In a technologically-advanced world where endless reserves of information are literally at our fingertips, our children need to grow up with an innovative mindset that will help them to apply knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems. Providing a STEM-rich home environment can prepare your child for a successful future, and a fun, engaging present!
Offering plenty of opportunities for STEM play and exploration at home can help your child strengthen important critical thinking skills as they gain a deeper understanding of how the world around them works. You don’t have to wait until your child is reading and writing to start exploring STEM – even toddlers can begin fostering creativity, problem solving skills, and a curiosity about the natural world through STEM play.
Related: 7 easy ways to introduce STEM education to your kids
There are plenty of benefits to STEM activities. Early STEM learning that continues throughout a child’s life can have significant outcomes later in their educational journey. One study showed that preschool math ability predicted later achievement in math through high school. According to the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), children need multiple, varied opportunities to engage with science concepts, in both formal and informal settings, making a case for parents to provide more exposure to STEM activities at home, outside of the classroom.
Don’t worry if your background isn’t in science, technology, math, or engineering. With the right STEM kits for your child’s age and interests, you won’t have to be an expert for your child to learn all things STEM, right at home.
Here are some of the best STEM kits on the market for your child to explore:
STEM kits for toddlers
Your child is never too young to start learning about the world around them through STEM! These fun, screen-free STEM kits offer the perfect starting point for your budding scientist or engineer.
Lakeshore Learning
•
$189.00
Fairy Tales Problem Solving STEM Kit
This sweet fairytale-inspired STEM kit for ages 3-6 invites young children to create a happier ending to a few of their favorite children’s stories. Whether they are building a chair for Goldilocks that won’t break, or a strong house that even the Big Bad Wolf can’t blow down, young children can get a head start in engineering in imaginative ways.
Roylco
•
$39.99
Sensory Beads
Just right for the smallest hands, these sensory beads introduce geometric shapes and patterns to little ones in a way that satisfies their sensorial craving.
Learning Resources
•
$23.99
Splashology! Water Lab Science Kit
Your little one can dive right into learning early physics and scientific observation skills with this fun water lab STEM kit. This set elevates your child’s bathtub and water table play in a meaningful way that will make learning at home a part of their routine.
Insect Lore
•
$29.99
Butterfly Garden
This is the perfect nature-based family STEM kit offering an experience that little ones won’t soon forget. Creating a butterfly habitat and watching the miraculous process of metamorphosis take place, right at home, will help your child gain a deeper understanding of the natural world, and help them to record their observations and make predictions.
STEM kits for kids
Children of all ages learn best through hands-on experimentation, and these STEM kits for kids offer the just-right challenge for their developing brains to think critically as they learn through play.
Japace
•
$34.99
Science Kit
This comprehensive science kit for children ages 4-12 includes everything you need to conduct over 100 experiments with your child. The step-by-step instructions include photos that make the process easy to understand for young children as they explore creating fizzy reactions, an underwater volcano, growing crystals and more.
Lakeshore Learning
•
$119.99
Create a Chain Reaction STEM Kit
Recommended for children ages 4-7, this STEM kit includes durable pieces that can be used to explore concepts like gravity, force, and momentum as they get creative and engineer their own complex ball run. Challenge cards are also included to create a variety of different courses.
Learning Resources
•
$69.99
Botley 2.0 the Coding Robot
Botley, best for ages 5+, is a fun little robot that teaches your child to code, screen-free! This 78-piece kit includes plenty of coding challenges as Botley navigates through obstacles courses and mazes, and even lights up in the dark.
Home Science Tools
•
$429.95
Renewable Energy Science Kit
This STEM kit is a splurge, but includes everything your child needs to gain hands-on experience with renewable energy. As they learn more about hydrogen fuel cells, solar energy, wind turbines, and water electrolysis, they may just be inspired to one day solve the climate crisis!
Snap Circuits
•
$35.99
Snap Circuits Jr.
Designed for children ages 8+, Snap Circuits are electrical engineering kits for kids that provide a unique opportunity to make their own electric-powered toys and tools. From a flying saucer to a voice-controlled lamp, your child can experiment with over 100 designs, making this a STEM kit that can grow along with your child.
STEM subscription boxes
Keeping your child engaged in STEM learning is easy with monthly subscription kits. Here are a few of the best subscription STEM kits for kids of all ages.
CrunchLabs
•
$24.95/month
CrunchLabs
CrunchLabs was founded by a NASA engineer turned YouTube prankster, and the playful approach the brand takes to engineering is perfect for kids. Created with ages 8-12 in mind, CrunchLabs monthly subscription boxes come with a video that takes learning to a deeper level.
KiwiCo
•
$23.95/month
KiwiCo
KiwiCo offers monthly subscription crates for all ages, with a few that are especially focused on STEM learning. The Tinker Crate for ages 9-14 offers science and engineering projects, like a color-mixing LED crystal, while the Eureka Crate for ages 12+ is all about engineering and design, with fun projects like making your own stereo headphones.
MEL Science
•
$29.90/month
MEL Science
MEL Science provides parents with the freedom to choose STEM kits from a variety of topics of interest for their child, from coding, to physics, to chemistry. Along with the hands-on materials, your child will also gain access to an interactive mobile app, virtual and augmented reality. They offer options for ages 4-16+.
Creation Crate
•
$49.99/project
Creation Crate
Creation Crate offers STEM kits for ages 10+, challenging tweens, teens, and even adults! With projects focused on electronics, chemistry, and engineering, this subscription is a great option to keep older kids engaged at home. Each curriculum area has a series of projects that build your child’s skills and knowledge progressively over time, making learning fun and exciting.
Bitsbox
•
$16.95+/month
Bitsbox
Bitsbox is a learning system that teaches real coding skills. Every month, your child will receive a set of app projects that focus on a different computer science concept. The best part is, you don’t have to know anything about coding in order for your child to become an expert through this unique subscription STEM kit.
