As parents, it’s natural for us to encourage our kids to take up the same interests we enjoyed at their age, or even interests we enjoy now as adults.
It all comes down to familiarity and confidence—we feel comfortable getting our kids involved in areas where we are knowledgeable and experienced. Makes perfect sense!
But on the flip side, we may shy away from encouraging our kids to pursue other interests.
You can see it happening with STEM in particular. Parents and even educators sometimes feel unsure of where to start when it comes to motivating kids to get involved.
We get it. The tech world, even the tech world for kids, can be intimidating. Parents also need to know which technologies are educational, safe, and age-appropriate.
So with that, we’ve got you covered!
Perhaps you have a tiny tinkerer desperate for new things to build. Or how about a creative coder endlessly attached to their computer? Or maybe your child is a future designer or artist, always doodling or on the lookout for DIY YouTube videos?
But if you aren’t a tinkerer, coder, or creative guru yourself, how do you establish the connection?
Well, holidays and birthdays represent the perfect time to get the STEM ball rolling, thanks to the abundance of technology, engineering, and math-related gifts available.
So, for parents looking for gift guidance, we have a few suggestions—check out our list of gifts below for coding toys for kids, online learning opportunities, and more!
Gift #1: An online semester with iD Tech
What better way to encourage your child’s coding or STEM ambitions than by setting them along a concrete pathway to fulfilling them? This Thanksgiving, we took a closer look at reasons kids and families love iD Tech, and we were blown away by what they had to say!
Sometimes it just takes one course, one mentor, or one great idea to kickstart a lifelong passion for STEM.
Does your child already know they want to be the next YouTube star? Or maybe they can’t stop playing Roblox or Minecraft, and want to take the next step in game design and monetization? Perhaps they want to explore engineering, learn AI with a new robot friend, or 3D print a model they designed from scratch.
We’ve got it all covered with our new 12-Week Semesters. Students meet once per week for 12 weeks and delve into project-based learning in a topic they’re excited about. And, students will have the option to attend weekly open office hours with instructors (a complimentary benefit).
Gift #2: Online Private Lessons
Did you know we offer year-round Online Private Lessons? Think of them as online tutoring experiences, with sessions tailored to fit your child’s schedule, and in any of our specific course focuses—with online coding courses, or lessons in game development, robotics, and creative arts.
Plus, our Online Private Lessons teach kids to use some seriously engaging hardware. From the latest 3D printers to sophisticated robotics and VR tools, give the gift of a hands-on learning experience with the 1-on-1 guidance and expertise of a tech rockstar!
That’s the iD Tech difference—of course the Oculus Quest 2 is awesome, but when combined with expert instruction in coding and game design, it becomes much more than a tech toy.
Enjoy a 20% discount this Cyber Week when you subscribe & save with Online Private Lessons and jumpstart your child’s tech journey, seamlessly delivered on your schedule.
Gift #3: Wacom One Tablet
No longer mutually exclusive, interdisciplinary connections between STEM and the arts are incredibly fun and enriching for kids. The Wacom One Tablet is perfect for kids looking to express their creativity with a techie twist!
This tablet provides a seamless introduction to the tools used by professional graphic designers, animators, and artists. When paired with a private lesson with a photoshop tutor, kids will be well on their way to a spectacular portfolio.
Gift #4: Oculus Quest 2
Perfect for teens, the Oculus Quest 2 is the future of gaming. Unbeatable graphics and an ever-growing library of virtual reality games combine for immersive, amazing experiences for kids and parents alike.
But why stop there?
Avid gamers make the best designers, in our humble opinion. If your child is passionate about VR, AR, and all things at the cutting edge of the gaming universe, gift a learning experience alongside this awesome hardware. iD Tech offers online private lessons in game design using Unity and C#, the ideal bridge between playing games and making them!
Gift #5: micro:bit with Expansion Kit
Calling all budding engineers! Not only does the micro:bit provide a tangible connection between coding and hardware, they are incredibly fun to tinker with.
Kids can step into the shoes of the pros as they learn about circuits and hands-on programming. If you’re feeling bamboozled by the bells and whistles of this kit, never fear. Experts are just a click away and ready to provide individualized Javascript instruction with customizable private lessons.
Gift #6: Roblox Robux gift card
Roblox is the largest user-generated online gaming platform, and for good reason. Kids and teens can dive into game creation to design and code their own games, play others’ games, and interact with their friends in a safe community of more than 50 million monthly users.
Robux is the “currency” users can redeem to upgrade their avatars, buy special abilities, purchase cool swag in games, or use in the Builder’s Club. It’s the perfect gift for your aspiring Roblox developer.
Whether your child is Roblox pro or brand new, they’re sure to get immersed in this engaging world. And once they do, they can take their skills to the next level in our Roblox coding classes.
(Learn more about Roblox coding for kids and how to make a game on Roblox.)
Gift #7: Monoprice 3D Printer
It’s one thing to dream big, and another to see those dreams become a reality. That’s the magic of 3D printing, and Monoprice is the best in the business.
Not only is Monoprice home to the #1 best-selling 3D printer in the world, they offer a range of options guaranteed to suit kids of all ages.
If you’re looking for an awesome tech gadget and a guarantee that your child will actually learn while using it, iD Tech offers online private lessons in 3D modeling and printing! Kids will learn valuable Autodesk Maya skills while doing something they love—seeing their imagination come to life!
Gift #8: Sphero Robots
You caught us—technically this should be gifts eight and nine, but we’ll combine here because Sphero has robots for a wide range of ages and experience levels!
For beginners and younger coders (ages 7-9), we recommend the Sphero Bolt for Scratch. This (literal) ball of fun is so colorful and engaging, kids might forget they’re learning to program as their robot learns cool new tricks.
At the next level, the Sphero RVR is perfect for older kids or intermediate programmers (ages 10-19). With more sophisticated hardware comes more sophisticated coding, and kids will learn JavaScript with Sphero RVR.
A fun fact about JavaScript: it’s one of the most commonly used and versatile programming languages out there. The skills and concepts learned will likely be applicable wherever your child’s STEM journey leads next!
When combined with an online private lesson, kids can watch their Scratch and JavaScript skills soar with the guidance and encouragement of a fun mentor, all from the comfort of home.
Happy gift-giving!
You can’t go wrong with any of the coding gifts above. Whatever you choose, you'll be taking steps to prepare your child for a world with millions of open STEM jobs.
So, happy STEM gifting, and here’s to cultivating the next generation of innovators!