Best Science Kits for Kids of 2025

This laboratory kit from Thames & Kosmos is the perfect introduction to the scientific method. Designed specifically for ages 3 to 6, it doesn’t overwhelm little ones with jargon. Instead, it uses a relatable story about two kids building a lab to guide the experiments.

The kit includes high-quality, chunky tools that fit small hands perfectly. We love that the tools are reusable. Once you finish the included experiments, your child can use the beakers and test tubes to explore their own questions with water, vinegar, and baking soda from the kitchen.

My kids love dinosaurs. If yours do too, this set from Creativity for Kids is a great blend of arts, crafts, and science.

First, your child acts as a paleontologist examining the included plastic dinosaur skeletons (T-Rex, Stegosaurus, and Triceratops). Then, they use the colorful modeling clay to rebuild the dinosaurs’ bodies over the bones. It is a fantastic tactile way to learn anatomy. All materials are non-toxic and safe for ages 5 and up.

Put your fear of bugs aside because this is one of the most magical learning experiences a child can have. This kit from Insect Lore gives you a front-row seat to metamorphosis.

You receive a mesh habitat and a voucher for five baby caterpillars (you pay a small shipping fee to redeem them). Your child gets to feed them, watch them form chrysalides, and eventually emerge as Painted Lady butterflies. It teaches patience and biology in a way a textbook never could. It is best for ages 4 to 6.

Based on “The Magic School Bus: Rides Again,” this kit turns your backyard into a classroom. It is a scavenger hunt that encourages kids to get outside and look closely at the world.

Your child can build a simple ant farm, dissolve eggshells, cast animal prints, and explore decomposition. It encourages creativity and observation. While it is suitable for ages 5 and up, there are many small components, so parents will need to assist with the setup.

If your preschooler is constantly pulling things off the refrigerator, this magnetic science kit is the answer. It introduces basic physics concepts like attraction and polarity in a very playful way.

Appropriate for ages 4 and up, it includes 14 different experiments. The kit comes with magnetic wands, balls, wires, rings, and horseshoes. It is durable enough for rough play and helps kids understand invisible forces.

This is a classic “starter” chemistry set that covers all the greatest hits. Recommended for ages 6 and up, it is essentially a box of safe chemical reactions.

It includes 20 pieces, such as test tubes and pipettes, along with safe chemicals like red cabbage powder and citric acid. Your kiddo can create a color-changing volcano or a “sunset in a tube.” Note that you will need to supply some basics from home, like water, plates, and measuring spoons.

This kit combines botany with dinosaurs, which is a winning combination for most kids. It allows children to build a miniature prehistoric ecosystem inside a jar.

Suitable for ages 5 and up, the kit comes with soil, sand, river rocks, wheatgrass and chia seeds, and toy dinosaurs. The quick-growing seeds are gratifying for impatient kids; you usually see sprouts within days. The jar lid features a rechargeable LED light, turning the garden into a cool night light.

Understanding polymers is easier when you can squish them. This massive kit gives you everything needed to create custom slime.

Suitable for ages 5 and up, the box is packed with clear glue, activators, and mix-ins like glitter, foam balls, and glow-in-the-dark powder. It comes with containers for storage so the slime doesn’t dry out. It is messy, but it is a fantastic sensory lesson in chemistry.

If you want quantity, this is the one. Learn & Climb offers a massive set with over 60 experiments. It is a great choice for ages 5 and up if you want a kit that lasts for months.

Your child can tackle all the classic kids’ science experiments here. They can build a sprout garden, erupt a volcano, make slime, and grow crystals. The included DVD and manual are helpful for visual learners who struggle with written instructions.

For kids who prefer art over raw data, this Playz kit is a smart entry point. It teaches density and chemical reactions by having kids build their own lava lamp.

Suitable for ages 8 and up, it includes the base, liquids, and glitter needed to make a mesmerizing bedroom accessory. It isn’t just a toy; they actually have to mix the solutions to get the density right so the “lava” floats properly.

