STEAM Gifts for the Holidays That Kids Will Love

Every parent knows the holiday gift that gets ten minutes of excitement and then disappears under the sofa. The three Edx Education® picks below are the kind children keep coming back to well into January. Each one turns counting, sorting, and pattern making into play, and together they cover everyone from a curious toddler to a school age builder.

Which gift is best when siblings and friends play together?

When cousins or friends come over, the best toy is usually the one with enough pieces for everyone. The iSense® Sorting & Counting Set comes with 288 translucent pieces in six types, from pattern blocks and dominoes to interlocking shapes, 3D puzzles, and sensory shells. It is designed for children from 18 months, which makes it the one gift here that suits a child under three.

Plenty to share, plenty to build together

With this many pieces, nobody has to wait for a turn. Each child can grab a handful, sort by color or shape, and then add to a shared design that grows across the table. If you have a light box at home, the translucent colors glow as they overlap, and the whole group gathers around it. Younger children explore the shapes and textures while older ones count, match, and build patterns, so one set keeps several ages playing together. When playtime ends, everything goes back into the clear container and cleanup takes a minute.

Which gift mixes early math with a story?

Made from recycled material, the Green-n-Learn® Whales Story Counters Set has sturdy whale counters in soft, calming colors. It is made for ages 3 to 6 and comes with a wordless storybook about ocean conservation. The 36 counters come in three colors and two sizes, 18 large and 18 small.

Bedtime story first, counting game second

The book has no words, so children read the pictures and tell the story themselves while a parent asks what happens next. Then tip out the whales and sort them by size or color, line them up in patterns, or try a little adding and subtracting. The story is about ocean conservation, so the counters also start easy conversations about animals and the planet. The set won the City Kids The Green Award 2025, a nice nod for a gift made from recycled material.

Which gift gives school age children a project to finish?

Children who have outgrown simple counting still love a project with a clear goal. The Pattern Activity Set is made for ages 5 to 8. Children choose an activity from the booklet, stack translucent cubes on the number board, and build a bright picture while they learn number sequences.

A holiday break project with a design at the end

The quiet days between the holidays and the return to school are perfect for this one. With 150 cubes and a booklet of 16 activities, a child can choose a design, count out the cubes, and work toward a finished picture to show off. It links math and art, so it suits the child who loves numbers and the child who loves to build. Siblings and grandparents can choose an activity from the booklet and join in.