I made it to the end of summer! To keep it 100, it was kinda a rough one. Lots of big work things competing for my time, causing more work stress than I am used to. I should write more about navigating through stress because I know I’m not alone. If this is you too, I just want to say: (1) You are doing a great job and (2) no, seriously, you are really doing an amazing job and probably being too hard on yourself.
Looking ahead I’ve got some vacation plans that will pull me away from blogging for the next month or so and I want to end the summer on a high note. One of the projects I recently finished was the implementation of STEM Kits for kids and teens to use in the library. I wrote an article for YAACING and I’d like to share an adapted version here to start a discussion about the best STEM toys and games for kids and teens.
Which STEM toys and games have worked especially well at your library? Please share in the comments! I am thinking about the following three access points:
- Drop-in Use – available in your public space any time
- Programming – for use with small or large groups with mediation by library staff
- Lendable Kits – to be checked out and used at home with caregivers
Here are some of my favourite STEM toys and games libraries can consider lending.
Ozobots
The Ozobot Evo teaches coding skills either screen-free with colour codes or with Ozobot Blockly. The magnet kits are my favourite because they allow pre-readers to join in on the fun. This little robot appeals to a wide range of ages and it doesn’t hurt that it’s absolutely adorable.
Snap Circuits
Learn about electronics and circuits in a hands-on and interactive way. They consist of various electronic components, such as switches, resistors, capacitors, LEDs, and motors, which snap together on a plastic grid using metal snaps. Around since the 1990s, these are a tried-and-true STEM toy. At my library we’ve been using the Snap Circuits Light kit, and my favourite thing is that each piece can be individually reordered as they inevitably break or go missing. If your patrons are really into circuitry also try the Circuit Maze game.
Magnetic Tiles
I like both Magna-Tiles and Picasso Tiles. If you can get a race car or marble run set it’s extra fun and kids will play with these for HOURS. No batteries or charging required, but keep an eye out for broken pieces which may have sharp plastic edges.
Straw Connectors
Another great screen-free option! Kids can really let their creativity run wild building all sorts of contraptions. Straws can be cut to add more options for building. If the families at your library like making large structures then I also recommend Dinosaur Foam Blocks.
Early Coding Robots
Coding robots aimed at kids ages 2 – 5 have really taken off. Want something pre-readers can use with ease? Try the oh-so-adorable Cubetto. Want something that feels more like a game? Try the Code-and-Go Robot Mouse. Want something that can turn into regular blocks if it breaks? Try Cody Blocks. Want something the school-age kids will like too? Try Artie 300 The Coding Robot.
Life Science Kits
Learning Resources is a great company to know about. Their human anatomy kits offer a 3D view to our insides. Check out the heart model, human body model, and brain.
Light Boards
Also called Light Pads or Light Boxes, this piece of tech allows you to move from STEM to STEAM. I recommend including some tracing paper and writing utensils, or you can go the extra mile and pair it with a calligraphy set. X-rays are also fun to inspect! If you are looking for more art ideas a Spirograph kit is a great choice.
Spheros
Sphero’s “four remarkably cool coding robots” introduce kids and teens to computer science principles. There are tons of freee, self-guided games and activities in the Sphero Edu app. At my library we host a Sphero Pride Parade every year where the kids decorate the Spheros and then we drive them around the library in celebration. I’ve heard great things about the Sphero Specdrums too!
Happy end of summer, everyone! I’ll be back here in the fall.
My library offers drop-in use toy boxes. We hold about 12-15 clear boxes of toys ranging from Uno cards and a marble run for older kids to waffle blocks and peg puzzles for younger ones. Patron just ask to use them and off they go. We have 2 rules: play on a tall table and clean up after yourself. We rotate the boxes every occasionally. We do not check them out or keep count of the uses. This is a very popular service!
This sound similar to what my library offers. What happens when you run out of tall tables? We don’t have nearly enough tables in our spaces and many times toys end up on the ground. Not the worst thing, but it brings its own challenges with navigating the space and cleaning up.
That can happen with us too but luckily doesn’t last long. There are a few floor spaces are safer and we let those happen but I always move the folks who pick busy aisles and walkways.
We have lendable kits that are super appreciated by our patrons but are kind of a pain for our staff. Each kit has many small pieces that have to get counted each time they are returned, and it’s super easy for patrons to lose pieces. I love them, but they are a lot of work!
So much work! For the kits we lend at the desk for in-library use, we don’t count pieces. It was too burdensome on staff. If we are alerted to missing or broken pieces we will assess the kit at that point. Many of our kits can continue to be used even if a few pieces break or go missing.
For us, it is the lending board games that we count! I have intentionally not added a game to the collection if the counting on returns was going to be TOO MUCH.
We do all three!
Drop-in use – Somewhat limited. Mainly building blocks, activity wall, and a train table (a favourite with toddlers).
Programming – We borrow materials from our circulating kit collection (see below) or from our programming supplies for use in “variety-hour” type programs with rotating activities. Lego, Keva planks, Plus Plus blocks, spirograph machines, and Snap Circuits are all well-loved. We don’t have any programs that focus on just one type of material.
Lending Kits – the majority of our STEAM supplies are loaned out as kits. We have a very extensive kits collection that spans every age and developmental stage (including cognitive care kits for seniors). Telescopes, birdwatching backpacks, Snap Ciruits, boomwhackers, ukuleles, tummy-time mats and mirrors, and lots more! As I am now primarily responsible for our kits, I’m trying to steer towards kits that are high-impact, low-effort (eg: kits that either have just a few large pieces that are easy to count, such as boomwhackers; or kits that have a lot of small pieces but it doesn’t affect the use if some go missing, such as Keva planks).
