10 Smarter Toys for Smart Kids

For the budding botanist, grow some super-scary, bug-eating plants. This gift is a little educational and also a little gross — a winning combo.

Marble runs are a classic STEM toy as they teach physics, engineering and problem-solving. Get kids started with a base set and grow from there.

This toy is like a test track for paper airplanes. With this kit, you can build and test airplanes to fly from 10 to 30 feet. Paper airplane contest, anyone?

Based on the best-selling books by Ashley Spires, this game offers prompts for users to "build" a device with the included cutout parts. Players then give a sales pitch for their invention — great for problem-solving and persuasive speech skills!

The best part of an experiment? Eating or drinking it when you’re done. This kit blurs the lines between chemistry and cooking, serving up delicious experiment ideas that are consumable for blossoming molecular gastronomists.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to acquire this awesome toy. Kids can learn 30 ways to write secret messages that their fellow “spy partner” can decode. This message will self-destruct.

A whole lab in a box, this kit contains 10 different STEAM-themed craft projects. Learn about cycles of time, color tessellations and circuits, keeping them busy in the process.

For older kids and teens, this soda bottle rocket kit launches up to 350 feet. If anything can get them to put the phone down, it’s this.

Fun to color and wear, this toy puts the “art” in STEAM, encouraging creativity, artistic expression and pretend play.

Think of this as a level-up from a typical dollhouse. Your kid gets to plan, execute, build and decorate a 3-D model dream house, working on spatial intelligence, geometry and fine motor skills. With 75 reusable components, they can build again and again.