Looking for educational gifts for your little science enthusiast? There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your child’s face light up at the sight of a gift, especially when it’s one that has education value.
From hands-on projects to DIY activities, I’ve reviewed and ranked some of my favorite gifts for kids who love science based on a variety of factors, including quality, ease of use, educational value, and price (click here to learn about our entire Editorial Process & Methodology for product reviews).
Top Gift Ideas for Young Science Lovers
1. Top Pick: KiwiCo Crates
STEM, STEAM & Science Kits for Kids | KiwiCo
KiwiCo's monthly STEM, STEAM, and Science kits spark fun and learning with their one-of-a-kind hands-on activities kids of all ages love.
Price
Most KiwiCo crates are $23.95/month (see our KiwiCo pricing guide for more info)
Recommended Ages
Project kits available for kids of all ages
KiwiCo Crates are slowly becoming the most recommended educational gifts out there and rightfully so. KiwiCo offers a wide range of fun and learning by packing various activities and self-building projects in crates that get shipped to your doorstep monthly.
KiwiCo has specifically structured STEM kits and subscription boxes to cater to different age groups and interests, which means that once you buy a crate, you’ll never want to go back regardless of how fast your child grows!
Since the KiwiCo Crates focus on STEM-based learning, you don’t have to worry about getting your child off playtime because each minute he or she spends with a Crate, contributes to developing sensory, gross, and motor skills. From sparking curiosity in children to building confidence, KiwiCo can be your child’s best friend when it comes to mindful playing!
And did I mention that kids absolutely love playing with these activity kits? They aren’t just fun, they’re a total blast to use!
Here are a few of my favorite KiwiCo crates:
KiwiCo Panda Crate
KiwiCo's Panda Crate is designed to support the development of babies and toddlers aged 0-3 years with age-appropriate products, offering a unique subscription box experience that combines fun and learning.
KiwiCo Yummy Crate
KiwiCo's Yummy Crate is a cooking subscription box designed for kids aged 6-14, offering a unique blend of family-friendly recipes and STEAM activities. It's a great way to experience the science of cooking, helping kids gain confidence in the kitchen while exploring scientific concepts like biology and chemistry through hands-on experimentation.
KiwiCo Maker Crate
Whether you're looking to explore your creative side or develop new crafting skills, the Maker Crate is an engaging way to dive into the world of arts and crafts.
KiwiCo Tinker Crate
KiwiCo's Tinker Crate is an exciting hands-on science kit designed for kids aged 9 to 14. It offers a unique opportunity for middle schoolers to engage with STEM concepts through a variety of projects, from building a hand-cranked marble-climbing automaton to wiring an electric-powered droid.
KiwiCo Kiwi Crate
The Kiwi Crate offers a fun, educational way to let your child's inner curiosity shine and grow.
2. Educational Insights Design & Drill Space Circuits
Price
Regularly $56.99
Recommended Ages
5+ years
If you have a child who has a keen interest in learning all things electrical, this science kit can be the perfect gift for him this holiday season! The kit features various STEM-based activities and DIY projects that the children can tinker with themselves.
The kit includes a power drill, space circuit board, and much more to keep your child occupied for hours. The best part is that the kit also has several challenge cards that encourage your child to do better every step of the day!
If configured right, the circuits light up, as will your child’s eyes at his accomplishment! So, if your child has a thing for drills and circuits, don’t forget to check this science kit out!
3. Thames & Kosmos Chemistry Chem C500 Science Kit
Price
$30.99
Recommended Ages
10+ years
Chemistry has gone way beyond classrooms and can be bought in a small box in the form of
Thames & Kosmos Chemistry Chem C500 Science Kit. This kit has everything you need to introduce your child to chemical functions and do a little bit of colorful experimenting in beakers and test tubes.
Designed for pre-teens, this kit requires adult supervision and may also require you to buy some additional material. However, once you get used to the buzzing chemicals and unique chemistry concepts, there will be no going back!
