The Right STEM Kit for Each Age, 5 to 14
Our picks by age band from eight tested kits, and the one mistake parents make with the age on the box.
The age on the box is the youngest child who can do the kit with an adult. Add two years for a child working alone.
Ages 5–7
KiwiCo Kiwi Crate for monthly projects; Osmo Genius if there is an iPad; Snap Circuits Jr. at 7 with a parent for the first session. Skip chemistry sets.
Ages 8–10
Snap Circuits Jr. alone; KiwiCo Atlas or Tinker Crate; LEGO SPIKE Essential if the budget allows; the National Geographic kit as a gift.
Ages 10–12
Thames & Kosmos CHEM C500 with an adult; Sphero BOLT for coding; MEL Science for a child who asks how things work.
Ages 12–14
MEL Chemistry or Physics; Sphero BOLT in JavaScript; the larger Snap Circuits and Thames & Kosmos sets.
» See the full rankings: Best STEM Kits for Kids in 2026, Best STEM Toys for 8–12 Year Olds .