Stem kits and mechanisms

Dig kits, marble runs, engineering boxes, robot walkers, magnetic body puzzles and DIY science sets. Toys with a mechanism at the centre of them rather than a character.

These are also the toys that produce a story afterwards. A child who has dug a dinosaur out of a block, or built a marble run that actually works, will describe it to anyone who stands still long enough.

Brands in this category: Mideer and Classic World.

12 products, $12 to $88, 8 in stock

Colorful Magnetic Tiles, Jurassic Adventure 48P, by Mideer, magnetic, ages 3+

MideerColorful Magnetic Tiles, Jurassic Adventure 48PAges 3+$32

Out of stock Conundrum Cube Magic, by Mideer, stem, ages 6+

MideerConundrum Cube MagicAges 6+$39

Crazy Gold Rush, by Mideer, stem, ages 6+

MideerCrazy Gold RushAges 6+$20

Engineering Explorer Box, by Mideer, stem, ages 3+

MideerEngineering Explorer BoxAges 3+$75

Human Body Magnetic Puzzle, by Mideer, educational, ages 6+

MideerHuman Body Magnetic PuzzleAges 6+$24

Ice Cream Factory, by Mideer, educational

MideerIce Cream Factory$12

Out of stock Revive A Pterosaur, Dig A Dinosaur Kit, by Mideer, steam

MideerRevive A Pterosaur, Dig A Dinosaur Kit$20

Out of stock ROBOT WALKER, by Classic World, stem, ages 0 to 2

Classic WorldROBOT WALKERAges 0 to 2$88

STEM Box, Animal Paradise DIY Kit, by Mideer, steam, ages 5+

MideerSTEM Box, Animal Paradise DIY KitAges 5+$32

STEM Box, Space Exploration DIY Kit, by Mideer, steam, ages 5+

MideerSTEM Box, Space Exploration DIY KitAges 5+$38

Out of stock Track Marble Building Blocks 51P, by Mideer, stem, ages 3+

MideerTrack Marble Building Blocks 51PAges 3+$35

Train Track Building Blocks, by Mideer, steam, ages 1 to 7

MideerTrain Track Building BlocksAges 1 to 7$69

How to choose

The best of these have a moment where the thing works: the marble completes the run, the walker walks, the dinosaur comes out of the block. Buy for that moment rather than for the subject on the box.

Dig kits are single use by design and make a good gift precisely because they are an event. Marble runs and track sets are the opposite and get rebuilt for years, so they are better value if the child is already a builder. Most sets here need an adult for the first build and nobody at all after that.

Stem kits and mechanisms

How to choose

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