Are you looking for an engaging and educational activity for your 6-year-old? Science kits may be just what you need. Per the CDC, the first few years of a child’s life play a crucial role in their overall health and development in the future (1). These kits can help foster your child’s curiosity about the world and teach them about scientific concepts in a fun and interactive way.
From exploring the solar system to learning about ocean creatures, science kits cover a wide range of topics. They can also improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills while providing hours of entertainment.
Since 2005, experts from the Journal of Science Education and Technology have been encouraging parents of elementary-aged children to integrate the best science kits for kids into their playtime (2). According to another research, the regular utilization of science kits may enhance students’ understanding, as evaluated by application-based questions related to the topic (3).
In this article, we’ve gathered some of the best science kits for 6-year-olds, catering to different interests and learning styles.
Our Top Picks
- Best Dinosaur Kit: Hapinest Dinosaur Terrarium Kit
- Best Crystal Kit: Crystal Growing Kit for Kids
- Best With Variety: Learn & Climb Science Kit
- Best For Early Programmers: Playz My First Coding & Computer Science Kit
- Best For Volcano Enthusiasts: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Ultimate Volcano Kit
- Best For Magnet Lovers: Lauri – Fun with Magnets
- Best With Microscope: JuniorScope Microscope for Kids
- Best For Space Explorers: Space Science Craft Kit
- Best For Nature Lovers: The Magic School Bus Rides Again
- Best Electronics Introduction Kit: Snap Circuits Beginner
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Science Kits For 6-Year-Olds Picks
Hapinest Dinosaur Terrarium Kit – Best Dinosaur Kit
- Great for children into dinosaurs
- The light works
- Good activity
- Teaches children about responsibility
- It is small in size
The Hapinest Dinosaur Volcano Terrarium Kit is a must-have for young explorers who adore all things prehistoric! Kids will have a blast creating their own little Jurassic Park with this amazing kit. They’ll learn all about ecosystems in a jar and what it takes to keep their plants alive and flourishing. The kit comes complete with stickers featuring natural themes, so your little ones can add their own personal touch to their creations.
As an added bonus, the terrarium doubles as a nightlight, making it a fun and functional addition to any bedroom. Recommended for children 6 and up, this science-filled arts and crafts kit will provide your kids with hours of entertainment and educational fun.
Crystal Growing Kit for Kids – Best Crystal Kit
- A lot of fun
- Great learning experience
- Great bonding with your kids
- Your kids will love watching the growth stages
- Can take about a week or so to grow
This science kit will allow your 6-year-old to grow their own crystals in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes – some even glow in the dark! Your child will have the opportunity to create 10 distinct crystal formations that they can display in their very own hand-painted case.
What sets this kit apart is the variety of crystal types that can be produced. With three different chemical combinations, your child can explore and experiment with the formation of three distinct types of crystals. No two crystals will be the same, and your child will be thrilled to display their unique creations.
Learn & Climb Science Kit – Best With Variety
- Kid-friendly instruction manual
- Great quality
- It also provides links to watch videos for each experiment
- Affordable
- The activities are great but you can only do a few activities not all of them
This super cool science kit is jam-packed with 21 unique and captivating experiments that will keep your 6-year-old entertained and learning for hours on end! From crafting their very own lava lamps to designing their own crystals, this kit has everything they need to conduct amazing scientific projects. And, of course, who can resist the classic volcano science experiment?
All the necessary equipment, chemicals, and materials are included in the kit, with the exception of some basic household items like eggs, water, and oil. But don’t worry, everything is properly packaged and safe for your little ones to use.
With the help of the detailed and colorful guidebook and online demonstration videos, your kids will learn how to conduct these exciting experiments on their own. And you can rest assured that all the components are safe and appropriate for children.
Playz My First Coding & Computer Science Kit – Best For Early Programmers
- This is a great gift to keep kids off of their tablets or computers
- Great screen-free introduction to coding and software principles
- Fun to do with/without parent’s guidance
- It starts slow teaching them binary and algorithmic concepts
- Not a very long project
This science kit offers a fun and engaging way for your 6-year-old to explore a variety of scientific concepts. With activities like making binary necklaces, creating antiquated encryption systems, and sorting races, kids can learn about computer science in a hands-on way.
The colorful and easy-to-follow instruction book comes with over 30 tools, ingredients, and parts, making it perfect for hours of educational fun at home or in the classroom. With the fact-filled and vivid lab guide, children can even create their own DIY scientific lab!
As they follow clear and straightforward instructions, children will face intellectual challenges while learning about various school topics in an enjoyable way.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Ultimate Volcano Kit – Best For Volcano Enthusiasts
- Easy to build
- Great experience
- Fun for parent-child bonding
- Affordable
- It’s big
With this science kit, your child can create their very own erupting volcano using the plaster, mold, paint, and eruption powder provided. But that’s not all! This kit is packed with more explosion powder than ever before, and it even comes with pop crystals to add an extra level of excitement to each eruption.
