15 STEAM Toys Top Toy Association’s ‘Back to School’ Shopping List

NEW YORK, NY | August 19, 2024 — The Toy Association™ today unveiled its “Back to School STEAM Toy Shopping List,” which includes 15 officially accredited STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) toys that will enrich kids’ learning during the academic year. Families can now shop the list of toys (listed below), choosing from a variety of hands-on building sets as well as activities that invite kids to explore different career options, music, natural sciences, and much more.

Each featured product has passed a rigorous evaluation process to earn an official “STEAM Stamp of Approval,” and meets the strict criteria established in The Toy Association’s STEAM Toy Assessment Framework, developed in partnership with The Good Play Guide™. The toys were first tested by children under professional observation, before being evaluated by The Good Play Guide, which uses a scientifically proven toy evaluation method backed by Dr. Amanda Gummer, who has a PhD in neuropsychology and more than 20 years of experience working with kids and families.

“Our ‘Back to School STEAM Toy Shopping List’ is designed to guide parents as they select toys that not only entertain but also help to build skills through engaging, play-based activities,” said Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association. “Every toy on this list has been carefully chosen to encourage creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning, equipping kids with the tools they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom."

The “Back to School STEAM Toy Shopping List” is below (listed alphabetically by product name):

1. 5-Piece Jr. Professional Drum Set (Ready Ace)
2. 80-Piece Pastel Ball Run Expansion Pack (Connetix Tiles)
3. Aqua Blocks (Aqua Blocks)
4. Butterfly Farm (Insect Lore)
5. Clever Tonies Set: Cool Jobs (tonies USA)
6. Glow N' Grow Terrarium (Creativity for Kids)
7. HyperTiles (Fun In Motion Toys)
8. Kidoozie Mega Marble Madness (Epoch Everlasting Play)
9. Marble Rush Discovery Starter Set (VTech)
10. MicroMAGS 70-Piece Deluxe Set (Magna-Tiles)
11. National Geographic Power Rocket (Blue Marble)
12. Owl & Dragon: A Magical Adventure (Readyland)
13. Standard Unit Blocks (Melissa & Doug)
14. Stepping Stones for Kids 12-Piece Multicolor Set (Special Supplies)
15. Write ‘N Draw Learning Board (Winfun)

The Toy Association’s STEAM toy accreditation program was launched in 2021 in partnership with the Good Play Guide, following years of research to identify and detail specific characteristics of a good STEAM toy for various age groups. To learn more about The Toy Association’s ongoing STEAM initiative, visit toyassociation.org/STEAM or contact steam@toyassociation.org.

Founded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the business trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $102.8 billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $41 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry’s voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play’s positive impact on childhood development. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, government, consumers, and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.

As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair™ in New York City; hosts marketplace activities in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America’s widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard. The Toy Association’s philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation™, a 501 (c)(3) children's charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 32 million children in need worldwide.

The Good Play Guide™ is the official accreditation body for the STEAM Accreditation Program. Founded by Dr. Amanda Gummer, who has a PhD in neuropsychology and over 20 years of experience working with children and families, The Good Play Guide uses a scientifically proven method to evaluate toys. Every toy submitted for evaluation is firstly tested by the important people – children. While the children play, they are observed by professionals who have been trained to carry out research with children in a robust and ethically responsible way. The toys are then evaluated by The Good Play Guide’s team of experts to ensure they meet the strict criteria set in The Toy Association’s “STEAM Toy Assessment Framework.”