The Best Science Kits for Kids to Spark Their Love of Learning
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You might not realize it, but you’ve probably been teaching your child science their whole life. Maybe they’ve helped you cook, or you pointed out a frozen puddle during a winter stroll. Science is all around us, waiting to be explored. But if you want to continue those lessons more purposefully, the best science kits for kids can help.
Science kits can be a great addition to these instinctual learning experiences while feeling more like a science game than a school lesson. “Science kits [let them] develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they make observations, engage in experiments, and explore how one thing can impact another,” says Michelle Felder, LCSW, MA, a parenting therapist and founder of Parenting Pathfinders.
Whether they’re watching a volcano explode with foam “lava,” completing circuits, piloting a toy robot, or churning ice cream (yes, that’s science), playing with our favorite science kits can ignite your child’s love of learning. We consulted experts and tested some of these science kits at home to compile a list of options that can spark your child’s curiosity and deepen their understanding of science.
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Spark a preschooler’s imagination with more hands-on science activities. Curious kids can conduct 20 “experiments,” such as shining pennies, making a homemade volcano, and mixing colors with this kit. We love that it fosters independence through easy-to-understand instructions and real science tools such as test tubes, eye droppers, funnels, flasks, a magnifying scope, safety glasses, and more. All tools are sized for little hands and made from durable plastic.
- Recommended Ages: 3 and up
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Your child can learn along with the rest of Ms. Frizzle’s class with this The Magic School Bus Chemistry Lab. The kit comes with the tools you need (along with common household materials) to perform 51 experiments and learn about science topics like surface tension, density, acids and bases, and more.
- Recommended Ages: 5 and up
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While KiwiCo’s subscription kits are great for a monthly dose of STEM, this one-off purchase makes science literally cool. Your little scientist will learn about crystals, freezing points, and food stabilizers as they mix and shake, shake, shake their way to delicious frozen desserts they can share with the family. Instructions and equipment are included, but buying the ingredients is up to you.
- Recommended Ages: 5 and up
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For children who look up to robotic superheroes like Iron Man or Baymax, this Smartivity kit has everything they need to build their own usable robotic hand. Using wood, rubber bands, connectors, and foam, they’ll learn all about bones, tendons, and muscles. Once complete, they can use their newly crafted robot to pick up objects, open doors, and play catch.
- Recommended Ages: 8 and up
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Spark your child’s interest in the world of electrical engineering with this safe and interactive electronics kit. It’s structured like a building block toy, which makes it easy for kids to get the hang of as they work their way through 200 different projects and play over 20 games. They’ll learn the basics of electricity, engineering, and circuitry as they explore exciting projects like building a programmable word fan, a tri-color light orb, and a dual-LED display.
- Recommended Ages: 8 and up
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This kit allows any wizard- or witch-obsessed kiddo to master “magic” by understanding the science behind it. To up their sorcery skills, this kit contains activities that teach them tricks using chemical reactions, such as making ordinary powders mystically foam and change color, creating test tube crystal balls, and more. The kit includes several of the chemicals needed (for example, citric acid, baking soda, vegetable oil, and red cabbage powder), so kids don’t have to raid the pantry to complete these experiments. It also has test tubes, a tube wand, measuring scoops, star stickers, and an activity guide.
- Recommended Ages: 6 and up
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Color us impressed: Crayola never ceases to keep kiddos entertained, whether it’s with an iconic box of 64 crayons or this chemistry set that’s just as colorful. The easy-to-read instruction booklet contains 50 colorful science activities and crafts to try out at home, including a tornado in a bottle, glow worms, and watercolor ice.
- Recommended Ages: 7 and up
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This kit uses hands-free virtual reality goggles to bring everyone’s favorite Science Guy right into your home for an immersive learning experience about space and time. Just point the phone at a picture in the 96-page interactive book, and it will turn into a video that takes viewers through an exploration of our planet, solar system, galaxy, universe, and more. The activities and physical crafts throughout the book really are out of this world.
