Are you chasing gift ideas for your science-mad child? Keen to get the perfect present for your budding Einstein and not sure where to start? We have rounded up all of the best gift ideas we could find for kids who love science and have listed them below.
Nature Science Gifts
Microscope
Kids will be amazed to see insects and items they collect zoomed in to minute detail with their own mini microscope kit.
Bug Catcher
For any child (which is most!) that comes in from the backyard with a new small pet lizard or insect. A bug catcher allows them to observe them safely before releasing them back to the wild.
Visit a Butterfly Garden
There are several butterfly gardens near Brisbane that offer children the chance to not only walk within butterfly-filled greenhouses but also learn about their life cycle and conservation.
Compass
Perfect for kids and teens who like to get out and about in the great outdoors.
Weather station
Weather stations come in a range of different styles. Simple to use and usually something that can sit on their bedside table, kids love waking up and getting an idea of the day’s weather – without even looking outside!
Storm Glass
The Storm Glass was inspired by Admiral Robert Fitzroy who used a storm glass to forecast the weather on the HMS Beagle. It is believed that electromagnetic changes in weather patterns activate the crystals inside.
Bird ID Book
With over 850 bird species in Australia – 45% of which are not found anywhere else in the world – a bird ID book is a great way to help kids identify and get excited about their local feathered friends. Learn more about bird watching.
Worm Farm
Worm farm kits are a surprisingly delightful way to teach children about the wonderful world of worms and just how much they help our ecosytem.
Dinosaur Dig Kit
Are there any little budding palaeontologists in your family? Fun little dinosaur dig kits will give children the tools they need to uncover their very own pet dinosaur!
Nature Journal
Nature journals are a great way to encourage children to document and write about their experiences in nature.
Rock Collection Set
Kids love rocks. From a young age they tend go collect them wherever they go and come home with the pockets bulging from them. You can get your little rock lover their very own rock collection, complete with its own sectioned box and details about each one.
Nature-themed Memory Card Games
Get kids memorising their favourite animals or plants and matching them up with their pair in these simple, but much-loved, card games.
Vet Dress Up Costume
If you child loves animals and dreams of one day being a vet, they will love a dress-up costume of their own. Perfect for imaginative play.
Seed Packets and Planter Box
Gift your child with a small planter box and seeds of their favourite flowers, fruit or vegetables. They will not only learn about what they need to help them grow, but they will be running outside each day to check on their progress!
Butterfly and Bee House Kits
Help your child set up their own butterfly or bee house with a kit specially made for your garden.
Chemistry Science Gifts
Chemistry Set
A simple chemistry set with a number of different basic (or advanced, depending on their age) experiments included is a great starter gift for kids who love science.
Fizz Rocket
Hugely popular – Fizz Rockets are a simple science toy that requires kids to learn a basic science formula that will send their lightweight rockets soaring high in the sky!
Build Your Own Atom Kit
Another great introduction to chemistry for any science-loving child is a build-your-own atom set.
Grow Your Own Crystal
Has your child every wondered where crystals come from? These crystal growing sets will teach them the chemistry behind this while leaving them with some beautiful coloured crystals.
Volcano chemistry kit
What child isn’t excited by a volcano chemistry experiment? Simple, safe and pretty spectacular to watch, a volcano chemistry kit is a science gift they will love.
Bath Bomb Kits
Liven up bath time with DIY bath bomb kits. Kids can make their very own and then reap the rewards next time they hop in the tub!
Ferromagnetic Fluid
Create and explore fascinating ferromagnetic phenomena with a Ferromagnetic Fluid kit. Make your own ferromagnetic fluid and get hands-on experimenting with magnets for an exciting introduction to scientific concepts!
Space Science Gifts
Telescope
Help your child delve closer to the night sky with their own beginner telescope.
Space sky projector
Night lights and small room projectors will transform your child’s room from basic to outer space with the flick of a switch!
Glow in the dark stars
A huge hit with young children and a way to ease bedtime worries, simple glow-in-the-dark stickers will light their room up like a night sky.
Kinetic Galaxy
A Kinetic Galaxy is a dazzling desktop piece powered by physics and enhanced with batteries. Displaying the solar system, the outer rings swings back and forth, propelling the inner rings to swing and circle.
