Building S.T.E.M. Skills
Category: Baby Toys
Between 9-12 months, baby begins combining sensory and motor skills into early learning. Vision is clearer, baby is tracking objects with their eyes and ears, and their coordination has improved. Using the senses, baby is now able to integrate experiences into independent thoughts and explore basic S.T.E.M. learning.
Most adults would not think that a baby at this age would need Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. However, toys that allow for stacking, sorting, dumping, opening and closing, and movement lay the groundwork for future S.T.E.M. understanding, even if it just feels like play.
Press & Play Coin Drop
Offers two cause-and-effect experiences:
- Place a coin in the front slot, press the button, and watch it drop. Open the clear window to retrieve the coin. Encourage baby to fill up the box before retrieving all of the coins. This reinforces action and result through repetition.
- Place a coin in the rear slot to explore rolling motion, gravity, and shape as it moves down the ramp. Although we don’t expect baby to understand those concepts, they are discovering what happens to the coin and brain connections are made.
Busy Builder Activity Blocks
A versatile set introducing early engineering, math, and problem-solving concepts through stacking, sorting, and movement.
Includes balls for rolling exploration and cars with unique axel designs for varied motion.
Blocks can be stacked, hidden, or used for imaginative play, while faces encourage storytelling and emotional recognition.
Adults can help baby discover emotions by identifying the faces and asking questions and making up stories. Studies show that the more spoken words a baby hears before age 3, the stronger their vocabulary and reading skills will be later on.
Fruit Fill N’ Spill
A hands-on introduction to early S.T.E.M. concepts like force, angle, and texture.
Each fruit piece can be pushed through elastic bands, encouraging experimentation and problem-solving.
Through play, baby explores questions about pressure, shape, and texture, building foundational learning without even realizing it.