- Recommended Ages: 8 to 13
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This Grow ‘n Glow Terrarium Kit will teach your youngster how to nurture a seed into a living, green plant. Your child will layer the included soil, stones, and glowing sand (adding an extra element of fun), and then plant wheat grass and chia seeds. They’ll decorate their jar, add water, and watch their hard work pay off as seedlings begin to sprout and grow after just a few days.
- Recommended Ages: 6 and up
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Is there a doctor in the house? This Brown Toy Box: Haylee Medical Sciences Kit includes a clipboard, bandages, tweezers, an activity book, and an anatomy doll to help kids develop an understanding of the human body. As they play, kids will also be working on their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Recommended Ages: 5 to 12
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Kids can be gross. And usually, when you promise an experiment that’s full of yucky fun, they’re all ears. National Geographic harnesses some of that tendency in this kit that contains instructions and equipment for 15 different gross experiments with themes like boiling boogers, farting slime, bursting blood cells, eyeballs, and test-tube vomit. The bonus guide also has instructions for an additional 30 experiments for those whose scientific curiosity keeps on going, no matter how disgusting.
- Recommended Ages: 8 and up
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Without inducing climate change anxiety, this mini-observatory aids in understanding how our weather works. Your up-and-coming meteorologist can experiment with static electricity for lightning, build a desktop water cycle model to learn about the greenhouse effect, attempt to grow seeds in “acid” rain, and even make clouds in their palm.
- Recommended Ages: 8 and up
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See the world up close and personal with this kid-friendly microscope. The 400x zoom will show your child a world they’ve never seen as they look through the included plant, rock, and mineral slides or add their own specimen (fingernails, a piece of their dog’s fur, or a crumb from their sandwich) to the blank slides with the help of a pipette, tweezers, and slide covers. The large knobs are easy to turn, and the eyepiece stays in place (and focus), making this a great starter microscope for young scientists.
- Recommended Ages: 6 and up
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This kit is definitely one of the most aesthetically pleasing science projects kids can do. It comes with the compounds, containers, and dyes to make seven dishes of crystals that will form over the course of just a week. The display domes allow them to keep and show off their projects too.
- Recommended Ages: 10 and up
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Shine a little light on their love of science with a MEL Science subscription. This company offers STEM, math, physics, chemistry, and medicine science kit subscriptions, and each is appropriate for a different age range.
Our editor and her child enjoyed building experiments following simple instructions along with the accompanying immersive VR lessons for some of the kits. For example, the Luminescence set from the physics subscription creates loads of fun with light. You’ll build a fluorescent liquid night-light, create mysterious pictures with light, and make ink for special invisible notes.
- Recommended Ages: 5 and up
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If your child is like mine and loves playing with magnetic tiles, they’ll love learning with this easy and interactive magnet movers science kit. They’ll use magnetic wands, rings, balls, bars, horseshoes, and other included tools to perform 10 experiments that help them learn how magnets work, sharpening their problem-solving skills along the way.
- Recommended Ages: 5 and up
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Do you have a future forensic scientist at home? They’ll add up the evidence with this forensic investigation kit using chemistry, science, and detective skills to solve the included mysteries. The kit teaches them to lift fingerprints, examine handwriting and counterfeit bills, and more as they discover what it takes to analyze evidence and solve a crime.
- Recommended Ages: 8 and up
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Our Review Process
To build our list of the best science kits for kids, we included various science categories, from chemistry to physics, robotics, engineering, and more. To keep kids of all ages in mind, our list includes kits appropriate for every child from preschool to the teen years. We chose our top picks based on the following factors:
- Entertainment Value: We looked for science kits that have age-appropriate appeal with colors, sounds, and experience.
- Safety: We prioritized kits that included extra safety precautions like goggles or gloves when needed.
- Materials Included: We often opted for kits that include all or most tools and ingredients necessary to perform the tasks so you’re not scrambling trying to find extra parts or ingredients to put it to use.
- Instructions: Since we’re not scientists ourselves, we selected kits with clear instructions for kids (and adults) to help everything go smoothly.
