by Laura Falin posted in Life

I'm picky about kids' toys.
I know. I'm a grown-up. I don't even play with them. But if we're going to have toys in this house, taking up room that could have been used for my wine cellar, they need to be good ones. They need to be sturdy and useful. They need to be open-ended so kids don't play with them just once and lose interest. And I don't think it's too much to ask that they encourage kids to learn and explore while they're playing. I'm sneaky like that.
So I love that Amazon has a STEM gift guide. Many STEM toys - toys that teach science, technology, engineering, and math - are ones your kids may already know and love (like LEGO). Teaching preschoolers engineering or science sounds really advanced, but a lot of it is encouraging things they're already interested in - building with blocks, looking at plants and nature, helping you bake cookies. I rounded up my favorite STEM toys to help preschoolers begin to develop their skills (while still having a ton of fun!).

10 STEM toys for preschoolers
1. LEGO DUPLO My First Carousel ($19.99) 
Designed for kids 18 months to 3 years old, the carousel has turning gearwheels, a buildable tree, and four figures for imaginative play. DUPLO sets are durable and such a great idea for young children who need larger blocks to grasp. My kids are older now, but they still take out their DUPLOs and build with them.

 2. Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope ($38.49)
This talking ...