Being a parent is no easy task. We not only have to care for our children’s everyday needs, but we also have to think about their future. And when we realise that 65% of today’s primary school students might work in jobs that don’t even exist yet, the uncertainty can be overwhelming.

So, parents face a tough question: “How can we prepare our children today for the challenges of tomorrow?”

This was the same question that once puzzled Tinkerer’s founders, Stephen and Elaine. As engineer parents, they deeply understood how beneficial engineer thinking can be. They knew that the skills engineers use—like solving complex problems, being innovative, and having a resilient mindset—would help children navigate the uncertainties of the future with confidence.

But as parents, they also wanted all this to be fun—something enjoyable for kids whether they were 3 or 12 years old. They envisioned Tinkerer as a “whoasome” experience for children. Through these innovative play experiences, kids would learn about science, creativity, and problem-solving in a way that feels like an adventure.

Over the past five years, Tinkerer has designed more than 1,000 projects, spending over 1,000 hours developing each box. Their goal? To introduce children to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) in a “whoasome” way—cultivating the next generation of innovators, creators, and leaders.

Let’s explore the “whoasome” STEM activities we’ve prepared for children of all ages!

Ages 3-5: Learning Through Play

In the early years, children learn and grow primarily through play. They are naturally curious about the world around them and love to explore through sensory experiences like touch, sight, and sound.

1. Sensory Play and Science

• Water and sand provide rich sensory experiences that allow children to explore their imagination and satisfy their endless curiosity.
• The Sink or Float STEM activity is designed to tap into a child’s natural curiosity, helping them explore the science of water through play. With activities like DIY fishing, stacking games, messy play, and other fun science experiments, kids can understand complex scientific concepts through simple, playful activities.

• The Pizza Maths STEM activity combines “cooking” and early math skills, making learning numbers fun and engaging.

2. Building and Sorting Games

• Tinkerer has created an unconventional set of “blocks” that allow children to build things in 2D and 3D, inspiring their creativity.
• In the Music STEM activity, for example, children build their own musical instruments and create unique sounds.

• The Getting Around STEM activity lets children playfully shift between 2D and 3D worlds, laying the foundation for early engineering skills.

3. Language and Interaction

• As children turn 3, they become more talkative and express themselves more. At this stage, our STEM activities are designed to create a rich language environment.
• In the Castle and Catapult STEM activity, we provide 30 storytelling cards that help children learn about story structure and logic skills through imaginative play.

• The Camping STEM activity includes hands-on crafts, yoga games, and storybooks to help children develop reading habits and expand their vocabulary.

4. Creative Role-Playing Games

• Role-playing not only stimulates a child’s imagination but also helps them develop empathy and problem-solving skills.
• For example, playing as a Mini-Market stall owner lets children explore business concepts like managing a store, setting up displays, basic math, and social interaction.

• Acting as a doctor helps kids learn about science while also letting them explore different professions in a fun way.

Ages 6-8: Creative Learning

As children enter primary school, their cognitive and problem-solving abilities increase, preparing them for more structured STEM activities. At this stage, we introduce more foundational science and problem-solving skills.

1. Fostering Scientific Thinking

• Hands-on activities are always the best way for kids to learn and remember things. Our age-appropriate science experiment kits help children discover the scientific method and build scientific thinking.
• In the Whale Song activity, children use water to create a whale piano, transforming water levels into musical notes to explore the science of sound.

• The Capillary Action activity teaches kids about colour mixing and water tension through creating colourful paper flowers using capillary action.

2. Exploring Fascinating Phenomena

• Fascinating scientific phenomena not only capture children’s attention but also pique adults’ curiosity!
• The Polarisation activity invites children to create polarising filters to observe sunlight and explore the mysteries of underwater light.

• The Ultraviolet Light activity lets kids discover UV rays, teaching them about optics and the many uses of UV light in everyday life.

3. Enjoying the Fun of Building

• Science is not just about solving problems—it’s also about creativity and fun. Activities that involve building help children develop engineering skills and learn how to understand cause and effect.
• The Marble Run (New) activity allows kids to design chain reactions and learn basic physics concepts in a playful and engaging way.

4. Exploring the World from Their Interests

• Tinkerer believes in viewing the world from a child’s perspective. We offer activities based on different themes that encourage children to explore the world of science through subjects they are interested in.
• In the Spy Science (New) activity, kids become mini detectives, solving mysteries and learning about physics, engineering, and math through exciting missions.
• The Explore Space activity allows children to build a rocket launcher and embark on a journey through the solar system, learning about space science through magazines and crafts.

Ages 9-12: Developing Advanced Skills

At this age, children’s abstract and critical thinking skills expand significantly, allowing them to grasp complex concepts and seek more independence. Our STEM activities for this age group help them explore in-depth topics and develop advanced skills.

1. More Complex Science Experiments

• Experiments at this stage involve more steps and require controlling variables. Kids explore scientific principles by building more complex devices and analysing data.
• The Chemical Tornado activity lets kids build an electromagnetic stirrer (just like in real labs!) to explore the fascinating science behind acids and bases.

2. Robotics and Engineering Challenges

• Assembling and programming robots helps children develop technical skills and learn about engineering design through practical applications.
• In the Animatronics activity, kids create a mechanical dinosaur, discovering the secrets of robotics, bionics, and virtual reality.

• The Hydraulics activity teaches kids how to build their own hydraulic arm, exploring the wonders of hydraulic systems.

3. Applying Technology

• Whether learning programming or developing simple apps, applying technology to real-world situations helps kids understand the principles behind tech.
• The Synthesizer activity lets children build a mixer using various electronic components, combining engineering and design thinking to solve problems.

4. Fun and Engaging STEM Activities

• Even though kids at this age appear more mature, they are still children at heart. Keeping the activities fun and maintaining a child’s perspective remains our core principle.
• The Pinball Machine (New) activity allows kids to recreate the classic game and learn the physics principles behind its mechanics.
• Frisbee Launcher (New) allows you to build your own frisbee launcher and explore the physics of flight! Learn about force, trajectory, and how objects move through the air."

• Tinkerer’s mission is to ignite children’s creativity and curiosity for science through “whoasome” projects. All STEM activities are carefully tested by children themselves to ensure they are fun, educational, and age-appropriate. We aim to give kids an immersive learning experience while also giving parents more quality bonding time with their children.
• Every month, we send a STEAM box filled with diverse materials, tools, and concepts that are perfect for kids of all ages to create and play with. Even though the toys and crafts may not last forever, the moments of creative problem-solving and the confidence, skills, and thinking patterns children gain will benefit them for life.
• Subscribe to Tinkerer’s STEAM Box today and start an amazing STEM adventure with your child!