Choosing a Science Kit for Kids
A good science kit gives children a real experiment to run, not just a model to build: they make a prediction, try it and see what happens. Our science kits for kids cover crystal growing, magnets, electric circuits, solar power, fizzy chemical reactions and fossil digs, for ages 5 to 12.
Science kits by age
Science kits for 5 and 6 year olds: quick, satisfying builds and digs, like the 4M Green Science Solar Rover, the Wind Turbine Kit and the STEAM Dinosaur World Dig & Create Kit. At this age they'll want a grown-up beside them for the fiddly steps.
Science kits for 7 and 8 year olds: more experiments in one box, such as the STEAM Kitchen Science Kit with over 30 experiments, the Magnet Exploration Kit and, from 8, the Fizzy Bubble & Colour Lab and Tiger Tribe Bubble-ology.
Science kits for 10 year olds and up: our crystal growing kits take about 4 to 7 days to grow and reward patience, and the Mega Earth Science Kit packs a volcano, crystals, a tornado and a solar system into one set.
Are science kits safe?
Go by the age on the box, which the maker sets, rather than how grown up your child seems. Every toy sold in the UK has to meet UK toy safety law, and experiment sets with chemicals have their own part of the EN 71 toy safety standard, so kits like crystal growing sets carry an age warning and are made for use with adult supervision. Digging kits use a hammer and plaster, so stay close. Some kits need batteries, and we list that on each product page.
What children learn
Beyond the facts about magnets, circuits or crystals, children practise thinking like scientists: asking a question, guessing the answer, testing it and looking carefully at the result. A kit that does not work first time is part of the lesson. Science kits also make a brilliant screen-free gift.
For younger children, see our STEM toys and Montessori toys, browse every 4M science kit, or read why STEM toys matter and our STEM gifts by age.
Recently viewed
The ones that caught your eye
From our journal
The Parents Place
Gift guides, practical tips and honest advice, parent to parent.
2 to 8 year oldsScooter Safety for Kids: Helmets, Being Seen and a Parent's ChecklistRead more
counting toysThe Best Counting Toys for 2, 3 and 4-Year-OldsRead more
3 year oldsMagnetic Tiles for 3 Year Olds: What to Buy + 10 Easy BuildsRead more
STEMSTEM Gifts by Age: Our Favourite Science Kits and Toys from 3 to 10+Read more
Join the Arlo’s Place family
Sign up for 10% off your first order, plus new arrivals and gift ideas.