These early exposure tech toys offer great ways to introduce the complex thinking processes necessary for learning coding and STEM programs later in life.
For the most part, toy makers are approaching early exposure tech toys in one of two ways -- either by deconstructing thought patterns and developing a way to translate those to children, or by taking technology already available and putting a child-centric spin on it (think of the gesture-controlled Minion toy).
Whether it is early exposure to coding through the 'Let's Go Code! Activity Set,' or playful riffs on tech culture with the magnetic pixel-themed construction set, many parents have a desire for early technological integration into their children's lives. Alternatively, others would prefer to keep screens at bay during their child's early years. This is why many of these toys find other ways to ingrain the same thought patterns. For these toys, it is more about developing meaningful thought patterns than spending time online. Being able to learn transferable skills like solving complex problems and developing creative modes of thinking are seen as more important when it comes to these particular toy concepts.
17 Early Exposure Tech Toys
From Robotic Baby Plush Toys to Child-Safe 3D Printer Pens:
Mary Van Puymbroeck — Jul 12, 2017 — Eco
17
Expressive Toy Wearables
Hasbro's Hanazuki Toy Range Helps to Connect Kids with Their Emotions
16
Educational VR Map Toys
The 'WorldMapPortal' Mixed Reality Map Makes Use of VR Viewers
15
No-Tech Coding Toys
The 'Let's Go Code! Activity Set' for Kids Teaches Programming Without Tech
14
STEM Playground Toys
Learning Resources' Building Playset Focuses on Engineering and Design
13
Animated Lamp Engineering Kits
The Jubilite Lets Kids Explore Their Creative Sides
12
Pixel-Themed Magnetic Toys
This Children's Construction Set Offers Endless Building Opportunities
11
Conversational Study Robots
The 'WOOGIE' Learning Assistant Keeps Kids Engaged While They Study
10
Gesture-Controlled Cartoon Toys
Wow! Stuff's RC Minions are Powered by Heliball Flight Technology
9
Video Game AR Toys
The 'SwapBots' Digital Toys Exist in Real Life and in the Digital World
8
Realistic Driving Performance Toys
The Enduro Toy Cars are Interactive and Eco-Friendly
7
Amateur Animation Toys
The Stickbot Zanimation Studio Includes a Green Screen for Movie-Making
6
Animated Illustration Books
'Clown Thrown Away' is Based on Sir Quentin Blake's Illustrative Story
5
Child-Safe 3D Printer Pens
The 'AOD Mini Zebra' 3D Printing Pens Teach Kids About the Technology
4
Inspiring Electricity Toys
QMod Energy Challenges Children to Learn Hands-On Science
3
Robotic Baby Plush Toys
The GUND Flappy the Elephant Stuffed Toy Plays Peek-a-Boo with Infants
2
Interactive Bear Toys
Roby d'Bear is a Robot That Blurs the Lines Between Tech and Reality
1
Interactive Egg Toys
Hatchimals Colleggtibles Have Color-Changing Shells That Reveal Surprises
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Gravity-Inspired Fidget Toys
The 'Moondrop' Fidget Toy Comes in Three Different Celestial Options
Wooden Fidget Toys
MOKURU is a Desktop Toy That Flips, Rolls and Does Tricks
Arty Abstract Desk Toys
'Endless Puzzle' is a Combination Stress-Relief Toy and Art Piece
Swimmer Floatation Necklaces
The 'PLOOTA' Water Safety Device Protects Swimmers at All Times
Geometrical Construction Toys
