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After finishing my Top STEM Toys lists (Part 1 and Part 2), I realized that I hadn't included toys that were focused primarily for girls. This was not exclusion of girls by any means. I purposely meant for the toy lists to be for both boys and girls and consist of more quality toys. I believe that the science toys on those lists are not gender specific, or at least they should not be. Unfortunately, though, toys have been traditionally stereotyped by toy companies and society. The problem with these stereotypes is that they have permeated society so deeply, that many parents may not even realize how their decisions and attitudes about toys may be sending messages to their children about what they should and shouldn't do in their lives-- and which activities are acceptable and which are not. ​

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More and more companies are gearing toys to compliment STEM initiatives, and enthusiastic parents are following their lead. (STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.) There is also a push for STEAM in education, which incorporates STEM and the Arts. --  Many toys overlap into the creative STEM arena.

STEM toys have the advantage that they can deliver insights about the physical world to your children. Kids who play with STEM toys may be more likely to be curious about how things work in the world around them and pursue studying STEM subjects. Having a strong foundation in STEM can give kids a great launch pad for future success in this ever-growing, tech-savvy world. ​

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To those who are unfamiliar with makers, makerspaces, and the maker movement, it all might sound like some enthusiastic hobbyists and crafters getting together for some DIY (Do It Yourself) projects. But, to those who have created makerspaces or have worked in them, they are keenly aware of their benefits and their huge potential.

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If you are looking for some great resources to get your kids inspired in STEM and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), check out the information below and be sure to review our own list of resources as well. 

With the big push for STEM education, Iridescent, an education non-profit has been forging ahead with great free virtual curriculum. It trains "professional engineers, scientists, and parents to deliver cutting-edge STEM education to underserved children and their families." Its mission is to “create and deliver powerful science, engineering and technology education to help underprivileged children develop. It offers a wide array of learning platforms: Family Science, Curiosity Machine, Technovation Challenge, Scientists and Engineers’ Outreach, and Studio Programs. While the focus is on STEM, most activities lend themselves well to STEAM, since art and creativity are such a vital part of the inventive and planning processes.

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Photo: H+S+N Landscape Architects via Smithsonian

After many years of complaints, Amsterdam has found a solution to its runway noise that was affecting many neighborhoods up to 18 miles away. The clever designed park adjacent to the airport was crafted to deflect the sound as it travels outward. It had been discovered that this type of design might work after observing that there had been seasonal improvements in the noise levels when the fields were plowed in furrows. Taking this model into consideration, the architect decided to make the fix an artistic piece as well, by also modeling after 17th century Chladni patterns. (Ernst Chladni was a German physicist and a musician who is sometimes referred to the "father of acoustics.")