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STEM Toys: How Activity Cubes Can Be Good For Your Baby
You’re probably going to get a toy activity cube for your child. After all, they’re everywhere, and everyone seems to own one. However, there are other kinds of cubes out there you should consider before buying the first thing that catches your eye. This article will talk about what makes an excellent educational toy cube and why it’s different from regular activity cubes.
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Best STEM Toys For Kids
Now that you already know how cube sets should look, it’s time to put your knowledge into some real action and choose a set accordingly. We have done some research for you and come up with a list of the best STEM toys for kids on the market. These products are made from safe materials, include between 20-30 activities, and help your baby develop fine motor skills, creativity and problem-solving skills through various educational tasks.
- LEGO DUPLO Creative Play All-in-One-Box-of -Buildings
- Discovery Kids Dinosaurs Activity Cube
- Imagination Generation Next Level Magic Cube Set (24-piece set)
STEM Toys: How Activity Cubes Can Be Good For Your Baby
1. LEGO DUPLO Creative Play All-in-One-Box-of -Buildings
If you want your baby boy or girl to become creative like a real engineer, then this is the set you should buy. The product includes various DUPLO blocks (2×4, 2×8) and particular elements that can be used as standalone toys or combined into fundamental creative structures. With over 16 different shapes included in the set, your kid will never get bored of using them. So why wait? Give your kid the perfect gift – LEGO!
Using this activity cube, your kid will learn to activate the latch through mechanisms hidden inside the box. There are over 40 different activities included, which will help your child develop fine motor skills, fundamental problem-solving skills and cognitive thinking. The set contains levers, doors, rotating walkways and moving objects controlled by remote control or simply by hands. As you probably already guessed, this is not only a fun toy but also an educational one!
2. Discovery Kids Dinosaurs Activity Cube
This is the perfect gift for dinosaur lovers among your friends and family members. The set includes three double-sided play areas that encourage kids to explore significant and small-scale worlds. With more than 100 different activities included, this educational cube will keep your kid’s mind active and developed throughout the years.
If you want your child to learn about dinosaurs, develop problem-solving skills and language skills, and better understand the world around them, this is a great choice.
3. Imagination Generation Next Level Magic Cube Set (24-piece set)
This is another excellent educational cube for kids who love magic tricks. It includes 24 pieces that can be combined into different puzzles and shapes. The pieces have four corner parts, four edge pieces and 12 centerpieces. With this toy, your kid will learn geometry basics and fine motor development through various tasks such as twisting cubes to fit into each other or simply putting two cubes together according to their corresponding colors. All in all, it’s a high-quality cube that will keep your baby entertained for hours!
In addition to these features, parents should consider them while choosing toys for their children.
Features of Educational Activity Cubes
Buying an activity cube for your kid is the first step to engaging them in STEM learning. But if you want this toy to be genuinely beneficial to your child, you should know what features are essential when choosing cube sets. Below are the most common criteria parents usually consider when getting toys for their children:
Size and Shape
The size and shape of the cubes depend on how old the child is using it and their motor skills level. Generally, 3-year olds need small cubes with simple shapes while older kids can handle bigger ones better. You may also find themed activity sets that come in various shapes and sizes depending on what’s inside. For example, the pirate cube includes a captain’s wheel and a spyglass, while construction-themed activity cubes have building pieces of different sizes.
Number of Activities
The more activities your toy cube has, the better. Having a lot of activities ensures that you can engage your child in several tasks at once. This is important because some kids get bored quickly while others need constant training to keep from being hyperactive. Cubes with 20-30 activities are usually enough for 3-year olds, but if you’re buying for an older child or want them to use the cube on their own, then look for one with more complex features.
Durability
If you don’t plan to use your new toy only at home, you need to make sure it’s durable. It should withstand a certain amount of wear and tear, especially when children are trying their hands at new activities. STEM toys for babies should always be tough enough to handle kids’ explorations.
Flexibility
Children love playing with cubes because they’re sturdy and easy to move around. If your product can’t stay together or is too stiff, then your kid will quickly lose interest in it. Even if the child likes the idea of cubes, he’ll still not want to use them if they don’t provide him with an appropriate level of challenge. Finding the right balance between flexibility and stability is crucial for keeping your child engaged without encouraging hyperactive behavior caused by frustration.
In addition to the features listed above, parents should always check customer reviews before buying STEM toys for their kids. Make sure other buyers have been satisfied with the product you’re about to purchase. You can easily find verified reviews on most popular retailers’ websites like Amazon. So check them out and make sure that your little engineer will discover your new toy fascinating!
Other Important Criteria For Choosing Educational Cube Sets
Besides size, shape, the number of activities, durability and flexibility of cubes, there are some essential criteria you should consider when choosing STEM toys for babies. Parents usually compare different sets according to what’s included (quality vs price). Still, it is also essential to look at how all pieces in the collection fit together and how they easily lock in place. This is especially important when you’re buying a new toy for a child of a young age because they will quickly get bored if there are too many loose pieces to put together.
The overall ergonomics of activity toys also matter, so it’s essential to check whether all pieces have large handles which can be gripped comfortably by smaller hands. Cube sets that come with only round pieces may look more attractive but won’t be as fun to play with if your kid can’t hold them properly. In this case, square shapes are usually better because they’re easier for kids to grasp and carry around from one spot to another.
Conclusion
STEM toys are designed to develop babies’ logical thinking, creativity, reasoning skills, and analytical abilities. The best choice for your little one is an activity cube with many activities that will engage him for hours. You should also consider how the toy fits together because loose pieces frustrate young children who quickly lose interest in any activity if it requires too much time to complete it.
Make sure all pieces have large handles which can be easily handled by small hands and that all parts fit together firmly so they won’t fall apart when knocked down or dropped on the ground.