagazine.Thishelpsusgrow! www.northstateparent.com • NorthStateParentFamilyResourceGuideFall/Winter2020/2021 83