John Adams “Hot Wires Plug & Play Electronics” - our children (now adults) were given loads of STEM toys over the years, but this was the one that engaged our daughter the most from memory, she had it when she was about 8. Still available today. (I have no connection with the company etc)

The key is finding toys/kits/games that they can explore themselves, and are both fun and stretching without being impossible to really understand. Surprisingly difficult!

Of course Lego and K'nex! But they're obvious.

For a book, David Macaulay, “The Way Things Work” - technology explained using mammoths, we all enjoyed that one, I see from the inscription that actually my sister gave it it to me on my 30th birthday!! I guess best for 8-11 year olds…or 30++ year old professional engineers!

For older children, if they have some hobby or interest where they could do tweaking / repairing /customising etc to their equipment then a simple set of the appropriate tools can be fantastic - real confidence builder that they are their own tools to be trusted with and make their own mistakes. These can be not obviously “STEM” activities, for example the specialist set of jewellery pliers and cutters we got our daughter as a teenager.* Similarly bike repair tools and maintenance guides etc.  When they were teenagers I gave both of ours one of those basic “household tool kits” in a case that supermarkets often sell, to use for their various activities, and they both still have and use them. 

Cheers,

Andy

* And before anyone says “gender stereotypes”, over the years I have also given her a power drill and a soldering iron…which she also still uses…

John Adams “Hot Wires Plug & Play Electronics” - our children (now adults) were given loads of STEM toys over the years, but this was the one that engaged our daughter the most from memory, she had it when she was about 8. Still available today. (I have no connection with the company etc)

The key is finding toys/kits/games that they can explore themselves, and are both fun and stretching without being impossible to really understand. Surprisingly difficult!

Of course Lego and K'nex! But they're obvious.

For a book, David Macaulay, “The Way Things Work” - technology explained using mammoths, we all enjoyed that one, I see from the inscription that actually my sister gave it it to me on my 30th birthday!! I guess best for 8-11 year olds…or 30++ year old professional engineers!

For older children, if they have some hobby or interest where they could do tweaking / repairing /customising etc to their equipment then a simple set of the appropriate tools can be fantastic - real confidence builder that they are their own tools to be trusted with and make their own mistakes. These can be not obviously “STEM” activities, for example the specialist set of jewellery pliers and cutters we got our daughter as a teenager.* Similarly bike repair tools and maintenance guides etc.  When they were teenagers I gave both of ours one of those basic “household tool kits” in a case that supermarkets often sell, to use for their various activities, and they both still have and use them. 

Cheers,

Andy

* And before anyone says “gender stereotypes”, over the years I have also given her a power drill and a soldering iron…which she also still uses…