Parenting
The best expert-created, research-backed educational toys to feel good about.
Let’s be real: There are certain things we just don’t tell our kids — like the fact that we mixed a healthy dose o’ pumpkin into that mac and cheese they devoured for lunch.
Perhaps the biggest hidden parenting truth is that, with the right toys, our kids’ play time can actually become learning time. From games and make-believe to experiments and puzzles, there are so many amazing STEAM-focused toys designed to stretch mini-minds in creative, educational ways. But what about the part where us parents are busy out here raising future generations and have zero time to research and test the most beneficial toys for kids?
Enter KiwiCo: my ride or die when it comes to educational toys that mix business and pleasure. KiwiCo creates DIY projects for kids that spark curiosity and encourages them to become the kind of innovative thinkers and problem-solvers the world needs. Just take it from Lisa Hom, Chief Product & Merchandising Officer for KiwiCo, who says, “Instead of strictly focusing on getting it ‘right’ or acing a test, we want kids to ask real questions and learn how to derive realistic solutions from problems that may arise. Imaginative play is central to developing a child’s intellect and curiosity. KiwiCo projects encourage autonomy in kids so they have the power to emerge as the next generation of active creators and innovators.”
And the brains behind their operation is today’s generation of thinkers and doers, including a team of educators and mechanical, industrial, and aerospace engineers who spend over 1,000 hours designing and kid-testing for every toy or project. Ready to experience the difference for yourself? Get started by going to their site, picking out a project that’s designed with your child’s age in mind (keep scrolling for some of my favorites), then have the ready-to-go crate shipped directly to your door.
1. A DIY “Science Of Space” Odyssey
“For the younger ages, look for hands-on projects and activities that are developmentally appropriate, encourage experimentation, or introduce awareness to the world around them,” Hom tells Romper. With this pro tip in mind, your future astronaut’s gonna love this! This all-in-one space-inspired learning kit is a hands-on science and language arts experience that will capture and hold your child’s attention. Designed for kids ages 5 years and up, it includes everything they need to launch model orbiter spaceships, paint and build their own solar system, and read all about space travel and exploration.
2. A Skills & Machine-Building Adventure
Hook your older kids up with opportunities to demonstrate new techniques and present concepts to pique their curiosity, Hom says. Like this DIY machine that sets up your dominoes so all that’s left to do is watch ‘em fall. It’s as cool as it sounds, and it’s exactly what kids 9 years and older will build with this step-by-step kit and a video tutorial from one of its collaborators, former NASA and Apple engineer and YouTuber Mark Rober. Some epic domino runs await, and they’ll learn about chain reactions, energy transfer, and iterative design skills along the way.
3. Pinball-Focused Physics Fun
This one’s just right for your favorite little gamers, ages 5 years and up. They’ll be so caught up designing and constructing their own pinball machine that they won’t even realize they’re learning all about physics, angles, and momentum while boosting their language arts skills all the while. Bonus: Watch their creative side shine as they decorate their very own game board!
4. A Creativity-First Fort-Building Kit
A castle? A secret clubhouse? Whatever your kids ages 5 years and up can dream of, this kit encourages them to bring it to life by building and rebuilding with sturdy wooden poles and configurable connectors. Not only is fort-building a time-honored tradition, but it’s a chance to flex their building skills, explore architectural concepts, and focus on pretend play that fosters creativity.
5. A Custom Robot Engineering Experience
Robots are cool, but walking robots they made by themselves are downright awesome! This kit includes blueprints and a comprehensive video tutorial to all of the parts they need to bring their custom creation to life. Consider this a real-life lesson on energy, engineering design, and language arts to inspire great things for kids ages 9 years and up.
6. Hands-On Coding Concept Puzzles
Future developers and problem solvers are made here. This educational kit inspires budding minds to create their own puzzles and games and send their custom-created rabbit robots on DIY adventures of all kinds. It sets the foundation for the concepts behind programming while offering fun exposure to mechanics, building, and creative storytelling for kiddos ages 5 years and older.
7. Some “Must-Be-Magic” Optical Illusion Fun
This is where mind-boggling magic is made in the form of a DIY floating illusion with plenty of science and mechanics behind it. Physics, engineering, and design skills are put into practice to create a levitating lantern that appears to float in thin air. Perfect for curious kids ages 9 years and older, this is one custom creation they’ll want to show off, without revealing the secrets of the science behind it!
8. A Creepy, Customizable Electronics Creation
Festive and full of learning potential, this kit inspires kids ages 9 years and up to engineer their own LED-illuminated haunted house, full of spooky surprises. Design skills and self-expression come into play as they choose their own haunted decor, and light diffusion takes center stage with vellum paper windows that create an eerie glow.
