Whether you are looking to inspire the budding young scientist or you want to homeschool your children, science kits and microscopes are a great way to have fun while learning, and the great news is they are relatively cheap and incredibly easy to use for both the teacher and young student.
Sadly, it’s not all good news, since this is a saturated market you need to be aware of what should be avoided, especially since a good scientific learning experience in childhood can leave a lasting impression for years to come. The skill behind choosing the best science kits for kids is to invest wisely in a kit that provides a well thought out and genuinely intriguing experience.
| Science Kit | Best For | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
| AMSCOPE Beginner Microscope Kit | All Rounder | 8/10 |
| My First Lab Forensic Microscope Kit | Extras | 7/10 |
| Thames And Kosmos First Science Kit | Chemistry Fun | 7/10 |
*All links above will take you to the latest prices on Amazon.com, or you can read our in-depth science kit for kid reviews below.
#1 AMSCOPE Beginner Microscope Kit
- Magnification: 60x
- Light: LED
- Size: 1.45 x 1.37 x 0.59 inches
The Amscope microscope kit for kids is one of the best selling kits available and is a great microscope for young children as it offers a relatively good learning experience, enabling you to experience different magnifications and to gain experience focusing on different samples through the eyepiece.
In addition, the kit comes with 52 accessories including a range of prepared slides, so you can pretty much start observing samples and analyzing cell structures from the get-go. There’s also 7 blank glass slides, dissection tools, and an ABC case, so if you fancy developing their scientific skills further, you can easily prepare your own samples from anything from leaves, to hair and other biological tissues.
#2 My First Lab Whodunnit? Forensic Microscope Kit
- Magnification: 60x-75x
- Light: LED
- Size: 1.25 x 3.25 x 0.75 inches
The advantage of this best selling kit – Whodunnit is its high durability and solid design, which is always a great benefit around enthusiastic and at times clumsy children.
The other advantage of this kit is that it has been designed to provide an exciting insight into forensics, enabling you to collect and examine fingerprints just like real CIA agents.
This is a nice added bonus, which doesn’t prevent you from using the microscope to carry out your own fun-filled family adventures, from collecting bugs and dissecting onions- to examine plant cells and learn about the anatomy of living cells.
The great thing about a microscope is that it can be used again and again for a large range of experiments. All you need is a cheap book, or even better, simply carry out a quick search online for access to literally thousands of free and easy at-home investigations.
#3 Thames & Kosmos Kids First Chemistry Set
- Magnification: 8x – 30x
- Light: N/A
- Size: 5.1 x 8.4 x 3.2 inches
Chemistry is, of course, another fundamental part of any child’s learning and development, and thanks to this chemistry set it can be incredibly fun too!
Inside are 25 hands-on and very interactive experiments sure to keep young minds engaged and excited about learning science.
The best part is that young chemists can carry out the experiments with the help of a 48-page, full-color instruction manual, and experiment guide, all while using safe and easily accessible household items, making it a cheap, convenient and fun experience.
Notably, these experiments don’t just look great, they offer a genuine insight into many chemistry principles, including crystallization, acids, and bases, as well as a colorful ink experiment that identifies the different chemical composition of dyes and inks before your eyes.
What Is A Science Kit?
As the name suggests a science kit typically relates to a pre-packaged collection of tools, supplies, and instructions, which provide convenience and ease of use, and what is often termed a true, scientific experience. There are many products out there that cover a vast array of scientific fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics and even more specialist areas such as cosmology and wildlife conservation.
Since these kits are usually aimed at children and young learners, they are usually relevant to what is taught in kindergarten, schools, and college at both a national and international level, making them great for parents that choose to homeschool, or just those of us that want to supplement their child’s education.
Although there is no denying that these products are typically not as high quality as more professional and well-established brands, their advantage lies in the fact that you do not have to buy each item separately, which can be both time-consuming and expensive. Moreover, they are very easy to use, safe and most importantly fun, helping to foster a genuine love of science, the natural world and garner an appreciation for learning in general.
What Should You Look For In A Good Quality Kit?
As there are many kits available out there, the first thing you will want to decide is what topic area you want to learn about. This is often decided by a standardised curriculum or a child’s current level of education, however, whatever age and level, most kits cater for a broad age range, typically offering a range that falls into the 3 years to 5 years, the 6 years to 10 years brackets, as well as more advanced kits for the teens and older.
Next, you will want to consider your budget, how much do you want to spend? For many households this an important factor and often an unfortunate limitation when they are shopping for a kit. The good news is that there are many ranges available that are both affordable and offer good value for money, providing a good learning experience for very little investment.
The most important thing to look at is the product reviews, as you will nearly always find products cheaper than the top sellers and best-rated listings, but there’s normally a reason for this, the cheaper options have usually skimped on quality and offer little instruction and extras, which can be detrimental to a learning experience, which can often leave a lasting negative impact on your child, which is definitely not a result any good intending parent wants to ever consider.
If you are really struggling to decide on the perfect kit, make sure to check out the selections listed above. These were chosen precisely due to their reputation and because they have been tried and tested by many parents and children, hence why they are best sellers online. A starter microscope with a range of pre-prepared slides is always a great start, as they are resilient, hard-wearing and will supplement your child’s classes for years to come.
Final Words
When searching for the perfect kit, you first need to consider the topic area that most interests you and your child. Remember that chemistry, biology, and physics form a fundamental part of all children’s education, so these are perhaps the best options.
In addition, try to think of which it will serve your child best, not only does it need to be engaging and fun, but it also has to challenge them in some way. The best kit is one that is robust, easy to understand and exciting to young minds.
About the Author
I started MicroscopeSpot to help other people learn everything there is to know about the world of microscopes. From how to use them, to how to maintain and choose one for your intended purpose.
As a parent and scientist (haematology) myself I know the value of honest and practical information. All of the information provided on MicroscopeSpot are genuine, honest opinions that aim to provide guidance to the student, hobbyist and professional.