- Educational Benefit: We found a balance of fun and education in our top kits, so kids can stay engaged and entertained while they learn.
Our Experts
To find out how science kits can enhance a child’s development and education, we interviewed the following experts:
- Michelle Felder, LCSW, MA, parenting therapist, founder of Parenting Pathfinders, and a member of the Parents Review Board
- Rachel Robertson, vice president of education development at Bright Horizons
- Marianne Szymanski, founder and president of Toy Tips Inc., whose son created an entire “science lab” in their basement when he was 7 years old
Factors to Consider When Buying Science Kits for Kids
- Educational Benefits: Bringing this type of play into the home can ignite a child’s interest in science, technology, engineering, and math from an early age. “When STEM learning happens at home, it can also provide parents and caregivers a chance to spend time with their child engaging in a creative activity, [which is] an effective way of cultivating a connection through learning and exploring together,” says Felder.
- Recommended Age: Age level is especially important when choosing science kits, says Szymanski. Following manufacturer guidelines ensures both safety and enjoyment. “Parts and pieces that are too small to operate, are messy, or easily lost may frustrate a child and parent, while science kits with small print instructions that are hard to read may [discourage] reading, which can turn into a safety issue,” she cautions. Felder agrees, saying, “consider if [your child] has the necessary skills to engage with the kit as it’s intended and how much grown-up involvement they’ll need, as some kits are designed to be done independently, while others require adult guidance.”
- Type of Kit: While initially determined by the subject matter and age range, the kit you choose might include chemicals for fun reactions; kid-friendly versions of scientific tools such as beakers, test tubes, and microscopes; STEM-based circuits; and/or robotic elements. Kits for toddlers typically have simple, familiar items, such as measuring cups, coloring agents, and activity booklets with stickers. Some kits are solely made of physical materials and paper manuals while others pair with apps and VR headsets for additional instruction.
- Safety: Safety should come first, whether you’re a young learner just starting out or an actual scientist by trade. Be sure that the kit you choose has the correct safety measures in place for a child, such as goggles for chemical reactions, gloves for messy activities, and non-breakable tools. Always pay attention to whether any experiments require adult supervision.
Why Are Science Kits Good for Kids?
Science kits can be wonderful learning tools for kids, as they create opportunities for them to engage with scientific concepts through experiments and activities. “Playing with science can foster a sense of curiosity and a desire to explore their world,” says Felder. “The ability to analyze and solve problems is a skill, and playing with science helps to hone this skill, even in young children.” Fun scientific exploration can also provide kids with examples of cause and effect and opportunities to learn how different elements are connected and interact with each other. Learning through play can make the concepts explored more memorable and enjoyable.
What Does a Science Kit Usually Contain?
Science kits include tools to help little ones make discoveries about the planet, physics, the human body, weather, biology, chemistry, and scientific facts. That could mean anything from beakers and funnels to materials for growing crystals and robotics.
According to Felder, there are some common components that you would typically expect to find in a science kit for kids, such as an instruction manual, experiment materials, child-friendly and non-toxic chemicals for experiments, and easy-to-use tools.
When Should I Introduce Science to My Child?
It’s never too soon to introduce science to kids. “Science is all around us and woven into all facets of our lives,” says Felder. Although a child’s understanding of different concepts typically deepens as they grow, it can be beneficial to plant the seed of scientific learning, curiosity, and exploration early on.”
Who We Are
Cheryl Fenton is a Boston-based lifestyle writer who has enjoyed a 30-year career of bylining in both national magazines and popular websites, as well as authoring a book or two. As the daughter of a retired microbiologist in molecular genetics and a retired cardiovascular physiologist, science was clearly in her DNA, but not in her future, as she decided on a career path with the creative arts over the experimental kind.
Kelsey Kunik, RD, is a mom of two, registered dietitian, writer, and nutrition consultant. With a bachelor’s degree in human biology and another in nutrition and dietetics, her love of science started at a young age, using many science kits herself as a child. She cultivates the love of science in her own kids through cooking experiments at home and toys that foster creativity and learning.
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