STEM Toys for 4 Year Olds

If your kids are like mine, they go crazy over toys they can take a part and put back together. Encouraging science, technology, engineering and math can lead to full-ride scholarships and dream careers with enviable salaries. More importantly, STEM toys keep little ones occupied! Here are fun STEM toys for 4 year olds that they can play with for years to encourage little engineers.

Teach your girls that astronauts are cooler than princesses

My 2-almost-3-year-old daughter is really into growing up lately.

“When I get older, I will turn the light off.”

“When I get older, I will be SEVEN*.” (*on her next birthday, she’ll be three)

“When I get older, my arm will be big.”

And I’ve been thinking about her growing up, too, since it’s not something I can stop. She’s brilliant, adorable, and articulates her opinion like a CEO. She can do and be anything she wants to be. I had a mom that ingrained that in me, and I will ingrain it in her.

And while we watch Sesame Street and learn soooooo many awesome things about diversity and inclusion, I wonder: what can I do to encourage her in ways I’m not familiar with? Like STEM subjects?

There is a huge fault line between boys and girls in STEM subjects – and as both pursue their education, girls drop out of STEM fields.

Why?

I’m not qualified to answer that question but I know one thing for certain: it’s cultural, not genetic. Boys don’t have a predisposition to science, technology, engineering and math – they are encouraged more, there are less barriers, and they have more role models that look like them.

That’s why I LOVE what companies are doing to introduce and encourage young girls to STEM at an early age with toys and books that star girls.

And these toys and books are not just for little girls: little boys need the same message that girls can do everything that they can do.

Our favorite STEM toys for 4 year olds

Incorporating STEM toys for 4 year olds & books encourage little minds to explore science, technology, engineering, and math! They will play with these for years!

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1. Tinkertoys

Hands down, probably the best toy we own. We’ve added to our set over the years, and both of my kids continue to play with Tinker Toys building their own creations. (Mostly swords for the boy!)

Amazon

2. 101 Piece Educational Construction Engineering Building Blocks Set

With projects and pieces for ages starting at 3, this is a toy that will grow with your kids… and great to bring out at a play date to keep a group occupied!

Amazon

3. Coggy

Fat Brain Toys has a line of smart, colorful, and cool toys. Described as “folding, clicking puzzle of arranging gears to match challenge cards,” and recommended for 6+, this one may be fun for younger ones to explore without the cards and older ones to use a single the puzzle.

Amazon

4. Lego Duplo Sets

LEGO sets are OG STEM Toys for 4 Year Olds. These are endlessly entertaining, and just as much fun for adults to stack and build and create as it is for toddlers. Shop Amazon

Amazon