Earth Globe Lamp
Help your child understand the world we live in, our vast oceans and continents with a globe of their own. Even more impressive are the one that light up – also serving as a night light or lamp for their room.
Solar System Puzzle
If you child is fascinated by all things space, then a space-themed jigsaw puzzle is another wonderful gift idea.
Fun Science Gifts
Newtons Cradle
Often seen on desktops and genuinely mesmerising to watch, a Newton’s Cradle is a device that demonstrates the conservation of momentum and the conservation of energy with swinging spheres.
Invisible Ink Pens
Have your child discover the joy of imaginative play, investigative science and detective work with their own invisible ink pens.
Operation Game
Kids can learn about some of the parts that make up the human body with this classic family board game. Featuring a surprising buzzer and flashing nose, the Operation game keeps kids on their toes.
Go Genius Science board game
In Go Genius Science, players go on the educational trip of a lifetime – they travel around the board, answering multiple-choice questions with three different difficulty levels.
Desktop Skeleton
If your child loves science, a miniature replica of the human skeleton is a quirky gift they will probably love.
Scientist Dress-up
Every little future Scientist needs to look the part – right? Great for imaginative play, a Scientist dress up costume is the perfect for kids who love science.
Gravitrax
The Gravitrax STEM toy inspires building creativity as well as teaches problem-solving. Although there are 24 problem-solving activity starter instructions included, the tracks can also be set up freeform as well.
Kinetic Sand
Drone
Drones are amazing and kids love to play with them. With or without cameras on board, they are a fun toy for outside play and exploration.
Robotic Kit
Robot kits are a great way to introduce kids to building their first robot. You can choose one depending on their age and ability and let them assemble the working parts based on easy-to-follow instructions.
Magna-tiles
The Magna-Tiles offer creative free-form building, but with the fun addition of magnets. Magnets help kids build 3D shapes, which in turn helps them develop STEM skills.
Other Educational Science Gifts
Encyclopedia of Science
If your child loves all things science and is full of questions even you can’t answer, an Encyclopedia of Science may just what they need!
Little People, Big Dreams -Women in Science Books
Meet three inspirational women from the world of science: Ada Lovelace, Amelia Earhart and Marie Curie!
This boxed gift set of three hardbacks introduces little ones to the lives of these amazing women.
Planetarium Visit
Is your Brisbane Kid crazy for anything relating to stars and the universe? If so, a visit to the Brisbane Planetarium is called for. With a focus on education delivered in an easily understood format for children and adults alike, a ticket here is a wonderful gift idea.
Museum Visit
The Queensland Museum was always a favourite spot for my nature-loving child. With excellent, free permanent exhibitions and some unique feature exhibits, you can check out too, a day at the museum is an excellent gift for nature-loving kids.
Sciencentre Visit
The Sciencentre and Sparklab in Brisbane is an engaging and educational facility that showcases hands-on learning to spark creativity, curiosity and confidence in discovering STEM in fun and innovative ways. Any science-mad kid would LOVE to go there.
Human Body Anatomy Model
Popular with children and teens interested in what is happening beneath our skin, these are also a great way to educate kids about our vital organs and anatomy.
National Geographic Kids Magazine Subscription
National Geographic Kids Magazine is packed with information, from wildlife to space, geography to the environment; plus has incredible stories and dazzling images which is sure to inspire the young brain.
Baby University – Four Set Science Books
This series is the perfect way to introduce basic scientific concepts to even the youngest scientist.
Ada Twist’s Big Project Book For Stellar Scientists
For curious young minds who ask why? how? what? when? and then why? again and again, the bestselling team behind Ada Twist, Scientist has developed a STEM project book based on the beloved character. Learn how to build an Aquascope, watch decomposition at work, track the moon’s phases, design a vehicle powered by renewable energy and MUCH more!
Periodic Table Merchandise
For the serious chemistry lover – numerous different companies sell shirts, cups and other merchandise with the period table printed on them.
If you are looking for some birthday ideas that are a little more adventurous, you may also be interested in Kids’ Experience Gift Ideas.
Join the conversation