The Best Science Kits for 3 Year Olds (What to Buy and What to Avoid) (2024)

If you’re looking for the best science kits for 3 year olds, you’ve come to the right place!

Three year old kids explore the world like scientists. For this reason, there’s no better time to start developing their STEM skills than right now in the safety of your home.

However, it can be tough to know what kits are suitable for 3-year-olds and which ones should be skipped over. This list will steer you in the right direction!

What is the best science kit for 3-year-olds?

Generally, the best science kits for 3 year olds are the ones they can use with a parent or guardian. They will enjoy the time spent with you and they will learn basic science concepts while also having fun. On this page are a few of these kits that fit this description.

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The Best Science Kits for 3 Year Olds: Our Tips & Recommendations

Buying science kits for 3 year olds can be tricky. They’re curious about the world but they also have limited attention spans.

To help you decide which science kit to buy, here are my top recommendations. It includes what to look for and what to avoid.

1. Get a monthly science kit subscription

Science kit subscriptions are a fun way for children to design, build, create and explore the world of science. You get a complete science activity box with a different theme every month. The boxes also include all the step-by-step instructions that are easy for a 3-year-old to follow.

The problem with many of the monthly subscriptions is that they’re better suited for older kids.

That’s why when it comes to monthly science kit subscriptions, I recommend Green Kids Crafts here at Gally Kids. There’s an option to get only the kits that are appropriate for 3 year olds.

Also, as their name suggests, they’re all about saving the planet so many of the activities focus on creative nature-based STEAM activities.

The box that arrives at your house every month includes 4-6 activities. All activities help develop a 3-year-old’s critical thinking skills and encourage them to explore the world around them.

2. Get age-appropriate science toys for 3 year olds

By giving 3 year olds age-appropriate toys, they will find joy and interest in doing science projects while developing STEAM skills.

Toys like building blocks or Lego can help develop their understanding engineering skills but some 3 year olds might not be ready for such advanced tasks yet. So consider getting something simpler that is less likely to frustrate or bore your child if it doesn’t meet their expectations right away.

LIke Lovevery’s play kits, for example.

Lovevery is a subscription that specializes in play kits for 0-3 years old. The kits include projects designed to spark creativity and get kids playing.

Every 3 months, you’ll get a new kit that is appropriate for that stage of development. It’s a nifty science kit for 3 year olds that gets them to practice each developmental skill they need to develop every 3 months.

3. Get science toys that fit your 3 year old kid’s interest

It’s never too early to introduce your child to the wonders of science. 3 year olds make great science students for several reasons. First, they have a natural curiosity about the world. They’re also at the perfect age for imaginative play and love the idea of experimentation (as long as you keep it fun).

Here are some age-appropriate science kits for 3 year olds full of science experiments that are fun to do at home. Each science kit explores a different subject. So hopefully, you’ll find one that fits the interests of your child right now.

1. Bug Catcher Vacuum with Light Up Critter Habitat Case for Backyard Exploration

The Nature Bound Bug Catcher Vacuum is a great backyard exploration toy for kids. This vacuum lets kids catch bugs, pulls them up into the light-up critter habitat and releases them back out into the yard. The kit includes a toy vacuum hose, 5 bug nets and 24 bug stickers to place on a nature journal.

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2. Dinosaur Terrarium Kit

This kit has everything a 3 year old needs to build a terrarium including a jar, soil, sand, grasses, plants, a watering system, a light bulb, a battery pack and a card explaining how dinosaurs lived.

3. Electronics and robotics

Have your 3-year-old start learning the basics of electronics and robotics. There’ll be a lot of concepts they won’t understand yet, so focus only on easy-to-assemble kits that teach basic circuitry, programming, and building skills.

The Robot Engineer Engineering kit introduces a 3 year old to the fun world of electronics and robotics.

Three year olds can build simple, non-motorized models of the robots they construct and fix. It’s part imaginative play part building a robot. It helps kids learn about engineering like how gears and wheels work. The kit’s large plastic building pieces make it easy for three year olds to assemble their own construction projects!

The robot kit comes with a storybook that features different robots. As kids read about each one they can also build a robot using the pieces in the box. It’s an interactive experience that children can build on every time they are reading it.

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4. Primary Science Deluxe Lab Set

This is one of the best science kits for 3 year olds because it has everything you need to teach kids about all aspects of science.

The kit includes a microscope, several test tubes and beakers, a stand, a dropper, an eyedropper, plastic animals and skeletons, gloves, flasks (2), rubber stoppers (6), chemical tablets, and more.

This set is perfect for any homeschool or classroom environment.

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5. My First Science Laboratory Kit

The Thames & Kosmos Kids First Science Laboratory Kit is a great way for kids to explore and experiment. The kit includes everything they need to get started in science experiments that are perfect for 3 year olds. It comes with experiment cards that include easy step-by-step instructions.

They’ll get a 12″ x 12″ x 12″ container that can hold all of the materials needed for the experiments, as well as tools like a green lab coat, goggles, magnifying glass, tweezers and stirring rods. All of the items come in labeled foam compartments within the box to keep them organized.

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The Thames & Kosmos Kids First Science Laboratory Kit offers a variety of experiments designed to entertain and educate children from ages 3 and up. These educational toys make it easy to explore one of the most compelling sciences: chemistry!

if you have an inquisitive 3 year old who loves science and wants to be able to create and experiment at home, this is a toy they’d love.

6. Learning Resources Yumology Science Sweets Lab

This is a fun science kit for 3 year olds that gets them to make their own ice pops, juices, and tasty no-bake treats with a reusable sweets lab set! They’ll learn all about measuring and color mixing through 7 fun recipes that don’t need heating or cooking.

Each Slime Lab comes with a beaker, slime strainer, sludge stirrer, slime containers, muck mixer and step-by-step recipe guide.

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7. My First Automobile Engineer Kit

This kit is a great STEM toy for 3 year olds. The Thames and Kosmos Kids First Automobile Engineer Kit comes with everything they need to build their own motorized car. It also features a booklet of instructions, so it’s an excellent introduction for those who are just learning about engineering.

That said, it also has plenty of challenges for seasoned engineers. Your child will be able to learn about gearing, axles, and gears with this kit.

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Your Questions Answered:

When should I buy a science kit for my 3-year-old?

The right time to buy a science kit for a 3 year old is when they are ready to participate in the activity. As much as possible, also check the recommended age in the box.

Which science kits should be skipped over?

Unfortunately, many of the science kits available today are not suitable for 3-year-olds. For example, some kits include dangerous chemicals that could cause harm if they are ingested or touched. These can be avoided by looking at the kit’s warning labels and seeing how safe it is to handle.

Other kits may require more than just one person to complete the activity. It’s important to note that a 3-year-old might not be able to do this on their own yet. So these types of science kits should also be passed over since they may frustrate your child by requiring a lot of adult assistance.

The Best Science Kit for 3 Year Old Kids

Focus on playing, developing curiosity and having fun.

That’s the main thing to remember when doing science activities with kids. As you well know, many 3-year-olds will not be able to grasp all the esoteric science concepts. That’s not the point at this age. The point is to get them playing with their hands and exploring new things.

And more importantly, to develop the love for exploration, asking questions and having fun while doing it.

this is a great time to:

• Learn through play
• Explore nature
• Build simple models
• Create art
• Have fun

And don’t forget to take a lot of photos. They’re only 3 year olds once. 🙂