Science sparks curiosity and invites discovery for children. As a parent, you want to encourage your 6 year old’s natural inclination towards STEM – science, technology, engineering, and math. Science kits designed specifically for 6 year olds help develop critical thinking, observation skills, and interest in the natural world through hands-on experiments and inquiry-based learning.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll explore the benefits of science for 6 year olds, what to look for when choosing a science kit, review top picks, and provide science activity ideas to do at home.
Why Science Kits for Age 6?
Science kits tailored to 6 year olds are a great way to nurture your child’s innate curiosity about how the world works. Here are some key reasons why science is beneficial at this age:
- Builds Critical Thinking Skills: Hands-on experiments and activities teach kids to ask questions, make observations, test variables, and draw conclusions.
- Sparks Interest in STEM: Early positive exposure to science, even through play, gets kids engaged in technical subjects and skills.
- Fosters Independence: Following step-by-step instructions for experiments and activities boosts confidence and self-reliance.
- Enhances Motor Skills: Hands-on learning helps improve fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and dexterity.
- Encourages Teamwork: Collaborating on experiments and discussing results teaches important social skills.
- Inspires Imagination: Open-ended projects with variables to test spark ingenuity and inventive thinking.
The key is finding age-appropriate science kits that align with your 6 year old’s attention span, love for learning, and positive feelings toward science.
What to Look for in Science Kits for Age 6
When choosing a science kit for your 6 year old, keep the following criteria in mind:
Developmentally Appropriate
Look for kits designed specifically for ages 5-7. Activities and experiments should match your child’s abilities, attention span, and interests.
Encourages Hands-On Learning
Opt for lots of interactive, manipulative materials to touch, mix, construct, and deconstruct. Learning is enhanced when kids can interact physically.
Provides Step-By-Step Instructions
Clear pictures, diagrams, or videos explaining each step are essential. Young kids feel empowered to execute experiments independently.
Highlights Science Process Skills
Kits should allow children to practice skills like observing, predicting, testing variables, measuring, and recording data.
Covers Range of Science Topics
Look for a variety – life science, earth science, physical science, and engineering. Different types of projects hold kids’ attention.
Fosters Open-Ended Creativity
Allows kids to test variables, think critically, and apply scientific processes over getting fixed results.
Enhances STEM Literacy
Builds vocabulary and introduces concepts like lab safety, Scientific Method, chemistry, physics, and engineering design.
Storage for Organization
Containers to corral all the materials and keep things tidy between projects. Nothing gets lost.
Adult Supervision Required
Kits for this age call for parental guidance. Collaborating is a great way to bond while learning.
Top Science Kits for Age 6 Reviewed
Now let’s review some of the best science kits on the market designed for 6 year olds using the criteria discussed above.
Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Kit
This kit hits all the marks offering 20 different STEM activities – chemistry, physics, biology – with an emphasis on scientific process skills. The guided experiments are simple, safe, and perfect for little hands. All materials are included, with pictures for each step. Kids will love making colorful lava lamps, creating bubbles within bubbles, making slime, and more. Parental supervision is required.
Key Features:
- 20 interactive experiments
- Focus on the scientific method
- Colorful, safe materials
- Storage for organization
- Parental guidance recommended
Cost: $21.99
Melissa & Doug Science Take Along Lab Kit
This portable lab packs 25 activities covering biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and engineering. Materials are stored neatly in the plastic carrying case. Cards with photos break down each step. Develops STEM skills through hands-on learning. Promotes creative problem-solving.
Key Features:
- 25 hands-on experiments
- Portable plastic case
- Activity cards with pictures
- [Fosters imagination]** and critical thinking
- Age appropriate for 5-7
Cost: $24.99
Scientific Explorer Magic Science for Wizards Only Kit
Young wizards will be engrossed in making potions, creating chemical reactions, and exploring physics concepts like polymers, pressure, and more. Materials come neatly organized. Includes activity cards outlining procedures and explanations. Supervise for safety.
