Decoding STEM/STEAM: The Role of Toys and Play in Teaching STEAM Skills

August 21, 2018 | Toys have an important role in teaching STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) concepts to kids by helping them develop skills and competencies through play, according to The Toy Association’s in-depth report, “Decoding STEM/STEAM.”

“Toys can motivate kids to get excited about science- and math-related subjects, allow them to experiment and make mistakes without fear, and help facilitate collaboration among peers,” said Anna Yudina, director of marketing initiatives at The Toy Association. “By showing kids that science and math can be fun and interesting, while instilling confidence at the same time, toys can ultimately help cultivate a new generation of students interested in pursuing STEAM-related careers.”

Assembled and reviewed by The Toy Association’s STEM/STEAM Strategic Leadership Committee, “Decoding STEM/STEAM” has a primary goal of helping toy manufacturers, parents, teachers, and the general public better understand the concept of STEAM and the role of toys and play in building these skills in children. Below are a few examples of toys and the skills they foster:

  • Toys can foster collaboration and help to develop social/emotional skills. Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time: A Daring Adventure Game is a cooperative game where players take on the role of the story’s main characters (Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin) and work together to solve mathematical puzzles, decode secret messages, and “tesser” to new locations to rescue Mr. Murray and get home. 
  • Toys can help to discredit STEAM stereotypes and foster diversity in related careers. Sakar International’s Project Mc2 line follows the storylines of the Netflix series about four girls who become secret agents and utilize their science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills to save the day. The spy-gear inspired line includes a 4-in-1 spy recorder, spy coder, bio-metric scanner, pen walkie talkies, virtual reality headsets, and password diaries.
  • Toys can encourage kids to explore their own talents and develop their passion through play. Thames & Kosmos’ I Dig It! dinosaur excavation line allows kids to play the role of paleontologist with dinosaurs and dinosaur fossil rocks.
  • Toys can help kids relate STEAM skills to the world around them by making math and science relevant to things they experience every day.The Barbie STEM Kit lets kids experiment with seven different activities to help Barbie get ready for her party. A color storybook manual guides their journey through seven building projects, including a spinning closet rack, washing machine, jewelry holder, hammock, dress designer platform, shoe rack, and greenhouse with fan.
  • Toys promote hands-on exploration, which helps the brain improve cognition. The K'Nex Education STEM Explorations Gears Building Set comes with 143 assorted parts and pieces allowing kids to build three fully functioning geared models such as a crank fan, an egg beater, and a car window. Kids will be introduced to concepts like gear configurations, gear ratios, rotational speed, mechanical advantage, and more.

These are just a few examples of the many toys on the market that help kids of all ages build important STEAM skills.

In its next steps, the Committee plans to identify unifying characteristics to help guide manufacturers in developing products that foster STEM/STEAM discovery and learning.

This is the final article in the Toy News Tuesday (TNT) series highlighting key points from The Toy Association’s report, “Decoding STEM/STEAM.” TNT previously shared the meaning behind STEM and STEAM, common misconceptions associated with the terms, and key messages expressed by the Committee. For more useful facts, download the full report and a Decoding STEM/STEAM pamphlet to share with consumers.