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The great thing about being a kid is getting to learn about all the amazing things in this universe. From biology
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Other points to remember when choosing science and discovery toys:
Here is a listing of some of the top picks for children by age. They are easy to buy and give because they come with all the necessary ingredients for a fun-filled science-oriented playtime.
| 4-7 Years Old | ||||
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| 8-11 Years Old | ||||
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| 12 Years Old and Up | ||||
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Sometimes kits don't cut it. That's when you need to get down to the nitty gritty. Which subjects does a child like best? Is he or she more of a dinosaur dude or a deep space diva? Below you'll find a variety of hand-picked toys that satisfy a child's toy needs no matter what his or her interests.
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Very fun and exciting for kids as young as seven years old! They'll dig through these pellets to search out the bones of the owl's last meal. |
Discover how the eyes perceive light and learn how visuals can trick the brain. Great for groups of kids to share. |
Something eating at you? Pick apart an edible brain or heart and discover its inner workings. |
Already built all the dinosaur kits? Now try a human skeleton. 25 inches tall and it doesn't require any glue, making it a mess-free project. |
Become a forensic expert! Not only can kids learn about DNA, but after extracting it they can put it in a pendant and wear it. Yuck! |
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Discovery Remote Control Pterodactyl See this realistic prehistoric creature comes alive with a remote. Unfortunately, it doesn't fly, but it is a great first RC toy for dino lovers. |
Discovery Remote Control Chromashift Roboreptile He'll run, jump, stalk and hunt, all without breaking a sweat. He's also fully interactive and can see, feel and hear. He also remembers tricks. |
A tube of dinosaurs is better than one. The 12 hand-painted replicas are packed into the tube for easy transport and storage. |
Woolly Mammoth - Carnegie Collectible This hand-painted collectible is an authentic replica. Other models (mostly dinosaurs) are also available. |
Dig, dig, little paleontologists, but carefully. Within the block, children will discover a skeleton of a T. rex or brachiosaurus after tapping away with the mini hammer and chisel. |
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H-Racer/Hydrogen Station - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car A must-see, this car runs on a hydrogen fuel cell. Not only does it teach about science, but about important current environmental issues. |
The possibilities are endless with these blocks that connect together to create working technology. Kids can build everything from an alarm clock to a lie detector. |
This is a very basic robot kit for starters that is controlled with a wired remote. It's key feature is the ability to such up and launch balls from its mouth with wind power. |
This award-winning toy contains a multitude of parts for conducting more than 100 projects. Because the parts are easy to snap together, kids can let their imaginations soar for never-ending fun. |
This is a good beginning kit for a child between seven and nine and it teaches everything about radios with ease and simplicity. |
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The ultimate kit for inspiring scientists who are curious about solar energy; kids will surely stay busy with this 320 part kit. With the help of step by step instructions, children can put together 13 models and conduct 30 experiments. |
This is an award-winning design kit that comes in a variety of model styles including a helicopter and motorcycle. Kids will love the sense of achievement they get from completing this 400+ piece set that actually works! |
Our Amazing Bridges Architecture Set Little builders will love constructing a bridge. Choose from three different styles including the Roman Arch, The Truss Bridge, and The Suspension Bridge. The kits come with all the necessary tools. |
Build and understand kinetics, gravity, and motion while having fun at the same time. This battery-powered toy won a Dr. Toy Award and acts as an educational toy and a playset. |
Fun for kids and adults, this toy acts as a learning tool as much as a game and even display. The trick is to figure out how to get the discs to levitate properly. Once you've mastered the method you'll be glad you spent the time to make it work. |
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Backyard Safari Extreme Bug Vacuum Catching bugs may not be the most glamourous sounding hobby but a lot of kids love it. To help them with the process, this vacuum can capture bugs without harming them. The bugs can then be viewed in a plastic see-through capsule. And if the kids want to keep the insect specimen, they can be kept in a specially-made habitat |
This is not your average ant farm |
These super cute, egg-like faces have to sit since their legs are soft, but they'll provide kids with a first-hand experience of raising plants with a no-hassle formula. The grass is ultra-hardy and since it looks like hair, girls will love to snip and style it. Also see Egglings |
Watch butterflies, praying mantis or lady bugs grow and live right in front of your eyes. Kids and parents alike will enjoy watching the bugs develop right in front of their eyes. For long-term living experience, consider an aquarium or terrarium. For some kids begging for pets, this might be the first step for them to prove they are ready for the challenge and responsibility of caring for an animal. |
Look for kits with medium magnification that include all the necessary accessories so that kids can easily get into examining bugs, plants, pond water and more. For older kids, a better quality microscope might be a better option since it will be sturdier and have better optics for more detailed observations. |
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This super humanoid robot by LEGO must be built by your two hands to make him budge! When he does, watch out, because he's interactive and intuitive. Why buy Robosapien |
What's that you say? At the sound of your voice this little bot will back up and change direction. Throw a road block in its way and this determined little bot will find a way around it. Talk about an intelligent robot. What's best? You build it yourself and see your creation in action. |
This kit will teach a kid more than just how to build, but he or she will learn about sensors (the robot is built to react to both sound and light), robot history and how to create motion. Best for ages 10 and older. |
This race car is more than just fun, it's a fun-filled learning project that teaches children about solar energy and power. Once finished building, they'll be able to race this car just like any other RC vehicle. It's like two toys for the price of one! |
Kids can have a pet without all the fuss! Perfect for kids dying for a puppy, but whose parents won't allow it. This pup reacts to sound, light and touch. He also walks, talks and shows emotions with light up expressions. Watch out for the puppy dog eyes. Kids won't want to stop playing with him. |
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Watch the stars from your bedroom! This illuminating apparatus shines the stars as they appear in the night sky on your ceiling, complete with all the constellation names. Take it outside, line it up with help of the onboard compass and stargaze until morning! |
For $10, children can soar into the depths of space without leaving their bedrooms and learn about the solar system. |
Star Explosion Glow in the Dark Stars These classic glow-in-the-dark stick-on stars have been popular with kids for years and don't show any signs of fading. If you are worried about the damage of the stars on the walls, try the Discovery Glow-in-the-Dark Solar System Model, which hangs, keeping walls clean and safe. |
Buzz Aldrin Space Voyagers Ultimate Saturn V Rocket Rockets are very educational and very fun. Usually parents or a supervising adult should help kids out with these, but who can complain with all the fun at stake? Choose from a variety of brands, sizes and strengths. Usually the bigger the rocket, more bang for the buck you get. |
Read the guide to learn more before buying one. There is a big difference between a serious telescope and a toy. You'll be happy to invest in the proper equipment for an avid star gazing teenager, but best count the kiddies out. |
You can use any of the ideas on this page to come up with your own homemade science kit that caters to an older child's different interests. (The Web is a great resource for finding science experiments, too). Simply use your imagination to figure out what will spark a child's interests. Remember that while kits and activity sets are the perfect all-in-one product for simple gift giving for younger children, don't forget the other science oriented toys that can grow with a child for years to come.
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Gardening Perhaps he or she is into plants and flowers. You could purchase some seeds |
Lab Science Items such as microscopes, telescopes, gyroscopes |
Practical Tools Calculators and computers |
Building Know a kid who's a builder? Try an elementary tool set |
Animals Getting a pet for a child is a major decision that you and your child should make together. Don't buy a pet for a child until he or she is old enough to care for it and always make sure to get a book explaining proper pet care that you can read together. For more about pets, see the Pets section. A small starter aquarium |
There are many more options to choose from. Pick a category from the list and search ShopWiki for more fun gift ideas.
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