Now that research has proven that families provide valuable motivation for kids going into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) when they get older, now is the time to get your little one ready by purchasing some science-related gifts for the holiday season.
Here is our list of some of the best science gift ideas for children that we've come across.
Don't buy your kids a robot when they can make their own. With the Lego Mindstorms, kids 10 years and older can create whatever kind of robot they can imagine and bring life to their machine by programming it via an ARM A-9 processor that hooks up to your computer with a USB cable and software with a simple interface. LEGO claims that the kids can create their robots in about an hour with the kit and after that, kids can work with the programming and even hack it to give the robot a mind of its own. $379.99
2. GoldieBlox
There aren't a lot of science-related toys aimed solely at girls, but GoldieBlox is trying to change that. With the release of their GoldieBlox action figure, complete with everything needed to build a zipline for Goldie's adventures, the company hopes that girls will become interested in engineering after playing with their toys. $24.99
3. Nancy B's Crime Solving Scope
Move over Nancy Drew. Encourage the future forensic scientists of the world with this crime solving scope. The telescope can view objects up to 15x larger and includes a kit that shows kids how to work with fingerprints, detect counterfeit money, analyze clothing fibers and hair, and teach them surveillance techniques. $12.06
Make math fun for your little ones by playing the Sum Swamp game. The game teaches addition and subtraction as kids journey through the Sun Swamp in an adventure they're sure to enjoy. $19.99
5. Laser Maze
In Laser Maze, kids use lights and mirrors to direct a laser beam through a series of mazes. With 60 different challenges, this game will keep kids entertained (and educated) for hours at a time. $26.95
This gigantic set of science activities includes more than 70 experiments that lets kids set up their own science lab and do experiments in chemistry, physics, biology, magnets and more. $34.30
Give the children in your life the gift of science every month with this science club membership. Each monthly package includes dozens of hands-on science experiments, complete with explanations. $299.88 per year.
8. Simulated Frog Dissection Kit
Got a kid interested in biology? This simulated frog dissection kit will show kids all about the inner workings and anatomy of frogs, without needing the real thing. The toy's manufacturer, Elenco, swears this is the closest you can get to the real thing. The best part? No animals are harmed in this dissection. $54.20
9. Magic School Bus Chemistry Lab
The beauty of this magic school bus is that it's crammed full of experiments for the young chemists in your life. Each experiment comes with cards that explain the scientific method as well as teach kids to make their own hypotheses about their experiments. $20.00
This kit is exactly what it says it is: rocket science. Kids learn all about physics by learning to launch rockets, build race cars and play games as they attempt to target planets with the rockets they create. They'll learn about gravity, inertia and even air pressure, as well as learn all about existing spacecraft technology. $34.95
