The Best Science Kits for Kids

Buying Guide for Science Kits for Kids

Why buy a science kit for kids?

Finding a child’s toy that is fun and educational is every parent’s goal, and a home science kit aimed at kids fits the bill perfectly. These kits contain all the necessary components for children to conduct hands-on scientific experiments at home and keep them entertained for hours. In many cases, the experiment is repeatable, or the result is a toy your child can keep playing with even after the experiment. Children use their imagination and build their critical thinking skills while learning scientific facts, the scientific process, and the world around them. If the experiments are group-oriented, it also helps them to learn about teamwork and how to work well with others.

What should you look for in a science kit for kids?

• Age and Learning Style: Use the targeted age range as a gauge, not a directive. Some products will indicate ages 5 and up, for example. Others are for more advanced learners and would overwhelm a child unprepared for hard science. Also, think about how your child learns best. Many products are hands-on but may include a manual or textbook to accommodate different learning styles.
• Components: This depends on the kit. You’ll find that some science kits don’t include essential home ingredients that they’ll assume you already have on hand, like baking soda and vinegar. Think about what you need for cleanup; any parent can tell you how messy kids get.
• Learning Goals: STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is a term you’ll run into when product searching. It indicates an approach to learning the sciences incongruently. There are science kits for young kids that are STEM-oriented. Additionally, some science kits have won educational awards. There are plenty of fun and challenging science kits for kids out there, so find one that works for your child.

What types of experiments come in science kits for kids?

It varies based on the target age and the type of science(s) they will learn. Science kits can teach children chemistry, biology, physics, earth science, and even more specific branches of these sciences, like paleontology, geology, or robotics. Common experiments in kids’ science kits include making volcanoes, growing crystals, making slime, creating electrical currents, growing plants in terrariums, and mixing color-changing solutions. However, there are more options than these. A good kids’ science kit will include more than one experiment, sometimes up to a dozen or more. This keeps your children occupied for longer and allows them to learn about various topics and sciences.

Our Picks for the Best Science Kits for Kids

Pros: Many kids like to learn by doing, not just reading, which is especially true with paleontology. When there’s a school trip to a natural history museum, it seems all students want to rush to see the larger-than-life dinosaurs. Your kid might truly dig this kit if they’re obsessed with these extinct reptiles. It has a large dig brick embedded with 15 fossils, including a Mosasaur tooth, dinosaur bone, and numerous marine fossils. To dig out these relics, they’ll need a chisel, brush, and magnifying glass, all of which come in the kit. The illustrated learning guide educates young paleontologists on how fossils are formed.

Cons: In some cases, the kit is reported to contain fewer than 15 fossils. Some could also arrive broken from shipping.

Bottom Line: The Mega Fossil Dig Kit offers a fun and educational experience for kids interested in dinosaurs and fossils. It’s nice that the proper tools are provided for a realistic-feeling paleontology dig.

 

Pros: With over 15 earth science experiments, this kit will surely engage your learners’ curiosity about how the world works. A central selling point is its variety of activities to capture the interest of more than one child at a time. Enthusiasm for knowledge certainly primes all learners to stretch their minds and soak up new information. This kit gives youngsters a hands-on opportunity to learn how crystals form, volcanoes erupt, and tornadoes develop.

Cons: Several of these experiments are one-time use only, like the crystal growing project. Some of the instructions could be more comprehensive.

Bottom Line: This National Geographic STEM kit has an impressive assortment of experiments, making it a great buy for teaching kids teamwork and how to share and providing a good amount of variety.

 

Pros: What better way to learn than play make-believe and conduct bona fide science experiments? This kids’ science kit comes with a lab coat, scientist ID tag, and safety goggles—the full uniform needed to make play feel like the real deal. Also essential to the gig is the plastic carry tote that holds all the lab testing materials your learner will use to conduct over 20 experiments. The science kit has a kid-friendly illustrated instructional manual and follow-along online videos.

Cons: The kit has only one lab coat, which might create tension if two children want to conduct experiments together. Also, the goggles may be too small or too large for your child.

Bottom Line: User feedback is overwhelmingly positive for this science kit. Your kid can look the part as they complete the many fun experiments.

 

Pros: Give your kid this metal microscope and carrying box, and enjoy watching their amazement as they make their first discoveries. Under the flat viewing platform is a built-in LED for direct illumination and a mirror for natural light. Adjust magnification between six settings; the max is 1,200x. Cool, huh? It has a 52-piece accessory kit and a hard-sided plastic ABS case for storage.

Cons: The microscope may seem cheaply made and rudimentary.

Bottom Line: The bottom line is that the AmScope beginners kit provides many opportunities for learning at a reasonable price. It’s a great way to introduce youngsters to science.

 

Pros: This extensive kids’ science kit gives you excellent bang for your buck. It contains a whopping 100 experiments: 40 core and 60 bonus experiments. Core experiments entail, for example, explosive and material science, while popular bonus experiments include color, soap, and glow science. The detailed instructional guide shows kids step-by-step how to conduct each experiment. There’s also a link to animated videos downloadable instructional manual. Many of the chemicals your kid needs for completing experiments are included: corn starch, vinegar, and dyes. You’ll be able to conduct plenty of experiments with what comes included in the kit.

Cons: Though this kit is listed as suitable for ages 6 to 14, most of the experiments won’t be engaging enough to keep the interest of most teenagers; it’s best for mid-to-late elementary schoolers. You may encounter some issues with the leaking bottles, so be sure to store them upright safely.

Bottom Line: Get ready to break out the beakers with this high-value scientific kit that provides a broader range of experiments to keep your little one entertained and engaged for much longer. As an adult, you will appreciate that it includes certain ingredients you often have to supply with other kits.

Final Thoughts

Hands-on learning is far more engaging for most kids than sitting in a classroom or being forced to read textbooks, and with these home science kits, your children will get just that. They’ll enjoy themselves so much that they won’t even realize that they’re learning while playing.