This is our official list in search of the best kids science kits on the market today. Scroll further for full details on each product and an in-depth guide to science kits for kids.
5 Highest Reviewed Kids Science Kits
Kids science kits provide instructions and instruments to combine basic materials and observe reactions, or craft things using scientific principles. Foster a lifelong love of science through play and discovery. These top 5 kits are the best on the market today and will not disappoint you or your child. Don’t forget these also make great gifts.
1.) Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Set
Perfectly sized science tools support early hands-on science investigations. Durable pieces feature measurement markings. Activity cards introduce science process skills, living and nonliving things, physical science, senses and more.
These experiments use household items that most will already have in the home and if not they are easy and cheap to purchase. There is bonus content on this website where you can download 10 more experiment cards.
Designed for preschoolers and elementary aged children, ages 4-10. This kit will provide hours of fun. It is great for visual and tactile learning styles. Promotes math and fine skill development through fun activities.
Includes Beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, eyedropper, flask, tweezers, goggles, 1 Large 6” test tube with lid and stand, 2 Small test tubes with lids and a stand, and 10 Activity cards.
PROS
- Easy To Use
- Fun and Interactive
- Promotes Learning
CONS
- Some measurements are vague
- Instruction cards need to be easily wiped down and more sturdy
2.) Scientific Explorer Mind Blowing Science Kit
Recommended Age 6+ with adult supervision. Enjoy the fun science activities in the Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Kit. It’s a 20 piece kit focused on chemical reactions.
Kids will like the exciting activities like creating a sunset in a test tube, or a create a color changing volcano. Parents will appreciate the educational value in the safe experiments and the way the kit provides kids the chance to use scientific instruments like test tubes.
Represents STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) principles. An open ended toys to construct, engineer, explorer, and experiment. Chemicals Included: Red cabbage powder, citric acid, baking soda, 3 color tablets, crosslinked polyacrylate copolymer, vegetable oil, corn starch Supplies Included: 2 cotton swabs, 3 test tubes with stand, 3 plastic cups, pipette, 2 sticks, 2 measuring scoops and activity guide.
A fun introduction to the scientific method. This kit is guaranteed to provide hours and hours of quality experimentation time. You can measure ingredients, mix solutions, make predictions, learn vocabulary, and discuss results.
PROS
- Bold and fun experiments that kids really get into
- Easy to use test tubes and value for all that is provided in the kit
- Comes with all you need and a wonderful activity guide to help provide guidance
CONS
- Can confuse some kids easily so parents need to assist at first
- Some complain the changing volcano color effect is difficult to achieve
3.) 4M Kitchen Science Kit
If your family is into kitchen science, then you’ll love the 4M Kitchen Science Kit. This economical science kit for children 8 and up provides six activities that you can do just using simple things you’ll find around the house. This is one of the best-selling kids science kits on the market today.
The complete kit for teaching real science principles through experiments. Learn more science and have more fun. This comes with instructions as well as some materials you might not have on hand. The 4m Kitchen Science kit makes a great gift for curious kids.
Chemical reactions are presented in a variety of experiments including making invisible ink. In this kit you can also launch a rocket, use a fork and lemon to light a light bulb and even generate electricity.
As with most science kits you can build a table-top volcano, but you can also and create a rock candy factory. These experiments are super easy to do because you are follow easy to use instructions. This kit will certainly spark interest and help get kids off the computers and TV’s quickly with the fun that can be had.
PROS
- A great starter kit to inspire kits to love science
- Experiments can be down over and over again
- Common ingredients can be found in your house or a quick trip to the grocery store
CONS
- The rocket hole is small and makes it difficult to add baking soda in it
- Many complain the finger printing experiment is not worth doing
4.) Be Amazing Toys Big Bag Of Science
The Be Amazing Toys Big Bag of Science has a lot packed into this compact plastic bag with a carrying handle. It including over 70 activities on a range of scientific subjects suitable for children 8 and older. Become a master mixologist. Learn about chemistry, physics, biology, magnets and more. Make up a batch of Gravity Goo, launch a 30’ soda geyser. Even make some instant snow.
The re-sealable baggies are provided for some of the messier experiment ingredients such as beads and powders. This hands-on science kit will be sure to provide hours of fun and learning. Have your child set up your own science lab and amaze your friends and family.
The science lab kit comes with everything you need, including test tubes, mixing trays, cups, dishes, wire, marbles, assorted powders, activators and easy-to-follow instructions. It even includes cool ultraviolet sensitive beads and procedures for testing sunscreen.
PROS
- The re-sealable baggies help keep the kit neat and orderly
- With over 70 activities to choose from it is difficult to get board
- Comes with everything you need to do the experiments and all the tools are sturdy
CONS
- The included chemicals can run out quickly
- Adult supervision is required for most of the experiments
- Checking hazard on the small part so be careful is smaller children are also in the house
5.) First Science Laboratory Kit by Kids First
The First Science Laboratory Kit by Kids First was developed according to the current educational philosophy of fostering children’s inquisitiveness and interests by providing them with tools and open-ended learning experiences. This helps to optimally support their development. Experimenting freely with a variety of safe and engaging tools stimulates creativity and the spirit of scientific thinking.
The 24 large, plastic scientific tools are durable, reusable, and easy-to-handle to ensure long-lasting fun and exploration. The tools include a unique, multipurpose 14-piece screw-together system with tubes, funnels, lids, connectors, and perforated disks that can be used in a multitude of ways. Also included are large and small measuring spoons, a test tube rack, a pipette, a hand magnifier, magnetic rings and stand set, and 10 illustrated experiment cards to visually guide children.
