The best science toys for kids do much more than teach them a few interesting facts. Instead, they give children the tools to learn through hands-on play. Along the way, they can practice problem-solving, critical thinking, and logic while exploring ideas that may inspire the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians of tomorrow.
However, with a virtual sea of science toys on the market, parents have an overwhelming number of choices to sort through. Fortunately, we’ve done some of that sorting for you.
We’ve rounded up seven standouts, including longtime science toy classics and award-winning AR and VR kits from Abacus Brands.
What Makes a Science Toy Worth Buying?
Not every toy marketed as educational offers the same kind of learning experience. Some rely heavily on an app or screen, while others leave little room for kids to experiment and make discoveries of their own. What’s more, a great science toy keeps kids involved in learning. That could mean building a circuit, uncovering a fossil, or using technology to explore something they couldn't experience in real life.
With that in mind, we looked for several qualities, including:
- Active participation: Kids build, experiment, solve problems or interact with what they're learning instead of simply watching.
- Real STEM concepts: The toy introduces ideas from science, technology, engineering or math in a way kids can see or experience.
- Learning through play: Activities teach without turning playtime into another school lesson.
- Room to explore: Kids can experiment, repeat activities or dig deeper as their curiosity grows.
We also considered age range, ease of use and expert or industry recognition, including major toy awards where applicable. Taking all of that into account, we narrowed the field to the picks below.
1. HoloToyz Jurassic Dinos AR Book
Made for ages three and up, the HoloToyz Jurassic Dinos AR Book gives younger kids a starting point for exploring science through play. The book pairs colorful illustrations and dinosaur facts with augmented reality. Kids read and scan the pages with the free HoloToyz app to bring T. rex, Velociraptor, Pterodactyl and other dinosaurs to life in 3D. Animations, voiceovers and sound effects add another dimension to what they learn on the page.
HoloToyz
Jurassic Dinos AR Book
Pair colorful illustrations and dinosaur facts with augmented reality. Scan pages with the free app to bring T. rex, Velociraptor, and Pterodactyl to life in 3D with animations, voiceovers, and interactive sound effects.
Shop Now2. Bill Nye's VR Science Kit
One of Abacus Brands' most popular science kits, Bill Nye's VR Science Kit, packs 30 hands-on experiments for kids to work through. The app adds step-by-step AR lessons, while the VR goggles let kids explore science in a way they couldn't experience in real life.
Bill Nye's
VR Science Kit
Pack 30 hands-on experiments with AR step-by-step guidance and VR immersion. Fly over a volcano, enter a crystal cave, or visit Bill Nye's virtual lab while building rockets, slime, and speakers.
Shop Now3. Snap Circuits Junior
Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 introduces electronics through more than 100 projects kids assemble themselves. Instead of dealing with loose wires or soldering, they connect components mounted on plastic modules. The projects gradually turn those pieces into working devices, including AM and FM radios, a digital voice recorder, a burglar alarm, and a doorbell.
Once kids finish one project, they can pull the components apart and use them again for the next. That repeated building gives them a hands-on look at how electronic components work together.
4. Magna-Tiles
Magna-Tiles look like a building toy, and they are. But the science quickly becomes part of the fun. The magnetic edges pull together no matter which way a tile faces, so a young builder gets familiar with magnetism while also exploring geometry and balance. Kids can experiment with towers, ramps, and open 3D shapes that come together in seconds and come apart just as fast.
Designed for ages three and up, Magna-Tiles also work across a wide age range. That makes them a rare science toy that a preschooler and an older sibling can explore together.
5. Professor Maxwell's VR Kits
Professor Maxwell's is a collection of VR kits for kids who want to explore a favorite subject in more depth. The VR Science Lab covers broad experiments, the VR Universe centers on space, and the VR Atlas turns geography into an immersive tour of the planet. Each pairs real activities and an activity book with 360-degree VR worlds.
Professor Maxwell's VR Atlas won a 2021 Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award and was also featured on Good Morning America. Designed for kids ages eight to twelve, the collection is a strong choice for kids who already know what subjects interest them most.
Professor Maxwell's VR Kits Collection
Explore immersive VR worlds across science, space, and geography. Each kit pairs physical experiments and rich activity books with award-winning 360-degree virtual experiences.
Shop Collection6. Botley 2.0 The Coding Robot
Coding doesn’t have to mean another screen. Botley 2.0 the Coding Robot by Learning Resources is a small robot kids program with a handheld remote, so no tablet or app is required. They punch in a sequence of moves, hit go and see whether their logic gets Botley through the maze. If it doesn't, they can change their commands and try again.
As kids’ skills grow, they can move on to loops and if-then logic. Designed for ages five and up, Botley is a strong introduction to coding and robotics for kids who learn best by doing.
7. DK Virtual Reality Discovery Gift Sets
Each Discovery Gift Set combines an interactive DK book, a hands-on project and VR experiences centered on a specific subject. Designed for ages eight to twelve, the sets work especially well for kids who already have a favorite subject they want to explore further.
In the Dinosaurs set, kids chisel a 14-inch T. rex fossil from a block, then explore the prehistoric world in VR. Meanwhile, the Galaxy set includes a paintable planetarium model and a virtual ride aboard a space shuttle.
Oceans, Animals, Human Body, and Transport offer their own activities and immersive experiences. It’s also an award-winning formula, as Toy Insider named the Oceans, Animals and Dinosaurs sets to its STEM 10 winner list.
DK Virtual Reality
Discovery Sets
Combine interactive DK books, hands-on projects, and VR experiences. Dig up fossils, paint planetariums, or explore oceans in 360-degree virtual reality.
Shop SetsFind the Right Science Toy for Your Child
The best science toys for kids match the toy to the child, not the price tag. A young dinosaur fan can start with HoloToyz, while kids ready for hands-on experiments and VR may enjoy Bill Nye’s Science Kit.
For a child with a favorite subject, Professor Maxwell’s offers more focused experiences, while the DK Discovery Gift Sets combine books, projects, and VR around topics such as dinosaurs, space, and the human body. Young builders may also enjoy Magna-Tiles, while tinkerers can explore Snap Circuits or Botley.
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