The main use we get out of our STEAM materials, though, is a cross between drop-in and programming. We call these “passive” programs, because they don’t require active staff facilitation, but they do occur at a designated time and get promoted as a program. We simply put out the materials within sight of the service desk at the advertised time and patrons join for free play and open creation. Legotime runs in this format, and has been a favourite with our patrons and staff for over 10 years! The beauty is in how simple it is to run–no staff time required, just an occasional glance over to supervise and get a head count for attendance statistics. We lay down tarps and put the lego bins on the tarps. Anything that doesn’t get put back into the bin is easy to gather up in the tarp and pour back into the bin.
On days when we anticipate extra traffic in the building (eg: during school holidays) we do “Pop-Up Playtime,” which is the same format as Legotime, only we put out more than one type of activity (may add some puzzles, board games, an electric keyboard, etc.).
Those high impact, low effort toys are the way to go! We have many of the same ones you listed, plus some that are more speciality items like Cubetto. We’ve tried to balance open-ended play with structured play opportunities. Thank you for sharing these details, Larissa. I love hearing what other systems are doing.
We have STEM Lending Kits that we call Brainy Bags. Like Morgan & Larissa commented above, there are a lot of pieces to keep track of. Surprisingly the majority of all the kits come back in tact and if they don’t we send a friendly reminder to please look around the house for the missing piece – we’re very specific and sometimes even include a photo. We’ve had great success in the missing pieces being found or returned.
We also have patrons sign an agreement at checkout detailing the value of the Brainy Bag so they know that they’ll be held responsible if the kit or all of its contents is not returned. One of the things I love about our Bags is that we include books on the topic that might not normally circulate. Some of our Brainy Bags are: Intro to Coding (Preschool), Intro to Coding (Elementary), Magnets & Electricity, Math is Fun: Number Games, Math is Fun: Measuring Time and Spy Kit. We currently have 18 Brainy Bags.
Brainy Bags – very catchy! We do a similar type of STEAM Kit with books and a toy advertised mainly to out of school care groups. Having clear procedures around missing pieces is really key for both patrons and staff.
We have Dash Robots at my library. They are controlled with an iPad. I believe you have to purchase the specific programs for Dash as well. Kids have fun playing with a super cute robot, and learn how to code. They are super fun! Families are not able to check them out of the library. People who run children’s programs can bring the set of Dash Robots into their branch, and make a program out of them. I’ve done it twice, and they are so popular.
Oh, thanks for the recommendation of a new-to-me toy!
This is great Lindsey! We have these items at our library also. They are so popular, as are our board games. Props to the processors and librarians who manage those collections! So many pieces – but so worth it.
Managing missing pieces has been a process my system is continually trying to improve upon. But I agree, it’s so worth it to see the families play together.
We have a lot of in-house toys, some of which we rotate. Every week I put out a new puzzle; they range in size from 12 – 100 pieces. We also put out coloring pages and an activity page each week. Always out are our dinosaurs. 8 plastic dinosaurs that range in size from 6″-12″. The kids LOVE these and they have been here for years. We also have a basket of large Prextex Building blocks (like large LEGOS, but cheaper) and another of flat wooden blocks (I forget the name; they are all the same size and shape). We also have a puppet show – this was a girl scout project. They made puppets and we have added to the puppet collection. Our newest addition has been a wall for magnets. This is such a huge hit. We have letters, some animals and the magnetic tiles. It’s on the back of a shelf and is rather large. The perfect thing to have there. Lastly, a parent has been dropping some gently used toys off: train puzzle, shape sorter, piggy bank with large coins, etc…these I rotate around. Parents (and kids) love to come to the library to play.
Thanks for all the great ideas above!
We’ve recently been experimenting with magnet walls and they are so fun. There are gears and tubes you can attach to create tracks down the wall. As long as you get balls that aren’t choking hazards, it’s a great STEM activity even for toddlers.
A few STEM-type kits we have available for loan that I haven’t seen mentioned yet are Reptangles, Tegu blocks, Botley (coding), and a Rubik’s Cube kit with different types of cubes inside. Thanks for all of the new ideas!
Oh, thank you for these suggestions! The Tegu Blocks look fantastic, especially since they are wood.
We have various toys for playing with in the library (patrons check them out at the Children’s desk). Magnetic Tile Shapes, Bristle Blocks and Magnetic Balls and Sticks are all used frequently (as are the train tracks/cars, of course). In addition, we have larger soft blocks that do not have to be checked out. My library also has Early Literacy Backpacks, which include themed books and toys, with activity ideas for the grownups.
I love the idea of early literacy backpacks, especially with the added support for caregivers. One of our biggest challenges is storage and space for all these kinds of collections, but if we had room I would love to do something like this.
Thank you for the great ideas.
We also have many of the gadgets you mentioned, Ozbots, launchpads, little bits, Lego robots, as we as traditional toys for borrowing.
One device we used for years with great success at our service programs were OSMO kits. kids and special needs adults find tons of entertainment and learning with them. Unfortunately OSMO is running out of business and has stopped supporting them. New iPads don’t work with them any longer. I am looking for similar interactive educational devices we can lend to our customers.