So, you want your help your toddler develop some essential motor skills.
With so many toy options on the market, how do you know which one to go for?
In this post, I will look at the best engineering toys for toddlers. So you can give them an excellent start in the world of engineering!
Engineering Toys – Give Me An Overview
Engineering toys are part of a specific group of toys called STEM toys. The STEM toy industry is getting bigger and bigger. Spurred on by Governments.
STEM is an acronym of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
STEMS toys are fun and educational toys that will help toddlers develop essential skills during an extremely important phase in their brain development. STEM concepts are fundamental at this stage!
Here are a few engineering toy examples:
Building Sets
The amount of building sets on the market is vast! It is extensive for good reasons too.
Building sets offer your toddler complete freedom to build whatever they want to. They will put some bricks together, and it will fall over. They will learn.
Construction Toys
Construction toys do not have to be building sets; they can be any construction kit!
For example, build your toy cars or a box full of nuts, bolts, and bits of plastic they can bolt together. Plastics nuts and bolts! See the best construction toys for toddlers below; you can see one there.
Construction toys build problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination.
Chain Reaction Toys
Chain reaction toys are awesome! Think marble runs, the Mouse Trap game, etc.
With chain reaction toys, your toddler will have lots of fun constructing the routes before unleashing the marble to see what happens!
Dominos is also an excellent example of a chain reaction toy.
Best Engineering Toys For Toddlers
Dominos
The ultimate engineering toy for toddlers! Use them to build, or use them to create a chain reaction!
This dominos set is the perfect toy to begin your child’s journey into the world of engineering! You can build out, build up, and set up the classic reactional environment before your toddler begins the chain reaction to knock them all over again.
This kit comes with 100 dominos, 7 bonus trick add-ons, and the ability to build up and well as across.
Engineering covers many aspects of science and technology, and dominos will easily cover designing buildings and structures. It is also tremendous fun watching them topple over, hopefully creating a fantastic cascading domino show!
Manufacturers Recommended Age: 3
DUPLO Bricks
LEGO has been at the top of engineering toy lists for years!
My don has progressed through DUPLO, and he is now onto LEGO. His experience with DUPLO gave him the perfect start to designing and constructing various buildings and bridges! It is a joy to watch too.
LEGO and DUPLO sets had moved on from when I was a kid when we would receive a box full of LEGO pieces where we could use our imagination to build whatever we wanted. These days, LEGO concentrates on designing and selling kits to build exactly what is shown on the box.
Whilst these include some very nice kits, it takes away a lot of the imagination aspect that I enjoy about LEGO.
When buying DUPLO for your toddler, go for a box with random bits. They will then need to use their imagination to create whatever structure they have in their heads!
Manufacturers Recommended Age: 1 1/2 -3
NextX Engineering Toy
Imagination is the only limitation! Your toddler can build and engineer until their heart is content.
This 300-piece engineering construction kit will allow your toddler to create structures, buildings, and even vehicles!
It really is such a simple, and cheap introduction to engineering…
The various parts are easy to assemble. They click together, which is excellent for those heavy-handed toddlers!
This NextX kit will help your toddler with:
- Color recognition
- Shape recognition
- Developing imagination
- Developing fine motor skills
This 300-piece set also comes with a carry case, so you can store the sticks and wheels away when not in use. And don’t worry, these are BPA-free and non-toxic too!
Manufacturers Recommended Age: 3
Magnetic Construction Set
Use the instructions to build whatever your toddler wants! Magnetic engineering toys will spark innovation!
This magnetic construction set is perfect for those toddlers who love to engineer and design 3d buildings!
Not only does it have standard pieces which they can use to build whatever structure they want to, but it also has windows as doors too.
It is not simply an excellent engineering toy. And it also has some basic learning aspects too. Some of the pieces have letters on them to help your toddler learn.
There is also an awesome carry case, which is vital when you have 100 pieces to store away!
Manufacturers Recommended Age: 3
Nut/Bolt And Drill Engineering Set
Improve fine motor skills and innovation with this nut and bot engineering toy!
I am not going to lie; my son loves playing with this! It is such a simple idea for a toy that sparks their imagination and allows them to construct various buildings, vehicles, whatever they want!
The idea is that your toddler will use the screwdriver (battery powered – 2 AA’s, not included) to mesh the pieces together to create and engineers whatever they want to build.
All of which can be stored away in the carry case for easy transport.
This is a perfect STEM toy for preschool children because it aids some significant developmental areas, such as:
There are some small parts in this kit, so always ensure that you observe your toddler playing with this.
Manufacturers Recommended Age: 3-7
How Engineering Toys Can Help Your Toddler Develop
Creative Thinking
When a toddler is put in front of a toy with no instructions, you tell them to create something. Your toddler may struggle at first as they get to grips with how the engineering toy works, but their creativity will flow when they get used to it.
There has been a recent rise in LEGO and DUPLO kits that have instructions for what to build. These are excellent for allowing children to follow instructions, but it does limit their imagination. I tend to buy LEGO boxes for my son, so he can build whatever he wants.
Innovation
Innovation is what is spinning this wonderful world we live in. Engineering toys will allow your toddler to build whatever they see inside their heads.
With engineering toys, especially the construction types, your toddler can innovate to solve any problems.
Fine Motor Skills
LEGO and other engineering toys are excellent for developing fine motor skills!
First, your toddler may find it challenging to pick up the pieces and attach them. Then, after some practice, their muscles will develop, and their coordination will improve to engineer with ease!
Digging toys are also a great way of developing fine motor skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Toddler stem toys?
Toddler STEM toys are educational toys built with one of the following in mind; Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics.
Is my child old enough for engineering toys?
You can start your child’s journey into engineering at a very young age.
A child’s brain has completed 90% of its development within the first 5 years of life, so why wait?
If your child is too young for the toys on this page, then why not consider a book called ABCs of Engineering, by Chris Ferrie.
What other toys are good for my toddler’s development?
Anything that entertainingly develops a vital life skill. Lock and critical toys, DIY/Construction toys, sand, and water toys offer this.
How will engineering toys help my toddler develop?
Engineering toys will help your toddler develop essential skills, such as; creative thinking, innovative thinking, and fine motor skills.
Conclusion
Engineering toys for toddlers will spark their imagination and improve important skills. The toys on this page are a perfect way to get your toddler involved in engineering at such an important age for learning!
As with all my posts regarding toddler toys, always check the recommended manufacturer’s age guide. Some of the toys can include small parts that pose a choking hazard to smaller children.
Check out these helicopter toys your toddler may also love.
Good luck!
