Best coding and STEM toys for kids 2022

What are the best toys to teach children and young adults coding, programming, and other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills in a fun way that will actively teach them the new technology skills they will need for the jobs of tomorrow?

Coding and programming are now part of the national curriculum, in order to solve the “skills gap” between the number of technology jobs and the people qualified to fill them. ICT (Information and Communications Technology) has in the past been dominated by dull tutoring of how to use a word processor or PowerPoint and has been replaced by a new “computing” curriculum including coding lessons for children as young as five.

For the purposes of this feature, we are describing some products as “toys” or “games” when they are or can be actually a whole lot more. We’ve described them this way because we’re looking at products that kids will want to play and interact with.

Learning resources MagiCoders Coding Critters brings a creative, sensorial and magical perspective to coding and STEM. With a spell book you can cast spells on Blazer the Dragon or Skye the Unicorn and you can also design your own limitless coding challenges with the 22-piece pet playset (including a treasure chest, large ball, fireballs, a castle piece and many more). It’s great for teaching children spatial awareness, sequential logic and basic coding skills.

Kids design code – simply via drag and drop, remote control, and point and click – to make them draw the lines they desire.

The robot has even been approved by American Mensa. It goes from beginners (Blockly and snap! Intuitive programming) to advanced (Python and JavaScript). No internet connection is required because Artie 3000 comes with his (not sure why Artie has to be a he) own built-in Wi-Fi server, but you do need either a tablet, computer, or phone to control Artie. This means classrooms and homes can run multiple Artie robots simultaneously. There are pre-programmed designs, shapes and games, so beginners can get the hang of it and start coding straight away.

The new Artie Max toy adds extra colour with three interchangeable onboard markers instead of Artie's one, and also teaches the popular C++ coding language alongside the other languages.

STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) is great, but some children are naturally more artistically creative, so the new acronym in town is STEAM, which adds the Arts to the educational mix.

For those kids who might be a little less analytical, there's STEAM, which adds the Arts to STEM for more artistic creativity.