The 16-page color manual explains to parents how these tools should be presented to their children and gives insight into a child’s developmental stages. Start laying the groundwork for strong STEM-related skills and comprehension. This kit is for children that have a natural curiosity to explore and learn about the world around them through experimentation, observation, and play.
PROS
- Develop fine motor skills, science and math skills
- Expands problem-solving skills, and reasoning skills
- Made from durable plastic science tools and comes with a storage case
CONS
- Adult supervision is recommended at all times
- Some kids over 5 still find some experiments difficult
Brief Guide to Kids Science Kits
Studying science is great for kids but nothing can replace hands-on experiments when learning biology, chemistry, physics, and other sciences. Children retain more and enjoy actively doing rather than studying from books.
These kits are designed to encourage learning through fun. They offer a range of engaging and educational experiments for different age levels, from the youngest scientists to younger teens. Even adults admit to enjoying these kits, so be warned you may want to buy a variety of types.
What Are They?
A kids science kit has everything you need to conduct hands on, interesting, scientific experiments at home with your children. The kits will have the ideas of what to do, instructions, and the equipment you need, plus give you guidance as to what age range they are suitable for.
Nowadays science kits range from the more traditional chemistry set to robotics projects, physics, human body, electronics, volcano making, maths and even ice-cream science. Some are also gender specific, so that girls can find ideas for things to make that will interest them in particular.
Who Can Benefit
If one of your children loves science, then get them one of these kits to encourage their interest and take it further. But for any children, whether they are already interested or not, this is a great investment, so long as you or someone in your family can put aside a bit of time to help them with it.
In a science kit there are so many possibilities and potential activities, that it will very quickly get children engaged and asking questions. It also fosters creativity, and an understanding of how things work.
Kids will benefit from these kits in a multitude of ways, for example by learning how to follow step by step instructions, how to predict what might happen, and how to think logically through different possibilities. They will also need to be careful with some of the equipment, so should learn in the process how be safe around chemicals and equipment.
It is also generally thought of as important that children should be attracted to science while they are young. It is while they are young that they learn through hands on activities, and ask a lot of questions, and early interests are known to influence what they are interested in as they get older.
If you homeschool your kids, this could also be a great option to enhance your science lessons. Often homeschooling curriculum will give you ideas for science experiments but they won’t give you the equipment to do it, so you have to hunt around and shop for what’s necessary.
This means that you often don’t get around to doing any hands on science. With these kits you can just get them out and read the instructions and everything should be contained in them and be a lot easier.
What To Look For?
Learning should be fun and interesting – so look for kits that have ideas that will appeal to your child, and have explanation and pictures to go with it. You could look for an idea that they are already curious about and use it to help them learn even more about the subject.
Orville Wright, one of the Wright brothers who invented the aeroplane, was quoted as saying, “the greatest thing in our favor was growing up in a family where there was always much encouragement to intellectual curiosity.”www.theatlantic.com (July 24th 2017)
Look for an age range on the kit – because of the safety issues with chemicals and other hazards it is important that you find a kit that is age appropriate for your child, and that you supervise them while they use it.
What To Avoid?
Avoid buying a second hand very old chemistry set, because they used to contain dangerous materials that we wouldn’t consider safe these days like uranium dust and sodium cyanide. Also look for a type of kit that you are comfortable with – for example, if you don’t like chemistry you might not want to get a chemistry set for your child as you will most likely have to help him with it!
Also look for how much room is needed and if there are loud explosions or messes made, and just make sure that you are happy with what is going to be involved in doing the activities.
Have a look on the packaging or description to make sure that nothing else is needed besides what is in the kit. If there are other items needed then you might want to purchase these ahead of time so your scientist doesn’t get frustrated.
FAQs
Which science kit would be best for my child?
Try and find out what they are interested in – is it volcanoes, space, explosions, electronics, plants, etc.? Then have a look and see if you can find a kit that matches their interest and also their age range. Kids that like gadgets will probably like kits that are based on technology such as robotics and electronics.
Kids that like bugs and animals can find experiments that work with those, and biology might be the way to go. If they are interested in things that fizz and foam, then they would probably like a chemistry kit.
Are science kits dangerous?
Nowadays most science kits will probably contain household items, and not much of any danger because of regulations. However you should still read the instructions, be aware of any hazards or cautions there, and supervise you children when using them.
What is the big deal about STEM?
There is a lot in the news and articles nowadays about STEM – science, technology, engineering and math. What’s the big deal, and why should we get out kids interested in it?
Well, the reason is that in our future there is going to be a big need for people to work in these areas, and we don’t have enough young people studying in these fields to provide what we need. So those fields will make for good job security, and also hopefully be relatively well paying since there will be a lot of demand and not that much supply.
They are also creative and innovative fields – a lot of new things like sending astronauts to Mars, and discovering new molecules are in STEM fields, so they represent the cutting edge of our future. If we get our children interested in them while they are young, there is a greater likelihood of them pursuing it when they are older.
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Wrapping Up
Crafting a messy volcano and or seeing a successful experiment will foster a lifelong love of science in young minds. Work towards helping kids explore safely and spark critical thinking early. Science seems to hold an almost never-ending fascination for children. One way to capitalize on this early learning interest is to provide opportunities for them to experiment.
Kits vary a good deal according to their intended age range. Basic kits for younger children might contain only a few materials and will rely on parents to come up with a number of common household ingredients and tools like measuring cups and baking soda. While more complicated kits for older children will be packed with more materials and experiment ideas.
Buy any of our reviewed and top kits with confidence. Most kids science kits are reasonable priced and pack hours of exploratory play. Start making memories today with any one of these kits. Thy also makes a great gift for children who have an active curiosity or may not get exposure early to STEM-related skills and comprehension.