Our top picks include the Kids’ First Chemistry Set from Thames & Kosmos, 4M’s Bubble Science, Snap Circuits Jr.’s Electronics Discovery Kit and the Interactive Human Body from Be Amazing! Toys. Ahead, find the best science toys to foster science curiosity in kids of all ages. Price at time of publish: $130 Price at time of publish: $37 Price at time of publish: $15 Price at time of publish: $17 Also included is a 48-page, full-color manual to guide experimentation with clear step-by-step instructions and further reading to contextualize the experiments in easy-to-understand terms. It’s a great resource for kids to learn why chemists perform experiments and what science can teach us. Price at time of publish: $45 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $70 Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $15 Price at time of publish: $15 Price at time of publish: $37 Price at time of publish: $30 Price at time of publish: $40 Price at time of publish: $15
Safety
Safety can be a concern with some science toys on the market. According to Cucco, parental supervision is required. “Some science kits involve hands-on experiments that may require goggles or parental supervision,” she says. “For example, if kids are playing with a candy-making kit that teaches them about the science behind cooking or mixing different ingredients, adult supervision would be required for handling a real stove. Kids should follow safety precautions so that they don’t get hurt.”
Educational Value
Science toys foster learning through play. Cucco says they can cover topics like astronomy, anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, zoology, and more. “Kids can learn about the world around them and how things work by completing projects, experiments, and hands-on activities while they play,” she adds.
Why Trust the Spruce?
This article was written and researched by Jill Di Donato, a lifestyle editor with over 15 years experience reporting on products, including those in the parenting space. For this roundup, she considered dozens of science toys. She took into account customer reviews from real users, as well as reports from our own product testers, who spent hours in the Lab and at home testing products. Additional input was provided by senior editor at The Toy Insider, Jackie Cucco.
