If you have kids with autism, ADHD or other neurodivergent conditions, you already know that toys are good for more than just fun and games. Sensory and fidget toys improve focus, concentration and coordination while helping your child to regulate their emotions. Yet there’s a perhaps not so widely known variety of toys on the market: STEM toys. What are STEM toys and how can they help your child thrive?

STEM toys help children to grasp simple scientific concepts, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. STEM toys can supplement traditional education in helping build up a child’s cognitive abilities and confidence.

Whether you’re wondering what STEM toys are or you’re already looking into where to buy STEM toys, Sister Sensory can help. We’re Australia’s ultimate toy destination for neurodivergent children and adults. Here’s our guide to STEM toys, their unique benefits and the answer to the question ‘are STEM toys good for autism, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions?’

 What are STEM toys?

 ‘STEM’ stands for science, technology, engineering, mathematics’ and it’s an acronym most commonly used in the education field. It’s an approach to learning and development that integrates these four distinct but related disciplines.

What are STEM toys? STEM toys are based on these disciplines and designed to teach these concepts to kids in a fun way.

STEM toys generally fall into three categories. Academic toys focus on science, maths and language. Cognitive-thinking toys help with problem-solving. Motor skills toys teach hand-eye coordination to young children.

STEM toys help children develop skills in one or more STEM-related subject areas. STEM toys are certainly educational, but it’s important for them to be fun as well.

 Benefits of STEM toys

 What are STEM toys’ biggest benefits? These toys offer a variety of benefits to children of all kinds including:

Developing important life skills

Playing with STEM toys helps children learn new skills for study, play and life such as creativity, reasoning, critical thinking and problem-solving.

Being fun

The words “educational toy” may not inspire much excitement in children, but an engaging STEM toy certainly can. STEM toys help kids enjoy learning science and technology by teaching them maths and science in an enjoyable way. STEM toys help children learn about important concepts like spatial reasoning, coding and simple mathematics.

Aiding your child’s emotional development

On top of teaching logic, STEM toys also foster creativity and build confidence in children. They improve hand-eye coordination and can even enhance interpersonal skills during shared play with other children.

Inspiring children

STEM toys can inspire a love of science, technology and learning that leads a child to pursue a STEM career. And even if STEM toys don’t lead your child to become a scientist or engineer, they still teach them skills that will benefit them regardless of the path they pursue.

 Are STEM toys helpful for neurodivergent children?

Are STEM toys good for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions? The answer is yes. Here’s how STEM toys can help neurodivergent children to succeed:

STEM toys assist with learning challenges

STEM toys often help children to learn in more than one way. If a child only has one very specific learning style, STEM toys can be fitted to suit their needs. STEM toys help kids develop gross and fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which many autistic children struggle with.

STEM toys help neurodivergent children stay engaged

Many children with ADHD have trouble paying attention but can hyperfocus on specific tasks that are relevant to their interests. STEM toys allow children with ADHD to choose their own areas of interest to engage with, making sustained attention easier.

STEM toys can improve motivation

These toys can provide instant feedback and feelings of accomplishment, making STEM activities more engaging and fulfilling for kids that typically have trouble focusing.

STEM toys can assist with socialising

For kids that struggle to make friends and connect with others, STEM toys bring them together to share their interests and develop social skills.

Find your new STEM toys at Sister Sensory

Wondering where to buy STEM toys? Sister Sensory supplies toys and products for all kinds of young inquisitive minds including children with autism, ADHD, anxiety and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). A registered NDIS provider, we have a huge range of autism sensory tools and an ever-evolving collection of fidget toys. Our STEM toys are diverse enough to appeal to a wide variety of age groups and personality types and include games, puzzles, construction toys, science kits, activity sets and more.

Our therapy toys and sensory products are hand-selected by our experienced team to ensure suitability for kids with neurodiverse conditions.

Need more information on what STEM toys are or which toys are best for your kids? Call us on 0401 689 313, e-mail info@sistersensory.com.au or drop into Factory 4, 4 Brooke Court Melton, Vic, 3337.