Best science experiment kits for 6yo?

Dec 31 min read

Looking for Christmas gift ideas. My 6yo is obsessed with doing "experiments" right now but mostly it's just mixing random stuff in the kitchen and hoping something cool happens. I want to actually get him a real kit with structure but not something too babyish. Saw the National Geographic crystal growing kit and the Bozeman Science slime kit - has anyone used either of those? Worth the money or should I look elsewhere?

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Comments(10)

WWes B.RegularDec 4

Beaker Bots or KiwiCo subscription boxes are great because they're monthly and give you variety without huge upfront cost. Keeps the experiment interest going instead of a one-time kit he burns through in a weekend.

NNate H.RegularDec 5

honestly get him a basic microscope instead of a kit. Kids that age get more excited about finding weird stuff in the yard and actually looking at it close up than following instructions. Way cheaper too.

MMax R.RegularDec 5

Skip the super cheap ones. The ingredients separate and nothing works and then they lose interest. I got a mid-range kit and the difference in actual cool reactions was worth it. My 6yo did it like 5 times.

WWalter T.RegularDec 4

Honestly for a 6yo who's doing random kitchen mixing, maybe get a couple of the cheap simple ones first? Like the slime kit or the bath bombs thing. See if they actually want structured experiments or if they just like the sensory part of making stuff.

NNate H.RegularDec 5

Thames & Kosmos makes great beginner kits. They have one specifically for younger kids that's way less frustrating than some of the others. My 6yo actually completed experiments without giving up halfway through, which was huge.

DDex J.New DadDec 5

The kitchen mixing phase is fun but yeah actual kit is better. We got our 6yo the National Geographic Rock Tumbler and he's OBSESSED. Turns rocks into polished gems over like a month. Holds his attention way better than random experiments.

GGreg H.RegularDec 4

Whatever you get, make sure YOU can actually do it with him without needing a degree in chemistry. The experimenting is cool but the bonding time during is the real win at that age.

WWill T.RegularDec 5

Get the "experiments" book that goes with whatever kit you choose. Sounds basic but having them read through what's supposed to happen first makes them way more invested in actually following steps instead of just dumping stuff together.

RRaj P.RegularDec 6

Thames & Kosmos crystal growing kits are solid. My 6yo made a geode crystal cave thing and it actually looked cool when it was done. Plus you can repeat it if he wants.

KKenny W.RegularDec 6

The National Geographic kits are solid for that age. My 6yo did the crystal growing one and was obsessed for like two weeks. Fair warning though - she mixed extra water in and it became a science lesson about following instructions, which was actually valuable lol.