This isn’t your average dig kit. Dan & Darci provides a large brick containing real fossils, not plastic replicas. It is a patient, focused activity for kids aged 6 and up (though older kids appreciate the real specimens more).

Using the included chisel, brush, and mallet, kids excavate shark teeth, ammonites, and brachiopods. The full-color learning guide explains exactly what each fossil is and when it lived. It is messy, we recommend doing this one outside on the patio.

Science in the bathtub? Why not. This kit teaches the chemistry of acid and base reactions through the creation of fizzy bath bombs.

Recommended for ages 8 and up, it allows kids to mix citric acid, baking soda, and essential oils to create custom scents. It is a great way to sneak education into a “spa day.” The instructions are clear, and the results are actually usable.

Some kids love the gross stuff. This kit leans heavily into the “eww” factor to teach biology and anatomy. It is a hit with ages 8 and up.

Scientific Explorer focuses on the grosser functions of the human body. Kids can grow friendly molds and bacteria, create a “stinky intestine,” and make fake blood and snot. It is hilarious, gross, and surprisingly educational regarding how our bodies fight off illness.

Chemistry is essentially mixing things to create new properties, and perfumery is a high-level application of that. This kit is great for preteens aged 8 and up who want something sophisticated.

Your child learns how to extract essential oils and blend base and top notes. It provides bottles, pipettes, and stirring sticks. It is a fantastic way to engage kids who might claim they “hate science” but love cosmetics.

If your child is ready to move beyond baking soda and vinegar, this is the upgrade. Recommended for ages 10 and up, it feels like a real high school chemistry prep course.

The kit includes professional-grade equipment and chemicals to conduct 28 different experiments. They will learn about reactions between solids, liquids, and gases, and even make invisible ink. The manual is text-heavy, so strong reading skills are a must.

National Geographic sets the standard for crystal growing. This isn’t an instant gratification kit; it teaches patience and geology. It is suitable for ages 8 and up.

The kit provides the materials to grow crystals in eight different colors. It also includes five real gemstone specimens to start a rock collection. The coolest part is the included light-up display base, which lets kids show off their best crystals as a night light.

Snap Circuits are the gold standard for learning electronics without soldering. While rated for 8+, this specific “Lights” set has enough complexity to keep teens engaged.

Your teen can snap together components to create real working circuits. The unique feature of this set is the ability to connect an MP3 player or phone; kids can build circuits that make lights flash to the beat of their music. It’s practical physics in action.

This is a deep dive into the structures that are too small to see with the naked eye. It creates a tangible way to understand nanoparticles and is best suited for ages 15 and up due to the complexity.

The kit includes a massive 72-page manual that reads like a textbook (in a good way). Experiments include mimicking the self-cleaning effect of a lotus leaf and using hydrophobic coatings. It is perfect for high schoolers interested in advanced materials science.

This is the ultimate splurge for a teen interested in coding and engineering. LEGO Mindstorms lets you build fully functional robots. It is suitable for ages 10 to 15, but adults love it too.

Kids can build five different standard models (like a scorpion or a tracker) or design their own. The real magic happens in the app, where they drag and drop code blocks to make the robot move, shoot missiles, or sense objects. It combines physical building with digital logic.

A real glass-optic microscope is a game-changer for biology students. This National Geographic model offers 20x and 50x magnification, which is powerful enough to see cell structures.

Suitable for ages 13 and up, it comes with prepared slides (like pollen or insect parts) and blank slides for making your own. The “Dual LED” feature means lights come from above and below, allowing you to view solid objects (like a rock) and translucent objects (like a cell slide) equally well.

For the teen who loves to figure out how machines work, this engineering lab is a dream. It offers 22 different builds that teach mechanical physics.

Your teen can construct functional hydraulic lifts, robotic arms, and camera mounts. The instructions are complex and rewarding. While the box says 8+, we find teens get the most out of understanding the mechanics behind the “why” and “how” of the hydraulic systems included.