<div dir="ltr"><div>"With a rocky year of pandemic-related educational disruptions ahead, 
many parents are looking for ways to help their kids learn at home. Toys
 advertised as teaching <a href="https://www.livescience.com/43296-what-is-stem-education.html" target="_blank" class="gmail-hawk-link-parsed"><u>STEM</u></a> might seem like one way to fill the gap. But do they really work?<p>The answer is yes, research shows that toys can indeed teach science, technology, engineering and <a href="https://www.livescience.com/38936-mathematics.html" target="_blank" class="gmail-hawk-link-parsed"><u>math</u></a>
 concepts — but don't focus on advertising or fancy labels to find the 
best bets. There's no minimum educational requirement that toys must 
reach to label themselves a "STEM toy," so almost everything on the 
market is untested. Instead, experts say, look for toys that encourage 
open-ended, active play and problem-solving. Some proven winners? <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTINKERTOY-Model-Super-Building-Set%2Fdp%2FB00JRGVEG2%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dlivescience-ph-7892809415931558000-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" class="gmail-hawk-link-parsed"><u>Tinkertoys</u></a>, board games, decks of cards and <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=74387&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMelissa-Doug-Wooden-Building-Blocks%2Fdp%2FB000068CKY%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dlivescience-ph-1804693012485567700-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" class="gmail-hawk-link-parsed"><u>building blocks</u></a>." <br></p>

</div><div>I'm curious what list members think are among the best toys and games for developing young minds. I have a little one on the way, so this really matters to me...<br></div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.livescience.com/how-stem-toys-teach-math-science.html">https://www.livescience.com/how-stem-toys-teach-math-science.html</a>

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