Key Features:
- STEM activities with a magic twist
- Organized compartments for materials
- Cards explain [science concepts] simply
- Enhances [STEM literacy]
- Adult assistance required
Cost: $29.99
Thames & Kosmos Chemistry Chem C2000 Kit
Perfect for introducing young scientists to early chemistry principles like acids/bases and chemical reactions. Materials come in a plastic jar for storage. The activity guide features photos and age-appropriate explanations. Develops lab technique and safety. Supervision required.
Key Features:
- Early [chemistry] experiments
- Materials in storage jar
- Full color lab guide
- Encourages [scientific] thinking
- Parental involvement recommended
Cost: $24.95
Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Set
This kit has all the lab gear – goggles, beakers, tweezers, magnifiers, pipettes – to let kids feel like real scientists. Activities introduce science inquiry skills, but materials for experiments are not included. Supplement with kitchen ingredients. Fosters dramatic play.
Key Features:
- Real lab tools
- Beakers, vials, hand lenses, and more
- Promotes lab [safety]
- Sparks [imagination]
- Adult [supervision] required
Cost: $26.99
Fun Science Activities to Try at Home
You don’t need fancy kits to do science at home. Take advantage of everyday materials to set up simple science experiments and activities. Here are some easy ideas to try:
Kitchen Science: Mix baking soda and vinegar to make a fizzy erupting volcano. Freeze water with food coloring into colored ice cubes.
Backyard Science: Use a magnifier to observe insects and plants. Create a worm habitat to investigate decomposition.
Physics Science: Build a marble run out of cardboard tubes. Experiment with magnets and different objects.
Garage Science: Create a stomp rocket from a plastic bottle and bike pump. Engineer a ping pong ball launcher.
Art Science: Make homemade playdough using flour, salt, cream of tartar, oil and food coloring. Explore chromatography using coffee filters.
The best part of DIY science projects is making learning active, hands-on and collaborative. Ask your child open-ended questions, have them record observations, and let them take the lead exploring variables. Science bonds families through shared discovery!
Make Science Fun at Age 6 and Beyond
Science kits designed specifically for 6 year olds nurture children’s natural curiosity about the world around them. Look for kits that allow kids to actively participate in inquiry, make observations, test variables, and draw their own conclusions under adult supervision.
Hands-on science fosters critical thinking, STEM literacy, and problem solving through play. As your child’s confidence and abilities grow, move on to more advanced kits that introduce complex concepts. But don’t underestimate simple science activities using household materials. The most important ingredient is your child’s sense of wonder. Keep sparking those scientific young minds!
*Image credits: Featured image from Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Kit, other product images belong to respective brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of science kits for 6 year olds?
Science kits for this age build critical thinking, spark interest in STEM, foster independence, enhance motor skills, and encourage teamwork. With guidance, kids learn to make observations, test variables, and draw conclusions through hands-on inquiry and experiments.
What should I look for when choosing a science kit for my 6 year old?
Look for kits designed specifically for ages 5-7 that use interactive materials and provide step-by-step instructions. Good kits cover a range of science topics, encourage open-ended creativity, build STEM literacy, and come with storage for organization.
What are the best science kits for 6 year olds?
Top reviewed kits include Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Kit, Melissa & Doug Science Take Along Lab Kit, Scientific Explorer Magic Science for Wizards Only Kit, Thames & Kosmos Chem C2000 Chemistry Kit, and Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Set.
What kind of science activities can I do with my 6 year old at home?
Simple, fun DIY science activities for kids include kitchen science like making bouncing bubbles or colored ice cubes, backyard science like observing ants and plants, physics science like marble runs, and art-science like making playdough or exploring chromatography.
How can I make science engaging for my 6 year old?
Make it active, hands-on, and collaborative. Ask open-ended questions, let them take the lead in designing variables to test, and share in the discovery process. Science kits and activities should be about sparking curiosity, not getting fixed results.
How do I know if a science kit is age appropriate for a 6 year old?
Look for kits designed for ages 5-7 specifically. Activities and experiments should match the attention span, developing abilities, motor skills, and interests of a child this age. Step-by-step instructions with pictures are essential.
How can I encourage my child’s interest in science after age 6?
As your child grows, introduce more advanced science kits and topics. Attend science museums, fairs, and workshops together. Do science activities relate to their hobbies and interests? Read biographies of scientists. Discuss science topics in the news together. The goal is to keep science engaging and relevant.