The Top 5 Science Kits for Kids

Every mom knows that keeping kids busy all year long is a difficult task. You may not want them to have too much screen time, and only want them to play outside in nice weather, so your options may be limited. A great way to entertain your kids while encouraging them to learn is to have them use science kits. I decided to check out the top 20 science kits for kids and bring you the best 5 to try out next time you hear the dreaded, "Mom, I'm bored".

National Geographic Break Open Premium Geodes Science Kit

This science kit is awesome for any future geologists or scientists

The National Geographic Break Open 10 Premium Geodes Science Kit lives up to its name, giving kids the fun experience of discovering 10 different geodes.

Best Overall

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If your kids love breaking things open for fun, this is the kit for them. This kit helps children learn how geodes are formed and they can use a hammer to smash the rocks open. I liked that the rocks were good sizes, ranging from golf ball to tennis ball so they can’t be eaten by little ones.

Our kit had 10 different colored natural geodes which were pretty neat. National Geographic recommends this for ages 8 and up, we felt like this was accurate but younger kids may need help breaking open the geodes.

Pros:

Satisfaction guarantee
Good variety of crystals and geodes
Includes safety goggles and a magnifying glass
Learning guide helps kids understand how geodes form

Cons:

Must break the geodes open gently so they don’t shatter completely

National Geographic Mega Fossil Dig Kit

This STEM-friendly kits allows kids to find 15 real fossils

The National Geographic Mega Fossil Dig Kit lets children discover authentic fossils from around the world with real paleontology tools.

Best for Dinosaur Enthusiasts

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If your kids are Jurassic Park fanatics, try this fossil dig kit. It contains a large dig brick with 15 authentic fossils inside from around the world, a magnifying glass, digging tools, and a learning guide.

I loved how hands-on this was, and that once the fossils are discovered they can be identified with the learning guide. My kids were especially obsessed with the dino bone they found and now proudly display it on a shelf. This is recommended for kids 8 years old and up.

Pros:

Learning guide helps children identify their fossils
15 fossils included are real
Included dig tools are just like the ones used by the pros
Satisfaction guarantee

Cons:

Less patient children may get bored quickly when they don’t find fossils

4M 5557 Crystal Growing Science Kit

Grow 7 crystals experiments within a week with this science kit

The 4M 5557 Crystal Growing Science Kit is fun because the crystals start growing quickly and can be proudly displayed for years to come.

Best for Future Geologists

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For children who love science, try out this crystal growing kit. This is recommended for young scientists ages 10 and up who love to watch things grow day by day. My kids used this kit on a Saturday and by the next weekend, the crystals were almost fully grown. It was a fun week because every day they would run home from school and check to see how they were doing.

With this kit you’ll want to follow the directions closely because of the volatile nature of crystals, so be sure to supervise your kids.

Pros:

Includes everything needed for 7 crystal experiments
Contains display case to show off crystals
Other reviewers stated that the crystals last for years
Crystals begin growing immediately

Cons:

The display kit does not include any lighting
Care must be taken to dispose of the crystal solution properly

Scientific Explorer Magic Science for Wizards Kit

Children can make Hocus Pocus Powder, Color-Changing Potion, & more

The Scientific Explorer Magic Science for Wizards Kit will teach kids 9 magic tricks using chemical reactions.

Best for Aspiring Magicians

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This science kit focuses on magic tricks, showing children how to create 9 different chemical reactions. I loved that this combines the mystery of magic with the science of chemical reactions, and my kids did too.

Famous magicians would appreciate this nod to them because it teaches kids the history of wizards like Merlin, Baba Yaga, and Circe. This is recommended for children ages 6 and up and has all the science tools you’ll need to create the reactions.

Pros:

9 chemical reactions keep kids busy
Provides a fun combination of science and magic
Well packaged to help you understand which chemicals match each experiment

Cons:

Requires use of some household items like baking soda and cream of tartar
Parents will need to assist children with mixing chemicals

Learn & Climb Science Kit for Kids

This science kit includes 21 experiments that children will love

Learn & Climb Science Kit for Kids

Best Kit for Younger Children

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The Learn & Climb kit has everyone’s favorite experiment- an explosive volcano! Children will also be able to create their own lava lamp, make glow in the dark powder, grow crystals, and more. I liked that there are online step-by-step instructions so you can visually see what you need to do next.

My kids liked all the experiments and it kept them busy for a few hours. They plan to do other experiments next weekend with some friends and are looking forward to making the lava lamp the most.

Pros:

Thorough kit includes materials for 21 experiments
30-day satisfaction guarantee
Safe, kid-friendly ingredients & plastic tubes
The manual is helpful to explain each step

Cons:

Some of the experiments are very similar to each other

Frequently Asked Questions

How old should kids be to play with a science kit?

Most kits include an age recommendation, but in general, they are typically for kids 3-5, 5-10, or 10+ years old.

What household items should I have on hand to work with these kits?

These science kits include almost everything you should need, but you may be able to do additional experiments with other ingredients.

Make sure you have:

Eggs
Baking soda
Water
Vegetable oil
Dishwasher soap
Scissors
Pencils
Salt
Paper clips
Dark cola/soda

Of course, you can buy additional items as needed but these should cover your basic needs.

How much supervision is needed for kids to play with science kits?

This will vary by kit, but the ones that involve chemicals and cooking will need a parent’s assistance. Each experiment comes with a recommendation on supervision, but typically this is something that should be done with parents present.