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In today’s world, many parents want more than just toys that are fun for their kids - they want toys that are educational as well. Many are interested in STEM toys. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM toys help curate an interest in these disciplines, as well as help build early educational concepts.
Science, which is the S in STEM, covers a wide variety of topics in and of itself. We’ve broken down the subject of science and will focus on physics toys in this article.
By definition, physics is the study of matter, energy and the interaction between them. Physics toys help bring physics concepts to life - think gravity, speed, and velocity just to name a few. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best physics toys.
We’ve got something for all ages and interests! We also have a heavy focus of sustainable and eco-friendly products, which is a priority when purchasing toys for many families, including our own!
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. What does this mean?
A play on the word automobile, these wautomobiles are appropriately names, as they’re filled with water! Kids can see first hand the effects of speed, velocity and force. If you buy more than one car, kids can also experiment with color mixing by holding two cars side by side and looking through the openings into the light.
This floating ball game is fun for all ages. Younger kids can make the ball “float”, while older kids will enjoy the challenge of getting the ball back on the base. This floating ball game demonstrates Bernoulli’s Principle - Law of Pressure Differential.
Ball trackers or marble runs are a captivating toys that teach the basics of gravity. There are tons of options, both for babies and older kids. There are also marble runs that you build yourself and are customizable.
This ball run made by Haba is good for younger children (recommended 18 months+). As the balls descend, they hit little bells and clatter on the tracks.
Also for ages 18 months+, this “Ramp Racer” is similar to a traditional ball tracker, but uses cars instead.
The balls on this musical ball run hit chimes when they reach the end! This is a heirloom-quality toy made of wood and non-toxic finishes by Beck-Holzspielzeug, a family-owned business based in Germany.
This marble run is for ages 3+. It features large marbles on a zig-zag track. What’s unique about this marble run is that the track has various types of speed bumps. This is made by one our favorite brands, Plan Toys, as it’s sustainably made.
This marble run (for ages 4+) is customizable with endless possibilities . It comes with tons of unique blocks, like a green see-saw that collects 3-4 marbles before tipping over.
Perfect for older children (9/10+), these marble coasters must first be built (expect a couple hours), then can be played with. The working crank lifts the marbles to the top of the coaster. Shown is the Mini Coaster Kit and larger Dragon Coaster Kit.
Balancing toys are another great opportunity for kids to experience first hand the effects of gravity. They are also great for developing those ever-so-important critical thinking skills!
Kids can balance these blocks a variety of ways! They can play solo or make it a game with friends.
This set of four wooden gems can be stacked together in various ways using the different sides to create unusual towers and landscapes. Children will enjoy working out how the shapes can stack together and understanding the fundamentals of balance. We also love that they’re sustainably made and non-toxic!
For ages 2.5-5, this game combines balancing with a board game. Children will develop skills in dexterity, balance, fine motor, taking turns, linear thinking, sequencing and counting as they play this game and build lily pad towers.
Made by PlanToys, this balancing tree game can be played solo or with friends. The goal is to build the tree (with the birds) without knocking it down.
Another balancing game made by Plan Toys. Colorful wooden animals stack and balance on a platform with a curved bottom. The level of difficulty can be modified by using the die or tweezers.
This paper airplane kit by Klutz comes with 40 sheets of colorful paper and detailed instructions to make various types of paper airplanes. This can be fun and challenging for the children and adults alike. Once the paper airplanes have been built endless games, competition or just plain fun can be had with the whole family.
If you’re looking for something a bit more durable than paper, this wooden airplane fits the bill (and is a classic!). We also love that it’s made in America!
The wooden cup and ball toy is a classic toy that has been around for many centuries. It is rumored that even Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed playing with one. Centuries later it wouldn’t be surprising if Meghan Markle’s son Archie is seen playing with one too! As simple as it may be, it allows children to learn and experience several physics concepts simultaneously.
Kids will have fun with this domino set while also learning the basics of physics. Potential energy, momentum and gravity are some of the concepts that kids will experience while playing with this. It comes with a catapult, spinning arm, tipper car and much more!
Ride-on toys or bikes are a great gross motor activity that helps kids learn and experience the fundamentals of physics at a young age. Kids can experiment with speed, velocity and force to name a few, all while having fun.
We love the sleek and modern look of this ride-on bike.
The Wishbone Flip and Mini Flip are both ride-on toys which can also be converted to a rocker by flipping up the wheels. The wheels of the Wishbone Flip rotate 360 degrees while the wheels of the Mini Flip are stationary and do not swivel. The Mini Flip is also slightly smaller than the original Wishbone Flip, as it’s meant for ages 1-3, while the Wishbone Flip is recommended up to age 5. The other major difference between the two is that the Wishbone Flip Mini can be customizable - you can choose the color of the top, base and wheels. The Wishbone Flip doesn’t have this option - you can only choose between red or white.
The Wishbone 3-in-1 bike is a balance bike that will grow with your child. Children first can ride the trike (three-wheels). In fact, in can even help children learn to walk. The trike can then convert to a balance bike and then is adjustable in height to accomodate your growing child.
This ride-on toy can also be taken outside or off-road!
This ride-on toy is perfect to make deliveries or giving rides to stuffed animals or dolls!
Wobble Boards are a brand of wooden balance boards. Kids (and adults alike) will enjoy balancing on these boards. Yes, it helps teach kids and let them experience the fundamentals of balancing first-hand, but they won’t even realize they’re learning because this is such a fun and engaging toy. It’s so versatile too, as it can be played with in so many ways. There’s the original Wobble Board, for back and forth balancing, and the Wobble 360, which as the name implies, can be used for balancing 360 degrees. Add some cars or balls for extra fun!
Tops are a simple way for kids to see physics concepts such as precession at work. Spinning tops are fun for all ages and are bound to provide hours of entertainment.
This simple (and cheap!) top is perfect for younger children. Instead of having to manually spin the top to get it going, you simply pull the thread.
This top made by Plan Toys is the same concept as above, but shaped like a ballerina!
This top is for the more advanced top spinners! We love that this top is made from sustainable wood in Poland!
There are a lot of complex physics behind boomerangs like gyroscopic precession (similar to the spinning tops mentioned above) and simultaneous aerodynamic lift. These boomerangs, made of birch wood in the USA are sure to be a hit.
This stacking game made by Plan Toys is not only a ton of fun, but teaches some of the basic concepts of physics. Kids take turns removing a log from the stack. The goal is to not let the beaver fall! It’s part strategy and part luck!
This kit combines engineering (rachet, release arm, frame, tensioning arms etc.) and physics (stored energy, torque, gravity etc). First, kids build the catapult - everything you need is included! Then the real fun begins! Experiment launching small objects across the room. What object travels the farthest? What object is a flop?
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