Best STEM Toys for 12 Year Olds to Teach Engineering, Electronics and Coding | Updated 2024
When is the right time to nudge your kid towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)?
An ideal answer would be as early as possible.
But the second-best is: whenever you can. It’s never a wrong moment to start with STEM.
Acquiring skills in STEM is the best possible way to encourage creativity and improve problem-solving in young and impressionable minds. To make the process of learning these vital skills easier and a lot more fun for them, it is a good idea to find STEM toys for 12-year-olds.
Let’s take a look at some educational toys for tweens that are available in the market right now.
If we’re to pick from these three, we’ll go with Sphero RVR simply because it offers almost everything we’re looking for – coding, science, music, and awesome art. Keep in mind though, these are all different from each other but still offer vital STEM skills that your children should learn. The other ones might be more interesting for you, so keep on reading!
Related: Ultimate Guide to the Best STEM Toys 2024
Best STEM Toys for 12 Year Olds
1. Thames & Cosmos Electronics Advanced Circuits
Electronics Advanced Circuits
A snap-together electronic building block set that allows your child to experiment with various circuits filled with colorful lights as they learn the basics of electronics.
If you want your 12-year-old to dive into the amazing world of electronics, the Thames & Cosmos Electronics Advanced Circuits Kit is the best STEM toy for them. This snap-together electronic building block set allows your child to experiment with various circuits filled with colorful lights as they learn the basics of electronics.
The sound modules that they can attach to the circuits will enable them to emulate the sounds of fire engines, ambulances, and even police cars.
This advanced kit also helps children learn the role that resistors and variable resistors play in circuits. With over 140 components including resistors, transistors, LEDs, phototransistors, switches, speakers and so much more, children of ages 12 and up can completely familiarize themselves with the wonderful world of electronics and have a lot of fun at the same time.
2. LEGO Technic Porsche Building Kit
LEGO Technic Porsche
An awesome kit that can be built to an authentic replica of one of the most iconic vehicles ever produced by Porsche.
Lego is, perhaps, one of the biggest names when it comes to toys for children. We’re sure you grew up playing or wanting to play with Lego Technic sets, and so will your kids.
Over the years, Lego has worked with numerous companies to create the most elaborate sets that can be used to create almost anything. For the children who enjoy vehicles and love to build things using Legos, this is as good as it gets.
With the Lego Technic Porsche Building Kit, your preteen can build an authentic replica of one of the most iconic vehicles ever produced by Porsche. Lego worked in partnership with this car manufacturer to create the most realistic Lego blocks that can perfectly recreate the vehicle’s aerodynamic shape and curves.
The replica building kit is feature-rich, including a working differential, six-cylinder boxer engine with moving pistons, an independent suspension, a steering wheel that actually works, and the best one yet is that cockpit is also accessible.
Made up of a total of 1,580 pieces, this may be one of the most elaborate set that makes for the perfect way to help your child learn about motor vehicles and have the time of their life!
3. Sphero RVR All-Terrain Programmable Coding Robot
Sphero RVR
An all-terrain programmable coding robot that is chock-full of features.
As a company, Sphero is leading the way when it comes to creating STEM toys that help younger children learn more about the world of programming and robotics than they ever have before. The Sphero RVR Robot is an all-terrain programmable coding robot that is chock-full of features.
This particular robot is drivable straight out of the box and has a wide range of built-in sensors. The set is built for customizability and your teen can have a lot of fun with this!
There is a powerful motor with plenty of torque in the RVE. A complex vector-based control system allows the RVR to drive anywhere, but this is more than just a remote-controlled car. There is a 4-pin UART system with an onboard power source on the RVR.
It provides an intentionally hackable platform so those who are interested in hacking can customize this from the beginner level to proper tech hobbyists, alike.
To make the most of it, you can download the Sphero Edu app on your phone to help your child start with the basics of coding using Draw & Drive, Scratch blocks, and more complicated approaches as they learn through JavaScript. Truly, the RVR is truly one of the most impressive coding STEM toys we’ve come across!
Which STEM toy suits your 12 year old?
Based on the area of interest of your child, you can choose any one of these cool toys for teens, or you can choose from other lists like these Robotics Kits for Middle School Students, to help them build things that fascinate them and develop important skills that will help them a lot later on in their lives.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