The 'TRIDO' Magnetic Toys Connect to Create Geometric Figures
Dictionary Stress Balls
The 'Random' Squeeze Ball Relieves Stress and Offers a Visual Experience
Spherical Doll Sets
'L.O.L. Surprise' Collectibles Play Off of the Unboxing Phenomenon
Retro-Inspired Supercars
The Vultran Solair is a Modern Car Inspired by the Classics
Diverse Male Dolls
Mattel Canada is Launching 15 New Ken Dolls as Part of 'The New Crew'
Infant Programming Toys
The 'KUMIITA' Educational Programming Toy Teaches Coding Concepts
Regal Smock Fashion
This Craig Green Menswear Collection Explores Themes of Tapestry and Nobility
Underwater Exploration Toys
The GeoSafari Jr. Subscope Lets Kids Uncover Underwater Worlds
Whimsical Cat Caves
Yuliya Kosata's Cat Caves Look Like Dr. Seuss Illustrations
Inflatable Floating Raft Decks
The Blue Water Toys Lounge Raft Deck is Ideal for a Lake or Ocean
No-Tech Coding Toys
The 'Let's Go Code! Activity Set' for Kids Teaches Programming Without Tech
Mini Touchscreen Projectors
This Mini Projector Can Change Anything into a Touchscreen Surface
Painted Fashion Kitchen Products
The Smeg 'Sicily is my Love' Collection Has Dolce & Gabbana Art
Bejeweled Fidget Spinners
This Takashi Murakami-Inspired Fidget Spinner Was Made for J Balvin
Oversized Luxury Labyrinth Toys
The Massive 3D Labyrinth Orb is Priced at $40,000
STEM Playground Toys
Learning Resources' Building Playset Focuses on Engineering and Design
Video Game-Inspired Kitchen Tools
The Ravanello Turns Radishes into Mario Mushrooms
DIY Board Game Kits
'The White Box' Lets You Create Your Own Board Game Designs
AR Aquarium Toys
Pai Technology's 'Ocean Pets' is a Unique Virtual Aquarium for Kids
Kid-Friendly Gym Toys
Jakks Pacific's 'Little Mighty Gym' Works in Tandem with a Tablet Screen
Flexible Intimacy Toys
The 'Crescendo' Smart Vibrator Conforms to Different Shapes
Lifeguard Tower Hotels
This Beachside Hut in Tel Aviv is Now a Luxury Pop-Up Hotel
Bluetooth-Connected Robot Toys
The New Furby Connect Puts a High-tech Spin on the Popular 90s Toy
Connected Superhero Toys
The Sphero Spider-Man Toy Connects to a Network for Software Updates
Immersive Festival Stages
Technology from HP Powers the 360-Degree 'Antarctic' Coachella Stage
3D-Printed Athletic Wear
Adidas 'Knit for You' Custom-Fitted Sweatshirts are Ready in Four Hours
Glowing Electric Tube Games
The Nixie Chess Set Game Uses Nixie Tubes for a Glowing Experience
Enchanting Cookware Pots
Le Creuset's Soup Pot Features Special Details for Disney Fans
STEM App Subscription Programs
The Hopscotch App Makes STEM Learning More Accessible to Kids
DIY Robot Creatures
UBTECH's Programmable Robotics Kit is Easy Enough for Kids to Use
Interconnecting Bottle Cap Maps
The Beer Cap Maps USA Puzzle Map Incorporates 48 States
Reusable Retail Shoeboxes
Zappos' #ImNotABox Introduces a Transformative Shoebox Design
Printed Crime Scene Models
Hong Kong's Police Force Uses 3D Printing to Replicate Crime Scenes
Cartoon Friendship Toys
TOMY's Molang Toys Teach Respect, Happiness and Solidarity
Cute Communicative Robots
'Elfkins' Emotes Messages Between Kids and Loved Ones
Treat-Dispensing Puzzle Toys
Planet Dog's 'Link' Treat Toy Challenges with Interlocking Shapes
Pop Star Game Characters
Ariana Grande's 'DW' Will Be in the Upcoming Final Fantasy Mobile Game
Versatile 3D Printing Devices
The FLUX Delta+ Offers a Host of Features
STEM Toy Subscriptions
