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Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
101–110 of 144 posts
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#102A 3yo doesn't need a "stem" toy. They just need access to safe objects, heavy cardboard or plush books with simple colorful pictures, etc. In short, they just need access to things they can observe and manipulate. While a parent can to some varying degree influence the attention and interest of the child, there is plenty of doubt as to whether this will result in a better outcome long term or not. As other people hav…
> safe objects, heavy cardboard or plush books with simple colorful pictures
I'm not sure if you're joking or just don't have any kids yourself, but those are more age-appropriate for a 3-month-old than a 3-year-old. 3-year-olds generally can make art independently, turn paper pages carefully, pretend and role play, draw by holding pens with their fingers, speak 300-500 words in sentences of six or more words, tell stories, climb, ride tricycles (maybe a scooter!), use safety scissors, and so on.
3-year-olds are far beyond the goo goo gaa gaa phase of life. Simple STEM toys (like what OP is looking for) are totally appropriate for most 3-year-olds. Sure, you're not going to explain tensor physics to them but you can certainly build a bridge with Duplo blocks with them and experiment with different ways of making it strong.
You can read more about basic development milestones here: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-3y...
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#103Lots of negativity in this thread and comments from people that either have not had children or have had them so long ago that they don't remember what is age-appropriate for a 3-year-old. I'll just second some of the common recommendation: - Magnatiles. There are a lot of manufacturers out there, some brand name, some not. The good thing is that at this point they have all standardized on the tile sizes, so they are…
Don't cheap out and buy MEGA Bloks. Kids know they are crap. LEGO Duplo are way better. Duplo also are compatible with standard LEGO blocks as they get older. I will add: - Tegu blocks - sand/dirt toys. Doesn't need to be more than a bucket and a shovel. Little ones love digging in the dirt. - bath toys that demonstrate buoyancy and propulsion. Wind-able toys are better than battery. Simple is better. There is a lot…
I dunno about their take on older kids, but for the young ones I think the Montessori method has exactly the right idea: focus on leveling them up on basic stuff like taking things out and putting them away, and on building intuition for how their bodies and how objects in the world move. Pouring water, building with blocks, that kind of thing. Cleaning stuff (they're terrible at, naturally, and can't be trusted with anything serious it so it's not like it's helpful, but they love wiping things down with soapy water then drying them off at young ages) and assembling simple food platters, especially if it's to share and not just for themselves. That sort of thing. Watering plants. They don't need robots and shit at age 3. Stuff that rolls, stuff that stacks, stuff that pours, stuff that sticks together.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#104as a father of a 12yo boy, 8yo girl, and 3yo boy, I have some experience here. Anything where he can take apart and reassemble which requires trial and error, and creative new ways of doing things is great. I love Thomas train tracks, legos (yes not duplo, actual legos because my kids never put things in their mouth), Lincoln logs, puzzles. All of that play leads to things like Snap Circuits, etc.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#105Lots of negativity in this thread and comments from people that either have not had children or have had them so long ago that they don't remember what is age-appropriate for a 3-year-old. I'll just second some of the common recommendation: - Magnatiles. There are a lot of manufacturers out there, some brand name, some not. The good thing is that at this point they have all standardized on the tile sizes, so they are…
Don't cheap out and buy MEGA Bloks. Kids know they are crap. LEGO Duplo are way better. Duplo also are compatible with standard LEGO blocks as they get older. I will add: - Tegu blocks - sand/dirt toys. Doesn't need to be more than a bucket and a shovel. Little ones love digging in the dirt. - bath toys that demonstrate buoyancy and propulsion. Wind-able toys are better than battery. Simple is better. There is a lot…
In my opinion Megabloks are better than Duplo. You can build much larger things with Megabloks, and your structures are more resilient because the connectors are stronger. Legos are far better than knockoff legos but for kids small enough to eat legos, the best block-building toys are Megabloks.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#106Everyone else is suggesting things to purchase, so I'll suggest things you can find or do outside. The last few are from [1], which I came across a while ago. - Play "identify the waterfowl in the park" followed by "chase!" and (for larger geese and swans) "run away!". [This should satisfy the other comment "play sports instead".] - Then, collect sticks in the woods and build a shelter. Extra points for using differe…
In addition to going outside, my dad giving me all sorts of broken things and telling me to take them apart taught me so much. Keyboards, old computers, toys, etc. It may be harder now, but I recall opening up broken toys and you could visibly see or smell out a blown cap. Opening things shows that things aren't magic.
taking things apart is so important. Give him the knack!
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#107My kids adored this and have had a good few goes out of doing most of the experiments and making some up too Galt Toys Science Lab Kit https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XDD3K8Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_... thojfh my 5yo gets it a lot more than the 3 yo
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#108Play domino. Gently introduce him to maths. But in general - let the child play and engage it develop an explorers attitude.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#109Lots of negativity in this thread and comments from people that either have not had children or have had them so long ago that they don't remember what is age-appropriate for a 3-year-old. I'll just second some of the common recommendation: - Magnatiles. There are a lot of manufacturers out there, some brand name, some not. The good thing is that at this point they have all standardized on the tile sizes, so they are…
I share your experience with books. The books from Daniel Tiger (3 minute stories and 5 minute stories) worked great for us. Also a series of "5 minute (theme) tales" we always find for $5 at Ross worked great too.
In my home country there are comic books for young kids (Turma da Mônica) and my 3y10m loves them. The ratio between text and drawings is amazing, because it's a comic book. I don't know which ones would be equivalent in English. I highly recommend you to try it.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#110I love the "Turing Tumble" for teaching boolean logic as well as other electronic/computing/programming lessons. With an expansion kit or two you can build some pretty sophisticated components! - https://www.turingtumble.com/