The included Learning Guide is filled with fascinating information about tectonic plates, earthquakes, volcano creation, and volcanic materials, designed to inspire a love of geology and science in your child. With enough supplies for three eruptions, as well as two volcanic rock specimens, paints, and a paintbrush, your 6-year-old will have everything they need to become a volcanologist extraordinaire!
Lauri – Fun with Magnets – Best For Magnet Lovers
- The magnets are strong
- Reasonably priced
- There are a bunch of washers and nuts you can stack or hang off of the wand and form some neat structures
- Variety of activities
- The compass experiment wouldn’t work because the foam isn’t buoyant enough to float the magnet
This magnet science kit is jam-packed with 14 amazing experiments that will have your children exploring the wonders of magnetism. They’ll use a variety of shapes and objects to discover how magnets work and how they can interact with different materials.
With magnetic wands, balls, wires, rings, horseshoes, and more, this kit is perfect for 6-year-olds who love to experiment and play. Whether your child wants to work alone or in a group, or with the help of an adult supervisor, this kit offers a variety of ways to play and learn.
And with fascinating information included in the kit, they’ll gain a deeper understanding of the science behind magnets.
JuniorScope Microscope for Kids – Best With Microscope
- Easy to use
- It’s sturdy
- Nicely weighted
- The enclosed book is very comprehensive
- The stereoscope side isn’t quite as versatile
Introducing the JuniorScope – a kid-friendly microscope that will have your little ones exploring the world around them like never before! With precise glass optics and a clear image, your children can view everything from plant cells to water bears with ease.
But wait, there’s more! The JuniorScope is not just one, but TWO microscopes in one! A low-power microscope is included for viewing solid objects like leaves and insects, while a high-power microscope is perfect for exploring translucent objects like blood cells and bacteria.
Your child can easily adjust the focus with the EZ focus knobs to get the perfect image, and the battery-operated LED light allows them to explore wherever their curiosity takes them.
Space Science Craft Kit – Best For Space Explorers
- 6 projects in the box
- The projects are paper/cardboard projects but are fine for young children
- Good quality
- Great for kids interested in the solar system
- Some of the activities it includes are a bit on the small side
With six exciting activities included in this space-themed box, your child can build their very own Solar System Mobile, a cool streamer to learn about constellations, an amazing kaleidoscope, and even conduct a scientific experiment using Oreo cookies to explore the phases of the moon and rocket propulsion.
Not only will your child have a blast creating these out-of-this-world projects but they’ll also be developing valuable skills like problem-solving, creativity, and self-confidence.
The Magic School Bus Rides Again – Best For Nature Lovers
- Has everything except baking soda, vinegar, and water
- The book and poster have excellent graphics
- The information is quite good
- The soft-boiled egg tectonic plate experiment is very creative
- The plastic volcano is a bit difficult to deal with
This hands-on kit is packed with fun activities and experiments that will teach your child about natural science and inspire them to become a botanist or zoologist.
Your little ones will love creating their own bug home, casting animal footprints, and making paper mache ants. They will learn about the life cycle of plants and animals, build ant farms, and explore the fascinating world of sun prints. They can also make leaf art, dry flowers, dissolve an eggshell, and so much more!
Snap Circuits Beginner – Best Electronics Introduction Kit
- It is a very cool concept
- Instructions are easy
- They are safe and easy to learn
- Affordable
- Not the best beeping sound
With 14 components and over 20 projects to explore, this kit teaches the basics of circuits and switches in a fun and engaging way. The color handbook is specifically designed for young engineers and features step-by-step pictures and easy-to-understand language. Safety is also a top priority, with additional precautions built into each part.
Kids can create real circuits simply by snapping together the parts! This kit provides hours of exciting experiments, including the creation of a LED color-changing fan. The vibrantly colored handbook is age-appropriate and packed with diagrams to guide young learners through the process.
How To Choose Science Kits For 6-Year-Olds?
- Safety: Safety is always an important consideration when choosing science kits for children. Make sure to read the safety instructions carefully before purchasing a kit. It is also a good idea to check online reviews to see if other parents have had any safety concerns with a particular kit.
- Theme: There are many kits available that focus on teaching children about the biology and ecology of different animals. These kits are usually geared toward children aged 6-9.
- Difficulty: Think about the level of complexity that is appropriate for your child. Some kits are designed for beginner scientists, while others are more suited for advanced students.
- Budget: Consider the price of the kit. Some kits can be quite expensive, so it is important to find one that is within your budget. We included both budget and splurge options in this guide so you can pick one that suits you best.
What Should Be In A Science Kit For 6-Year-Olds?
There is a wide variety of science kits available for 6-year-olds. Some kits focus on specific disciplines such as astronomy or chemistry, while others provide a more general introduction to science. The following is a list of items that should be included in a science kit for 6-year-olds:
- Variety of safe, durable materials for conducting experiments. This might include items such as glass jars, magnifying glasses, and plastic teaspoons
- Simple, easy-to-understand instructions for conducting experiments
- Wide variety of experiments that 6-year-olds can safely conduct. This might include items such as growing crystals, making slime, or observing insects
- Science journal or notebook for 6-year-olds to record their observations during experiments
- Parent or guardian who is available to help 6-year-olds with their experiments and answer any questions
