Holiday Gifts Can Be Fun AND Educational – These S.T.E.A.M. Gift Ideas Prove It!
Adults walk a fine line when it comes to giving gifts to kids: 1) Spoil them with whatever they ask for or 2) give experiences and items that teach or are practical? Many have figured out ways to balance this by gifting cool toys, games, puzzles, craft kits and more that provide educational benefits. With this in mind, some gift guides over the past couple of years have included science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) gift ideas to make your holiday shopping easier. So here we are again with a list of products that will stimulate the brain while simultaneously being fun and entertaining. Check out these ideas and see if you can find something that resonates with your gift recipients. I also encourage you to check out our guide to family games for more ideas!
As a reminder, click the 
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Periodic
Genius Games
Periodic: A Game of The Elements is a strategy board game designed around the periodic table of elements, as well as some of the most fundamental principles in chemistry that can be derived from the structure and function of the periodic table. Players maneuver across the periodic table to collect elements to score Goal Cards, and land on element groups to score points!
Ubongo Extreme: Fun Size Edition
Thames & Kosmos
Ubongo is a fast-paced, addictive, and easy-to-learn geometric puzzle game. Players race to piece together interlocking tiles so they fit perfectly on their puzzle boards. The Fun-Size Edition of Ubongo has the fun of the original game in a lower-priced, more-portable format. Now you can play Ubongo on the road, at the beach, at a restaurant, at work — anywhere you want to play this best-selling, award-winning, classic puzzle game.
Super Studio – Disney Frozen 2
OSMO
Osmo unveils a new AI drawing experience: Super Studio Disney Frozen 2, celebrating kids’ love of drawing, Disney characters and the Frozen 2 theatrical release! This magical, immersive game makes kids the animators of their adventures and draw beloved characters as they imagine them. They get expert help, sketch lessons and instant feedback.
Chroma Cube
Project Genius
The 12 wooden cubes may look innocent enough while sitting in their tray, but figuring out what cube belongs in which spot can be quite the challenge. Try to decipher the cryptic clues on any of the 25 puzzle cards that accompany this set to determine how the colors should be arranged. If you’re stumped, don’t worry! – The answers to each puzzle are on the back of the card.
Vendees
Horizon Group USA
Vendees are surprise style dispensers that include 6 fun surprises, revealed through interactive packaging! Unwrap your Vendees dispenser, then explore the different pull tabs and compartments to unveil fun surprises from keychains and erasers to stickers and scrunchies! Once you’ve revealed all 6 surprises, the experience isn’t over! Get creativity with various activities from custom lip balm creations to painting fun ceramic figures.
Polar Express 1000pc Puzzle
MasterPieces
The MasterPieces 19.25″ x 26.75″ 1000pc of Polar Express features the essence of the movie classic The Polar Express. Holiday Puzzles are the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit, and the perfect holiday presents for friends and family. Cozy up around the table for some holiday family fun! To reduce their impact on our environment, the chipboard used in these puzzles is made of recycled material.
Crystal Growing Kit
4M
The 4M Crystal Growing Experiment teaches kids and adults about the beauty and complexity of crystal growth with stunning results. Simply follow the directions to conduct seven different crystal growing experiments. Watch as each sparkling crystal forms and grows inside its own unique display dome. This kit is an excellent gift for any child who’s interested in science or geology. It has everything you need to get started, including crystal growing compounds and mixtures, seven display domes, stirring supplies, and detailed instructions.
Invasion of the Cow Snatchers
Thinkfun
Take control of your very own UFO to solve 60 magnetic challenges! Maneuver your way over and around farm obstacles while beaming up cows. The five levels of difficulty and two modes of play are perfect for beginner and experienced puzzlers alike. Ignite your mind with 60 out of this world challenges! This fun logic maze uses magnets to create an innovative and interesting play pattern that will keep both kids and adults occupied for hours.
Brainwaves Series
Thames & Kosmos
Sharpen your mind with solo play or compete against an opponent. Three types of memory games that engage different brain functions: fluid intelligence, working memory, and long-term memory. Scientifically proven to exercise the brain’s memory centers.
Just Add Egg
Griddly Games
Just Add Egg is the egg-citing new science activity kit that is an egg-cellent way for science to be even more fun. Like all of the Just Add kits from Griddly Games, this kit comes with everything you need except for the adding ingredient. This time, add egg for multiple bio-organic experiments and art activities. Just Add Egg is the eco-friendly kit that will inspire any artist or scientist. Enjoy making up to five different egg-speriments and seven different art egg-tivities including making your own dinosaur egg, egg shell geode, or even make an egg totally disappear!
