Best Outdoor STEM Toys in 2023

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It’s never been more important to keep the children outdoors and away from screens, and for boys and girls obsessed with all things STEM, this shouldn’t be too hard. There are plenty of activities they can do when they have some downtime that will keep their brains active and engaged.

Why not expand their knowledge with an entertaining trivia quiz, game or get them to make up their own! Do some Hide & Seek Rock Painting in the great outdoors, visit a museum or bake a cake. Or you could build something, get musical or complete a puzzle together. We’ve included some other STEM ideas below for outdoor (and indoor!) play.

Top STEM toys

  1. Hydraulic Cyborg Hand – build kit
  2. 12 in 1 Solar Hydraulic Construction Kit
  3. Robotics Hook Shot – 250 piece build set
  4. Space Exploration – 4 in 1 solar power kit
  5. Salt Water Engine Car
  6. Vex Robotics – 160 piece catapult kit
  7. Magformers Rally Kart – Build Your Own
Photo credit: Jordan Bergendahl/Pexels

1 Hydraulic Cyborg Hand – Build Kit ,  £36.99 £36.99

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Build a cool & functional 40cm cyborg hand

Explore engineering with this innovative 40cm robot hand that uses hydraulic power to simulate the movements of the human hand. The 40-page full-colour manual shows you how to assemble the 203 pieces, allowing you to learn how hydraulic power works, with piston tubes filled with water. Worn over your hand, the lightweight, 4-fingered Cyborg Hand is easily manipulated to grip objects, fitting both right-handed and left-handed users. Have fun challenging yourself to pick up and use a variety of items like bottles, pencils and small items or even shake hands with your friends! An advanced build perfect for any budding engineer – hands-on!

212 In 1 Solar Hydraulic Construction Kit, £24.95£24.95

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A construction kit with variety

This cool gift is packed with just about everything a budding engineer would want. 12 different mechanical models of animals and machines, run on a mix of solar and hydraulic power – this is a mad medley of creative, STEM wonder. All packaged into a colourful, 230-piece set, they’re in for weeks of fun – but they won’t know where to start!

3 Robotics Hook Shot – 250 piece Build set ,  £24.95 £24.95

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Construct a machine that launches balls in a loop

This incredible 250-piece construction kit is easy to assemble and requires no batteries or wires. Simply follow the instructions in the 62-page manual to build the 38cm model, then turn the handle to watch it in motion! The mechanism fires balls up and around a loop, then back into the hopper to be launched again. Featuring two alternative builds, eight ping-pong style balls and full colour illustrations, this set is a sure-fire winner.

4 Space Exploration – 4 in 1 Solar Power Kit ,  £16.95 £16.95

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Build moving robot models using solar power

Powered by natural sunlight, the four different space models are easy to make up and build with the various kit parts, including a solar panel, motor and instructions. See the magic of physics as the robots absorb the solar energy and transfer it into electric power as they move when placed in direct sunlight. This 2021 Winner at the Independent Toy Awards is a fun beginners’ introduction to solar power technology. All powered up by simply placing in direct sunlight – a truly brilliant kit!

5Salt Water Engine Car, £15.95£15.95

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The future of engineering!

For the child that can’t get enough of wheels and engines, this toy is bound to keep their motors running. A V8 engine 4×4, the Salt Water Engine Car only takes an hour to build – and best of all, it runs on nothing more than salt water. Today they’ll be enthralled watching their creation whizz around the garden, but tomorrow they’ll be at the frontline of creating clean, sustainable energy!

6 Vex Robotics – 160 Piece Catapult Kit ,  £21.95 £21.95

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Explore the physics of force and motion with this cool kit. Follow the illustrated full colour 44-page guide to put together the 160 easy-snap pieces, then ready… aim… FIRE! The fully functional catapult has a launching lever and adjustable trajectory and can fire projectiles an impressive 20 feet. Challenge your engineering skills and explore the wonder of physics first hand – flinging good fun!

7 Magformers Rally Kart – Build Your Own ,  £21.95 £21.95

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Build a quirky car with 8 magnetic pieces

Build your own mini rally karts with this awesome construction set. With eight sturdy magnetic pieces, simply snap the colourful shapes together to build one of the six models – or make up your own! The set even includes a little mounted driver that spins around in place, as well as large rotating wheels with chunky treads. Simply break up your creation to start from scratch, again and again! Endless engineering fun – wheely cool!

For more outdoor STEM toys, head over to our Outdoorsy and Engineer categories, where the Elves have plenty more!

What happened when the owl lost their voice? It didn’t give a hoot.

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