The Amazon STEM Club Sends Kids Educational Toys Every Month
Playful Educational Robots
The 'KUBO' Education Robot Teaches a Number of Different Skills
All-Black Designer Fashion Campaigns
The New Gucci Pre-Fall Campaign Featured an All-Black Cast
Makeup-Themed Art Exhibitions
'Colors of Beauty' Features Paintings by Moises Ramirez
Programmable Dancing Dolls
The Hasbro Dance Code Belle Character Toy Teaches Rudimentary Code
Kid-Friendly Newspapers
The NYT Printed a One-Time Edition of the New York Times for Kids
Hugging Stuffed Animals
Parihug Stuffed Animals Send Hugs Between One Another
Dog-Friendly Tea Parties
The Egerton Offers Pet-Friendly Afternoon Tea Events
Yoga-Posing Plushies
The Meddy Teddy Encourages Children to be Healthier and More Mindful
Conversational Study Robots
The 'WOOGIE' Learning Assistant Keeps Kids Engaged While They Study
Disney-Themed Lip Balms
Lip Smacker Has Released a Collection of Endearingly Designed Balms
AR Coding Robots
Pai Technology's 'PaiGO' is a Bot That Teaches Programming for Children
Video Game AR Toys
The 'SwapBots' Digital Toys Exist in Real Life and in the Digital World
Organic Astronaut Desserts
The Cosmik Freeze-Dried Ice Cream is Made Using Premium Ingredients
Feline Exercise Mats
The Feline Yogi Cat Yoga Mat Has a Catnip-Filled Toy Attached
Egg Snack Packs
These Protein-Rich 'READY EGG go!' Snacks Pair Eggs with Nuts and Cheese
Collectible Glowing Eggs
This Novelty Toy Set Introduces Facehugger Eggs from the Alien Film
Holographic 3D Printers
Daqri's Additive Manufacturing Machine Cures with Complex Light Fields
Tangible Programming Toys
The 'PETS' Programming Learning Kit Gets Kids Started with Tech
Family-Friendly 3D Printers
The 'Makness' Home 3D Printer is Usable by the Whole Family
Talkative Smartphone Toys
The Smapon Communication Toy Works in Tandem with a Phone
Educational Family Robots
This Educational Companion is Perfect for Families with Young Children
Programming Turn Tables
'TuneTable' Teaches the Basics of Coding Through Music
Mysterious Digital Egg Toys
'Hatchimals' Digital Toys are an Interactive Companion for Kids
Cartoon Programming Toys
This Minion Coding Toy Flatulates on Command
3D-Printed Marble Mazes
This DIY Marble Machine Toy Explores Fantastical Architecture
UV Protection Baby Beds
The Fisher-Price On-the-Go Baby Dome is Portable for Use Anywhere
Multifunctional Maker Blocks
The 'Plezmo' Build Blocks Teach Coding and Enable Creativity
Designer Cat Plush Toys
Karl Lagerfeld and Steiff Collaborated on a Choupette Cat Collectible
Fiesta-Inspired Dog Toys
BarkShop's Squeaky Dog Toys Playfully Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Heatable Plush Toys
The Microwaveable Heat Therapy Stuffed Animals Offer Soothing Warmth
Hunter Arcade Games
The Sure Shot HD at CES 2017 Turns Any TV into a Shooting Gallery
Educational Programmable Owl Toys
The 'Oomiyu' Robot Owl Maker Kit Teaches STEM with a Fun Project
Collectible Beast Toys
Build-a-Bear is Offering a Cuddly Version of Disney's Beloved Beast
In-Store Game Development Classes
Microsoft's Xbox Academy Teaches Game Development and More
Girl Scout Dolls
Lottie Doll is Introducing an Official Girl Scouts Brownie Doll
Dessert-Inspired Decorating Toys
'Sweetlings' Inspires Kids to Make Imaginative Whipped Clay Toys
Fantasy Film Apparel
Hot Topic's Beauty and the Beast Clothing Recreates Looks from the Movie