Y’Art Craft Kit
Kahootz Toys
Create AMAZING textile art with the ease of coloring in this ALL-NEW craft kit! Yarn magically clings to the Grip-N-Stick Y‘Artboard as you fill in the numbered areas with amazing textures and patterns. It’s like yarn by number, and as easy as coloring! Frame your unique masterpiece when it’s finished. Available in five adorable designs: Pug Puppy, Unicorn, Llama, Narwhal, and Flamingo.
Tumblemaze
Blue Orange Games
Let’s get this ball rolling! In this solo action gravity powered puzzle game, challenge yourself to roll stainless steel balls into specific spots with a minimum of trials, navigating between obstacles and using bonus walls to guide the balls into the right directions.
This ball rolling game using the forces of physics gets tougher with higher level challenges!
Rubik’s Edge
Winning Moves Games
What is the Rubik’s Edge Cube? It’s one layer of a standard 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube and it’s trickier than not looks. Mix it up and try to get the colors realigned so that each side has only one color. The slim profile makes it a great “go anywhere” puzzle. Fiddle with it and try to form some cool shapes!
Nutcracker Suite 1000pc Puzzle
MasterPieces
This MasterPieces 19.25″ x 26.75″ 1000pc Nutcracker Suite puzzle features the essence of true holiday spirit with a collection of wonderful Nutcrackers. Colorful collage of nutcrackers in all shapes and sizes. Holiday Puzzles are the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit, and the perfect holiday presents for friends and family. Cozy up around the table for some holiday family fun! To reduce their impact on our environment, the chipboard used in these puzzles is made of recycled material.
The Sherlock Files
Indie Boards & Cards
The Sherlock Files: Elementary Entries includes three confounding cases for you to solve. First, you need to discover the cause of a fatal heart attack aboard Flight TJ1309. Next, you dig up a cold case from 1923 involving the violent and unexpected death of a famous explorer and archaeologist. Last, unravel the story behind the mysterious body that put a damper on one family’s 4th of July party. Decipher clues to determine which are relevant to the case and which are not. Share the clues you deem relevant with your detective partners. Which theories will you chase?
Aqua Robot
4M
Learn about solar Hybrid power and other STEM based concepts with a robot fish that floats and paddles on the water’s surface with the power of the sun or a regular battery. Includes robot parts, solar panel and detailed instructions.
Electric Motors Catalyst
Tinkering Labs
The ultimate kit for young inventors. THE ORIGINAL TINKERING LABS KIT: Build & rebuild endless robotic creations with a single kit. INVENTING SET FOR AGES 8+: Create unique STEM Toys for 8-12 year olds & teens. ROBOTICS FOR KIDS: Build doodling robots, power electric model cars, add motors to legos, and more!
My Body Suuuper Size Puzzle
Banana Panda
Suuuper Size Puzzles My Body includes 6 unique jumbo size puzzles that invite kids ages 3 years and up to discover and learn about the human body through fun, creative puzzle play! The 6 large floor puzzles (each 18.5″ when completed) feature thick, high-quality interchangeable pieces (84 total pieces) that are a perfect size for little hands. To add to the play value and learning fun, the puzzle set includes an educational, double-sided poster. It’s a great educational gift for anyone interested in a fun way to learn about the human body.
We’re at the very beginning of our holiday gift guides so if you need more ideas then stay tuned. We have lots of suggestions for games for teens and adults, household and electronics gift ideas, toys and gifts for young kids, party games and more.
Cow Snatchers
Crystal growing kit, brings back childhood memories
The Sherlock Files! I LOVE Sherlock Holmes!!!!!!
Chroma Cube looks very engaging!
Tumble Maze looks super cool. Great way to get kids involved! And me too haha
Invasion of the Cow Snatchers
I love the look of the crystal growing kit – looks like it would be fun for the whole family
Invasion of the Cow Snatchers looks amazing!
Periodic would be great for classrooms!
Tumble Maze looks like an interesting challenge!
Great Guide!
Periodic looks fun. I didn’t really study chemistry but this looks like it would be a fun way to learn.
My Body Suuuper Puzzle
The Sherlock Files looks promising.
Chroma Cube SOUND LIKE A GOOD FAME.
Tumble Maze looks like a lot of fun and is my favorite in the guide….hard to pick just one!
Invasion of the Cow Snatchers looks like the most fun.
my kids love Crystal Growing Kits
I WOULD LOVE TO TRY ALL THESE GAMES!
Cool stuff
Invasion of the cow snatchers.
My grandson has the Rubik’s Edge Cube.
I thought that it would be easier than the original Rubik’s Cube, but it’s not. I never figured out that puzzle either
I like the Ubongo Extreme: Fun Size Edition
Super Studio – Disney Frozen 2
I love the Aqua Robot!
Chroma Cube from Project Genius looks interesting
THE SHERLOCK FILES…..I LOVE INVESTIGATIVE CHALLENGES
Rubik’s Edge and Crystal Growing Kit would be fun!