Scientific inquiry and fun are baked into these science kits that cover STEM, physics, and the natural world.
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Science kits are a great way to get kids curious about our world and beyond. After all, these kits have the power to captivate, teach STEM skills, and entertain all at once. If your child is already excited about things like robotics, space exploration, or how machines work, science kits can bolster those curiosities. But the truth is, for every great option, there are countless others that end up being duds, whether it’s from confusing directions, poor quality instruments, or unexciting experiments.
To save you from selecting one that ends up forgotten under your kid’s bed, we drew from our own experiences and consulted with experts in the field to find the very best science kits for kids. Ahead, we offer advice on how to choose the right science kit for your kid followed by our recommendations.
You might wonder whether your child is old enough to be gifted a science kit, but according to Shelsea Ochoa, who was an educator performer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science when we spoke to her for this interview, kids can enjoy science kits at any age—though some might need assistance. “For younger kids, adults will need to be present and attentive throughout the experiment,” she says.
Consider how much time you’ll have to spend with the child and their kit. You know the child best, and whereas some older kids can complete activities on their own, others might need some guidance—especially when using certain materials. Slime and volcano experiments are fun but not when the contents end up getting all over your couch or rug.
You’ll also want to factor in a child’s attention span. “Science kits are a space where kids are meant to develop a love for learning about science, so it is a great opportunity to not force a child to sit through the process but allow them to go at a pace that feels enjoyable,” says Ochoa, who recommends taking breaks between steps for longer experiments. “Even if it takes multiple days, if the child walks away with a positive feeling about science, then the kit was successful.” In short, if it isn’t fun, it won’t be effective.
Many of the science kits on this list feature the authenticated trustmark of STEM.org, a privately held, multinational STEM research and credentialing organization. This badge means the kit has been evaluated by a leader in STEM education to make sure it’s educational, age-appropriate, and genuinely helping kids grow an interest in STEM fields. We also scoured the web for products that received high, verified reviews across various retailers.
The original author of this piece, Priscilla Blossom, is a parent to a science-loving child, so she took into consideration some of the products she’s tested in her own home and reached out to other parents and educators for their recommendations on science kits that stood the test of time (and boredom). We also made sure to keep in mind varying budgets, different age groups, and a variety of fields of science to appeal to different interests.
For a great all-around science kit for older kids, this lab-in-a-box can’t be beat. There’s plenty of room for scientific inquiry here whether it’s creating a working volcano, building a model of the Earth and moon, digging for T-rex fossils, growing crystals, and more.
The kit comes with a variety of tools and materials, including a wood mallet, eco dome pod, bug collecting tool, and a weather station with a thermometer.
Teach kids ages 8 and up about the laws of physics with this comprehensive science kit featuring six different projects, including a rubber band car, sharpening wheel, and rocket launcher. There's also a free app that allows kids to view 3D models.
Once your child builds these machines, they’ll continue to be captivated while conducting numerous experiments. The manual includes theories, facts, and quizzes to supplement learning. It’s a great investment for kids who have expressed an interest in physics and machines.
This intro to electronic exploration packs a ton of fun and intrigue into a small package. Made for elementary-aged engineers, your littles can dive into figuring out how to build projects with the 14 included parts.
The kit includes an easy-to-follow manual and plenty of lights, sound, and motion to keep any child engaged the whole way through. If you’re searching for a more advanced version of this science kit, we recommend checking out the junior version.
This fun and engaging set includes pipettes, test tubes and racks, an Erlenmeyer flask, and other equipment that sparks a love of chemistry in younger and slightly older kiddos. I’ve used this one with my own son and it’s always a hit.
The Chemistry Station is a great alternative to DIY experiments if you’re short on time and patience and want to give kids more freedom (though be mindful of the messier ones—you know your child best!)
This is the best science kit for kids who love to tinker—you know, the one who takes things apart and puts them back together. There are 26 model-building exercises to create six basic machines, like pulley systems and wheels and axels.
The kit also includes a precision spring scale to kids can measure how the machines work. Everything is clearly laid out in a full-color, 32-page book so kids can go at their own pace. Plus, you can’t beat the price point.
Kids who are into space exploration won’t be able to resist getting their hands on this science kit, featuring more than 100 VR and AR experiences. Goggles are included and the kit comes with a 96-page spiral-bound interactive guide that has 15 real-world crafts and activities for kids to try.
While it costs a bit more than the rest of the kits we recommend, if it’s within your budget, AR and VR are subjects that other options typically don’t cover.
You can’t go wrong with this set of three geology science kits. There’s a crystal-growing lab that includes a light-up base for kids to display their colorful creations; a gemstone dig kit; and more than 200 specimens to examine to learn about rocks, minerals, and fossils. Each kit comes with a full-color learning guide, he science kits are recommended for ages 8 and up.
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