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If you’re hoping to give the little ones on your list some fun holiday gifts this season, you really can’t go wrong with a STEM-inspired gift. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and these toys do a great job of being sneakily educational without kids even realizing that they’re learning as they play. They can also keep kids busy for hours on end, which is pretty much the holy grail when it comes to kids’ playtime!
While we often think of STEM toys as hands-on science and robotics kits, there are lots of other toys that encourage kids’ curiosity and understanding of STEM concepts too. Building sets like LEGO and simple electronic toys introduce kids to new concepts, encourage basic problem-solving and creativity, and stir their curiosity for advanced subjects, even in little ones as young as 3 years old.
As you seek out budget-friendly gifts for everyone on your list, Walmart.com makes it easy to get the gifts you need when you need them — including STEM-inspired toys for the kiddos and loads of other fun stuff on the retailer’s 2023 Top Toys list. You can shop and place your order online at Walmart.com or in the Walmart app, and have it shipped to your door in as little as two days (or even faster with a Walmart+ membership). If you’re already heading out to do errands, however, you also have the option to place your order online and pick it up in-store or curbside, when available, at your local Walmart. Holiday shopping doesn’t get much easier than that!
So without further ado, let’s jump into some of the best STEM-inspired gifts that will keep kids busy for hours on end.
5 Cool STEM-Inspired Toys Kids Will Love From Walmart
LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Exotic Parrot Building Toy Set
It should come as no surprise that LEGO sets are an awesome STEM-inspired toy. After all, they’re engaging, encourage problem solving and help kids get hands-on with all sorts of creative ideas. But this LEGO set is not just a parrot, as it appears at first glance. There are actually three different ways this 253-piece set can be assembled — as a parrot, a fish or a frog — that’ll keep kids aged 7 and up busy for hours and continuously coming back for more.
Price: $15.99, $19.99
Kid Connection Take Apart Dinos Set
If your little one is still too young for most LEGO sets, this fun, dinosaur-themed kit is equally as engaging when it comes to hands-on building. There are enough mix-and-match pieces to create five different dinosaurs, plus an adorable little screwdriver and screws to put them all together. Sure, screws aren’t exactly anatomically accurate in the scientific sense, but the set is so fantastic for developing fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination that we can let that detail slide.
Price: $14.97
Creativity for Kids Grow N’ Glow Terrarium
This STEM-inspired terrarium is a fun find for kids who are into nature and making crafts. First, they get to assemble and decorate the terrarium with all of the included gear: jar, potting soil, seeds, decorative sand and stones, colorful stickers and several garden figurines — including an adorable raccoon toasting marshmallows over a campfire that glows in the dark! It also comes with a plant mister that makes it easy for kids to care for their plant as it begins to grow in just a few days’ time.
Price: $11.24, $15
Hot Wheels Ready-to-Race Monster Truck Builder
Not only can little ones build their own monster truck with this Hot Wheels kit, but they can customize it too. It comes with a trio of kid-sized “tools” in the included toolbox so they can assemble, disassemble and play mini-mechanic while honing their fine motor skills and creativity. Before you know it, they’ll be ready to give the family car a tune up, too!
Price: $19.97
VTech® Switch & Go® Velociraptor Jet to Dino
This cool dino was a “Toy of the Year” finalist and it’s easy to see why. It starts out as a ferocious velociraptor that can breathe “fire” thanks to fun light and sound effects. But then, it can also transform into a jet with a fiery red spotlight and animated pilot that can swoop in and save the day. The imaginative play possibilities are unmatched, and the flashy elements bring a level of curiosity for tech that will dazzle little ones.
Price: $28.95, $48.99
Find more awesome holiday gifts for kids — and everyone else on your list — at Walmart.com.
The post STEM-Inspired Gift Ideas to Keep Kids Entertained for Hours appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.