4. Soap & Bath Bomb Making Kit for Kids – 3-in-1 Spa Science Kits For Kids
Price
$39.99
Recommended Ages
6+ years
Did your child have a little too much fun in the shower? Make their time in the bathroom more fun by gifting them this Soap and bath Bomb Making Kit! The kit includes safe material for making various kinds of soap, salt, and bath bombs but here’s the twist: things are way more fun with glitters, colors, and confetti!
Children can configure their soaps and bath bombs as they please, from deciding on the color to picking a fragrance, this kit has all you need so make sure you check it out if your child refuses to shower without some fun!
5. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank
Price
$17.99
Recommended Ages
6-36 months
Teaching children about the dynamics of money is important but it couldn’t be more fun with the
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank! This interactive piggy bank is equipped with fun songs and phrases that introduce cause & effect to your child from a young age.
You don’t have to worry about the money though because they’re not actual coins, but rather colorful objects that have animals and numbers on each side. This toy is a great way to improve your child’s fine motor skills and teach counting, colors, etc!
6. Magna-Tiles 32-Piece Clear Colors Set
Price
$49.99
Recommended Ages
3+ years
It’s time to take building blocks a step further with the Magna-Tiles 32-Piece Clear Colors Set! Featuring 32 translucent geometric shapes in 6 different colors, this kit allows children to put their creativity into action and build wonders!
More Magna tiles can be bought separately for enabling bigger projects but this compact kit serves as a great way of encouraging your child to build. The several tiles offer endless configurations that are bound to keep your child busy for hours at a time, so make sure you give this kit a chance!
7. National Geographic Ultimate Ocean Sand
Price
$27.99
Recommended Ages
All ages
There’s no better way of encouraging hands-on play than dunking right into the National Geographic Ultimate Ocean Sand! The kit includes 6 pounds of non-toxic play sand that never runs dry even if your child leaves it out in the open!
Additionally, the kit also has six unique molds which the child can use to shape the sand. The sand comes in a bright blue color, depicting the ocean, and can stain carpets, so beware of some messiness!
8. Popular Science AstroMaster 80mm Portable Refractor Telescope
Price
$239.95
Recommended Ages
All ages
Have a child who’s all about space and aspires to become an astronaut? Encourage his interests this holiday season by gifting him the Popular Science AstroMaster 80mm Portable Refractor Telescope!
Featuring two Barlow eyepieces (10mm and 20mm) and an 80mm objective lens, this telescope comes with a tripod and also enables your child to click photos and videos. It also has built-in software that helps the children understand the dynamics of telescopes and visually access space.
9. TACTO DINO by PlayShifu
Price
$49.99
Recommended Ages
3-5 years
Encourage your child’s love for dinosaurs with PlayShifu Interactive Dinosaur Toys! The TACTO Dino is an interactive toy that takes your child back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth and teach them more than 500 facts about the species.
Don’t worry about your child getting bored though, because this toy takes your child through various story-based adventures that are bound to pique their interest. The kit includes a pairable screen along with multiple dinos that the children can play with.
10. TOP BRIGHT Toddler Toys
Price
$21.99
Recommended Ages
1-2 years
If you want to teach your toddler how he’s not supposed to throw everything off the table, get this wooden toy, buy TOP BRIGHT Toddler Toys, and say goodbye to things falling and breaking! This interactive toy comes with a race track that is propped up on multiple levels. Children can put their cars into action and have fun racing along the track.
The smoothness of the track and racing the cars teach your child about the dynamics of momentum, inertia, and gravity. The track also has a parking lot where your child’s cars can stay put when not in action.
This toy is also a great tool to improve hand and eye coordination so be sure to check it out if you have a toddler to buy gifts for!
Final Thoughts
Scientific exploration for kids goes way beyond classrooms, and there’s no better way of sparking your child’s interest in the subject than to give them a science kit as a gift. Educational toys like these play a crucial role in developing your child’s brain so you should choose them over dolls and balls any day!
Which of these gifts do you think your kid will love most? Share your thoughts by commenting below!
