Kindi Kids Marsha Mello Snack Time Friends

Whether the little lady in your life likes to build, craft or play pretend, there’s a bounty of grin-inducing toys on the market to satisfy every interest, from art sets to colorful dolls. In addition to entertaining children for hours, many of today’s toys can also foster creativity, encourage future hobbies — or even facilitate careers in science-based fields.

In fact, STEM toys — those that support a curriculum based on educating students in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics — aid in the development of vital cognitive skills. These toys, which range from simple building sets to programmable robots, can even teach girls as young as 3 years old concepts that could lead to a lifelong love for topics like mathematics and computer science.

• When shopping for toys for girls, be sure to review the age it is designed for. Some come with small parts, which can be dangerous if accidentally swallowed.
• Give your child the opportunity to play with toys that look like the real thing, which can help them learn important problem-solving skills and figure out how objects in the real world work (for example, your TV remove or smartphone).
• Look for toys that allow you to interact with your child. These can nurture relationship-building and listening skills — and give you the opportunity to spend precious them with them.
• When your child grows out of their toys, consider donating them to child in need via Freecyle or on your local Buy Nothing Facebook group. You can also recycle used toys through a program like TerraCycle, which breaks down old playthings into raw materials for recycling.