Educational Electronic Block Toys
The 'HoneyComb' Electronic Toy Blocks are Simple to Use
Printed Naval Games
This Battleship Game Recreates a Classic Guessing Game with 3D Printing
DIY Gaming Consoles
'MAKERbuino' is a Customizable DIY Game Console That Can Be Made for $35
Self-Launching Kites
These Kite Toys Make It Easier to Send a Kite Flying into the Sky
Slot-Connecting Building Blocks
The Boulding Blocks Offer Infinite Construction Opportunities
Fashion Innovation Hubs
The Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovation is a Space for Creators
Character-Themed Tech Shops
This Kakao Talk Popup in Seoul Featured Emoji-Inspired Art and Prizes
Art Director Action Figures
Adobe's Art Action Figure is a Toy for Ad Industry Members
Collectible Crystal Clutches
Judith Leiber's 'Belle of the Ball' Bag is a $5,300 Clutch
Modular Multifunctional 3D Printers
The 'Optimus' 3D Printer Doubles as a Desktop CNC Machine
Toy-Included Gen Z Magazines
'Mixit' is a New Magazine for Young Girls Ages Four to Nine
Affordable Desktop 3D Printers
The 'Indie' Precision 3D Printer is Reliable and Versatile
Intuitive Classroom Robots
This Robot Can Help Kids with Special Needs Communicate
Special Edition Gamer Toys
The Super Mario Happy Meal Toys Celebrate Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Interactive Elf Apps
Office Depot's 'Elf Yourself' Inserts Pictures of Users Onto Dancing Elves
Modular Activity Toys
MURO's Customizable Design Engages Kids of All Ages in Play
Simplified Coding Toys
The 'Programmable Box' Teaches Kids Code in a Simple Way
Toddler-Friendly Streaming Sticks
The PBS Plug & Play is an HDMI Dongle for Streaming Kids Shows
Animated Storytelling Courses
'Pixar In A Box' is a Storytelling Course Available on Khan Academy
Branded Outdoor Cinemas
Vaillant's Outdoor Cinema Experience Features Heated Bean Bag Chairs
Goofy Pug Video Games
'Butt Sniffin Pugs' is an Indie Game Featuring Cute Dog Adventures
Interactive Egg Toys
Hatchimals Colleggtibles Have Color-Changing Shells That Reveal Surprises
Kid-Sized Plant Milks
Ripple's Vegetable Protein Milk Now Comes in Convenient Multi-Packs
Emotive Coding Robots
WowWee's 'COJI' Teaches Kids Basic Programming with Emojis
Art History-Themed Card Decks
Art & Machine's Cards Were Designed to Commemorate Notable Moments
Family-Focused Movie Theater Animations
'A Balloon For Ben' Inspires Moviegoers to Cherish Family
Cognitive Toy Kits
bots_alive Turns Remote-Controlled Toys into AI Robot Creatures
Comprehensive Coding Courses
This Coding Bundle from Boing Boing Teaches Java, HTML and More
Pet Console Pranks
For April Fool's Day, Amazon Introduced 'Petlexa' for the Echo
Parental Anti-Aging Ads
Clinique's 'Am I Getting Old' Campaign Targets an Audience of Moms
Kid-Friendly Resort Campaigns
Chessington World of Adventures is Now Seeking the Expertise of Kids
Feline Photography Apps
The 'Candid Catmera' App Helps Felines Take Their Own Cat Selfies
Passive Coding Education Apps
'CodeHabit' Lets You Learn to Program Whenever You Have Time
Kitchen Chemistry Sets
This Kitchen Toy Playset from John Adams Encourages Safe Discoveries
Chinese Dragon Slot Games
'Fucanglong' is a New 3D Animated Slot Set to Debut at Springbok Casino
Stop-Motion Sci-Fi Toy Films
Star Wars' 'Go Rogue' is Directed by Tucker Barrie and Dan Mackenzie
Dentist-Specific 3D Printers
Structo's DentaForm Makes Fittings for Bridges and Crowns