Construction Toys for Education

Recently, I knew we would have extra time at our homeschool co-op, and I needed something to keep our 3rd through 6th graders busy. Immediately, my eyes turned to the assortment of educational construction toys we use in our homeschool.

Lately, you hear the acronym S.T.E.M. used a lot. Simply, S.T.E.M. refers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics… areas of education often overlooked.

For our family, using construction toys in our education helps grow the children in S.T.E.M. activities without them even realizing that they are learning.

Best Construction Toys for Homeschool

So, which construction toys do we love and recommend? Here is a list of what we currently have as well as items I want to add to our hands-on homeschool.

I saw the Straws & Connectors Set at a conference this year and fell in love but have yet to purchase them. I love the simplicity of these pieces and how it will encourage multi-dimensional thought. Ages 5 and up.

Despite the questionable reviews on Amazon, my kids love the Jumbo Pipe Connectors, and the children at co-op loved them too. We use them to (try to) shape letters and the children create amusement parks for their action figures.

Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! is challenging for me but my 6 year old has it mastered. Go figure. He loves to create structures and then watch them spin.

We no longer subscribe to the newspaper but if you do, the Newspaper Builders – Green Recycle Construction Toy – Rod Tubes & Connectors would be an awesome set to have as you can use it with what you would normally recycle… your old newspapers… to build amazing structures.

We do not own the Jawbones – 215 Piece Set yet but I am fascinated by the jaws, ratchets, swivels, rotor, ball, connectors, axel and wheels that are all included. Ages 5 and up.

My mother-in-law purchased a set of Magformers for our children and they fight over who gets to play with them. Not saying that fighting is a good thing but it shows you that Magformers are worth the hefty price. (Says ages 6 and up but my 3 years old plays with them and loves them too.)

We don’t have as many K’NEX Building Sets as I think we need but the children have used them to create anything and everything from carts to pickaxes (the Minecraft kind. I promise I am not raising my kids to be serial killers.) Ages 7 and up.

The Melissa & Doug 100-Piece Wood Blocks Set is like the starter set of construction toys in our home. All of our kids have played with the blocks… even the kids over the age of 40… if you know what I mean. Ages 3 and up.

Even with all the new STEM toys available, you have to give a nod to a classic… Lincoln Logs. These come in especially handy when discussing the pioneer days during history.

Our family has not added Squigz Starter 24 piece set or Squigz Benders to our collection but don’t they look fun!? The reviews are great too.

You knew this was coming. When you have the LEGO Bricks & More 10662 Creative Bucket, you are set for teaching anything from math to science to… FUN! Endless possibilities. Ages 4 and up.

I am pinning Thames & Kosmos Remote Control Machines as a contender for next year’s Christmas gifts. The reviews on Amazon are stellar and it looks like incredible fun! Ages 8 and up.

A certain 3 years old will find this Tinkertoy 30 Model, 200 Piece, Super Building Set under our tree on Christmas. I cannot wait to play and relive my childhood memories. I mean… I cannot wait to teach her to build cool stuff. Ages 3 and up.

You might be thinking that the Meccano-Erector – Super Construction Set is a little expensive… and I agree… but I see tremendous learning potential in the 640 + parts, 6V electrical motor, 1 carrying plastic case with storage compartments, 2 real tools, and 1 instruction sheet. Ages 8 and up.

I am a BIG fan of anything by Mindware. I have not had a need to add the Keva Trebuchet or Keva Catapult to our construction toys yet but that day is quickly coming. Physics lesson anyone? Ages 7 and up.

ZOOB Moving Mind-Building Modeling System is foreign to me. I’ve never even seen it in real life, but online, the sets look amazing! I am especially interested in trying the ZOOB Mobile Car Designer Set. Ages 6 and up.

One of our family’s favorite construction toys of all time is the MindWare Q-Ba-Maze Big Box. This year we are adding the MindWare Q-BA-MAZE 2.0 Mega Stunt Set but shhhhhh! It’s a secret. Ages 6 and up.

I purchased the Kapla 200 Blocks Set at a conference this year and took it to my children and nieces. Everyone (ages 3 through 13) enjoyed creating structures with these simple, natural blocks.

Do you have a favorite construction toy that I failed to mention? As you can see, I have a slight addiction and would love to know if there is something amazing that I am missing.