Skills Guide

Learn more about the skills our toys are designed to develop!

Cognitive

Speech & Language

Creativity & Imagination

Fine & Gross Motor

STEM

Cognitive

Speech & Language

Social & Emotional

Creativity & Imagination

Fine & Gross Motor

STEM

STEM

Explore our STEM toys for kids! Whether you’re shopping for a 3-year-old or kindergartener, our learning toys can help them build basic science, technology, engineering, and math skills through play.

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What’s the buzz around STEM—and what does it mean? An acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the term STEM is used to refer to one of these disciplines or the way they interact with one another [1,2]. All four areas of study are rooted in the same skill sets: gathering information and evidence, evaluating information, making decisions, and solving problems [9]. But how does this relate to kids, you ask?

Building STEM skills can help kiddos bloom in their personal, academic, and professional lives! 

Science

How do we learn about the bunnies, bees, trees, thunderstorms, stars, and all the other fascinating things that make up our natural world? Through science!

Science refers to the facts, processes, and laws of the natural world, as well as the process of investigation we use to learn more about it. This process involves multiple skillsets such as observing with our senses, comparing and classifying, describing and sharing findings, asking questions, predicting, and analyzing using tools [3,4].

As kids’ scientific knowledge grows, they can learn to interpret this knowledge to better understand the world around them and think of solutions to its problems [3]. For example, learning about sea animals can help children understand the animals’ importance in the world and encourage them to explore more and maybe even find solutions to preserve their habitats!

Technology

In STEM, technology refers not to devices, but rather the skills needed to build them! Kids can start learning foundational concepts early on; these include computational thinking (the basic logic underlying computer science), problem-solving, basic research skills, and understanding systems [5].

You don’t need high-tech devices to teach these concepts! Hands-on toys, like our LocBloc Counting Blocks , make great educational tools. You could ask your child to break down the process of building a car using the blocks into simple steps—they’ll be using computational thinking and problem-solving skills as they go!

Engineering

Engineering involves the process of designing solutions to solve problems [6]! This process can include identifying problems, exploring possible solutions, and testing ways to solve the problem [7].

Say your child wanted to build a “road” for their EggXpress Yourself™ bus in the backyard. They would first have to think about which materials and designs for the road would work best, then consider possible solutions. Once they have an idea, they can create, test and evaluate it, repeating this process until their ideal road comes to life—these are engineering principles in action!

skillshub_STEM_engineering

Mathematics

Mathematics is the study of numbers, shapes, space, and change—it acts as the foundation of the other STEM disciplines [8]!

Though toddlers won’t be solving calculus problems anytime soon, there are fundamental math skills little ones can practice early on. This can include:

• Learning about shapes and numbers
• Sorting (based on size, color, kind)
• Ordering
• Measuring (length, weight, time)
• Comparing and contrasting objects

In Conclusion…

Even if your kiddo isn’t dreaming of becoming a tech whiz or mathematician, STEM skills help them better understand and think critically about the world around them!

Our Collection of STEM Toys

ABC Railway

Alphabet Learning Train Set

Alphabet Fishing

Magnetic Alphabet Fishing Game

Bright Explorer

Educational Light Box Playset

Dive & Discover

Ocean Learning Color Changing Book Set
Hot

EggXpress Yourself!

Match & Learn Eggs

I Am Responsible!

Magnetic Responsibility Chart

I Can Plan!

Magnetic Calendar

Knock-Knock Who’s Inside?

Lock & Latch Board

Lace-Up & Learn Animals

Fine Motor Wooden Lacing Toy

Learning Ladybug

Ladybug Counting Toy
Hot

Locbloc Counting Blocks

Educational Building Block Set

Mini Barista

Wooden Barista Playset

    References:

    [1] Lange, A. A., Robertson, L., Price, J., & Craven, A. (2021). Teaching early and elementary STEM.
    [2] Tippett, C. D., & Milford, T. M. (2017). Findings from a pre-kindergarten classroom: Making the case for STEM in early childhood education. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 15, 67-86.
    [3] Worth, K. (2010). Science in early childhood classrooms: Content and process.
    [4] Jordan, B. (2016). Science Process Skills in Preschool. Reallygoodstuff. https://blog.reallygoodstuff.com/science-process-skills/
    [5] Office of Educational Technology. (n.d.). Guiding Principles for Use of Technology with Early Learners. https://tech.ed.gov/earlylearning/principles/
    [6] John, M. S., Sibuma, B., Wunnava, S., Anggoro, F., & Dubosarsky, M. (2018). An Iterative Participatory Approach to Developing an Early Childhood Problem-Based STEM Curriculum. Grantee Submission, 3(3).
    [7] Blank, J., & Lynch, S. (2018). Growing in STEM. The Design Process: Engineering Practices in Preschool. National Association for the Education of Young Children. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/sep2018/design-process-engineering-preschool
    [8] Giaquinto, M. (2008). Visualizing in mathematics. The philosophy of mathematical practice, 22-42.
    [9] U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, including Computer Science. https://www.ed.gov/stem

    References:

    [1] Lange, A. A., Robertson, L., Price, J., & Craven, A. (2021). Teaching early and elementary STEM.
    [2] Tippett, C. D., & Milford, T. M. (2017). Findings from a pre-kindergarten classroom: Making the case for STEM in early childhood education. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 15, 67-86.
    [3] Worth, K. (2010). Science in early childhood classrooms: Content and process.
    [4] Jordan, B. (2016). Science Process Skills in Preschool. Reallygoodstuff. https://blog.reallygoodstuff.com/science-process-skills/
    [5] Office of Educational Technology. (n.d.). Guiding Principles for Use of Technology with Early Learners. https://tech.ed.gov/earlylearning/principles/
    [6] John, M. S., Sibuma, B., Wunnava, S., Anggoro, F., & Dubosarsky, M. (2018). An Iterative Participatory Approach to Developing an Early Childhood Problem-Based STEM Curriculum. Grantee Submission, 3(3).
    [7] Blank, J., & Lynch, S. (2018). Growing in STEM. The Design Process: Engineering Practices in Preschool. National Association for the Education of Young Children. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/sep2018/design-process-engineering-preschool
    [8] Giaquinto, M. (2008). Visualizing in mathematics. The philosophy of mathematical practice, 22-42.
    [9] U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, including Computer Science. https://www.ed.gov/stem