The fisher-price learn to code caterpillar is pretty good IMO. My friend's 3 year old seemed to really enjoy it, although I think it'll take her another year or so to understand the programming side of it. https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Think-Learn-Pillar/dp/B0...
Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
111–120 of 144 posts
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#112I don't believe 3yo need specifically STEM toys, but to add on the other good suggestions -
Keva planks or just plain wooden blocks in all sorts of sizes.
Marble run (if your kid won't eat the marbles)
Spirograph (there is a crayola version thats easier for smaller kids)
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#113LEGO DUPLO.
I also second the suggestion of reading to your kid. There are plenty of child-friendly stories that are still engaging and fun to read for an adult. e.g. The Hobbit.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#114Earlier quoted context omitted.
>I can't find any official advice on whether chasing birds is considered healthy or harmful to either the child or the birds. I mean, wild animals generally don't like being disturbed. At best it stresses them. While the domain immediately screams bias, they cite sources: https://www.animal-ethics.org/wild-animal-suffering-section/... The relevant bit there would be the 'frightening sounds'. A shouting/screaming chil…
When you go to the grocery store, allow a few extra minutes, take them out of the cart and have them help you. I need three apples. Thanks, that's one. How many more do we need? Now we have three. One Two Three. It gets you talking with your child more. It gives them confidence that they are contributing to a real task. Kids love to be useful. It's up to you to pick and choose those tasks in the supermarket, and ever…
My area has something called POP club (power of produce?) at the farmers markets. Kids try some sort of produce, decide if they like it or not, and then get $5 of fake money to spend on produce or seedlings. It's really been interesting watching how my kids decide what to get, and how much, and negotiate the transactions. In the spring we often get starter plants for the garden. Even if you don't have such a club you might consider a "produce allowance" when you go to the market.
Not much to do with STEM, so I'll add that my youngest really likes changing the batteries in his toys, especially if a screwdriver is required.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#115Duplo - larger Lego that they mostly can't put in their mouth. Be prepared for about a decade of being bored with kids toys. Also realize that your child may not be interested in anything you are interested in, its ok. They are their own person.
> realize that your child may not be interested in anything you are interested in, its ok.
I've been trying to get my son into STEM (robots, arduino, raspberry pis, everywhere). Alas, he is an artist and enjoys drawing manga, writing stories, and playing guitar. At first I was concerned because none of these are useful employment skills. I've learned to just go with the flow.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#116https://csferrie.com/books/
The Baby University series is pretty interesting.
The titles go like Bayesian Probability for Babies, Neural Networks for Babies and Rocket Science for Babies.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#117Cuisenaire rods https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisenaire_rods I credit these with helping me develop mathematical intuition from a young age.
My school had these, but only 1cm and 10cm lengths. They're were also 10×10cm squares, and a 10×10×10cm (1L) box.
We called that version "hundreds, tens and units".
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Base-Ten-Dienes-Blocks-Group/dp/B00...
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#118My 3 year old loves snakes and ladders. It reinforces numbers, how to follow the rules of the game and how to move about. We also have a floor sized version with two dice that allows him to practice adding.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#119I think this is really an impossible question to answer. Three year olds have such a huge spectrum of what they can like or not like, know or not know to give you a perfect blanket answer.
My recommendation is to find a library or a toy store that lets kids try things and go from there.
Re: Ask HN: STEM toy for a 3 years old?
#120Spend as much time with your kid as you can. The rest are details.