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Subject of Interest

Some great science kits are geared toward a specific subject, such as: 

Biology: This may include activities usually related to gardening and growing plants.

Chemistry: This may consist of color-changing chemicals, invisible ink, or growing jiggly crystals.

Physics: Introduces the idea of building a robot or learning about energy and momentum.

Fully Equipped

A good kit includes all the necessary equipment to do a science project. It’s good to have all the supplies to make it easier for kids to do activities at home or in school. 

Step-by-Step Instruction

A good science kit should have a step-by-step approach to be used in a more challenging way for a more classroom-like learning experience.

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Quality

One of the essential factors you should consider when choosing a science kit is making sure that the product works properly. This is also beneficial for your child as they will be more engaged in the activities. 

Age Appropriate

Look for an appropriate science kit for your child’s age. Those kits meant for older kids often require more analytical skills and contain hazardous materials, and they might be challenging or unsafe for younger kids.

Price Value

Look for a science kit that suits your budget. Or, most importantly, choose the one that’s worth its price.

Safety

It’s important to read through all the warnings and labels on a toy before buying it to ensure your child’s safety. Check if there are any sharp edges or pointy parts on the toy. Check if any tiny parts might come off the toy and pose a choking hazard for your child.

Educational Value

Toys for kids that provide educational value are important for a child’s development because they provide a creative outlet for kids that may not be found in other areas of their life. They also teach kids valuable lessons about sharing, taking turns, and being patient while waiting for their turn.

Specialized Tools & Equipment Required

While educational toys can help your kid’s learning, some toys need special equipment to build them. Some need screws and other materials to complete building robots. Others need additional materials not included in an experiment kit. Before buying STEM-related toys, ensure that you can get the special materials needed.

Eco-Friendly

Some parents want to make sustainable choices, including the toy they buy for their kids. Buying an eco-friendly STEM toy reduces plastic consumption in their households. An eco-friendly toy is also safe for kids because they use non-toxic materials and paints. Parents can opt for a plastic-free design or a toy made from sustainable materials.

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Recommended Age

Age recommendations are usually based on the developmental level of the child. This means that they should be able to play with the toy without any difficulties, but they should also learn something new while playing with it. A toy should always be age-appropriate, so check the recommended age group before buying it.

Supervision Requirements

Parents should also be aware of the necessary supervision requirements for safe play. There are different types of toys and different supervision requirements for each kind. For example, adults should supervise kids when playing with a toy that uses sharp points or edges. This toy can cause injury, cuts, and other potential hazards without proper supervision.

Number of Pages

One of the top things to consider when buying a lab notebook is its purpose. In short, the number of pages that it contains, both top and copy page, should cover the entire activity or experiment to be conducted. 

For instance, if you’re conducting basic research, you may opt to use 60 to 100 pages. For longer studies, you can go for 240 to 312 pages.

Paper Quality 

Considering that experiments or research can be mind-boggling, jotting down notes or creating tables can be time-consuming. So when choosing a laboratory notebook, make sure to buy the one with the best quality and longer lifespan, and if you can, opt for those offering acid-free archival paper that can last from 20 up to 1000 years.

Size

Choosing the ideal size of a laboratory notebook also matters. Most brands offer a standard size of 8.5 x 11 inches, similar to the dimension of a short bond paper. However, other manufacturers offer a bit smaller or larger size. 

Thus, it depends on the user whether to go for the size standard or opt for a smaller or larger notebook, as the decision relies on their preferences.

Durability

A lab notebook can be used for different purposes like applying for funding from an organization, as a reference for questions about an experiment, and for other researchers to study [3]. Thus, it should be built with durable materials from the outer cover to the page binding to ensure that the documents can last for years and serve their purpose.

With or Without Hardcover?

Another important thing to consider before purchasing a lab notebook is whether to use a softbound or a hardcover. Although others prefer to use the one without hardcover, it is ideal to purchase a hardbound book if you’re planning to store it for the years to come. Take note that hardcovers protect the pages, thereby extending the lifespan of a notebook. 

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With or Without Pocket & Pen Holder?

In terms of convenience, a pocket and pen holder are ideal if you’re constantly moving during an experiment or research. It helps keep things organized and handy as you can have everything in the notebook related to the specific experiment. 

However, continuous use of the pocket may cause further damage to the cover. Thus, if you’re looking to store the notebook, you may opt for a laboratory notebook without a pocket and pen holder.

Refillable 

Conducting research and experiments is quite unpredictable, especially if you’re studying new findings or developing ideas. That’s why it is ideal to use refillable laboratory notebooks to ensure that you can document everything, especially if any changes occur or new hypotheses are made. 

In addition, a refillable notebook can help organize in one place all the relevant information regarding your experiment.

Aesthetic

Yes, an electronic laboratory notebook should be handy and nice; nothing beats having a well-designed lab notebook in your hand. It is best to go for lab books that suit your both your taste and needs. 

There are varying design covers, like a fully laminated or clear cover or a hardbound with patterns and different colors. Furthermore, it is ideal for legal and storing purposes to have a laboratory notebook that looks professionally bound. 

Leaf Format

The leaf format is important in a laboratory notebook. It should be numbered to organize the documents perfectly and have scientific grid format page dimensions for creating graphs or other illustrations. 

For instance, if your purpose is to jot down notes, one with a college ruling is recommended. Meanwhile, grid ruling is ideal for making illustrations in Organic Chemistry. It is best to go for a scientific notebook that has both formats.

Price

The price matters when buying a laboratory notebook. Since different brands and products offer varying features, the price will differ. 

However, the price should match the features that the lab books offer. It usually ranges from around $5 to $25, and anything beyond that may be too expensive, especially if it also has the same features as the others. 

A spiral-bound one is pricier than sewn pages as you can refill them, saving you more money than buying another scientific notebook. 

Complexity Of The Experiment

When buying chemistry sets for adults, it’s smart to seek more advanced scientific kits containing complex experiments. Although research suggests that children are also equipped to understand complex concepts [1], grown-ups are better cognitively developed and would better appreciate a kit that appeals to their more advanced level of understanding. 

Number of Experiments Included

The best chemistry sets include a good deal of experimentations so more learning can be assimilated. Many short and simple experiments are ideal for a child’s age, while the older audiences would like more complicated ones. 

Having a few yet complex and challenging experiments wouldn’t be so bad either. What’s important is that the kit appeals to the cognitive needs of the user.

Levels Of Difficulty & Fun

It would take adults lesser time to learn chemistry than kids would. So an average to advanced level of difficulty for a kit is appropriate for older users. 

Most grown-ups wouldn’t classify “fun” as a parameter for selection, so there’s no imminent need, say, for a crystal-growing activity in the kit. What matters is the concept that the kit imparts.

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Included Equipment 

The number and types of equipment are inconsequential if the activities in the kit don’t require them. Most kids love more stacked inclusions, but only the necessary ones are required for older users. 

When looking for chemistry kits, search for those that utilize all the equipment mentioned in the kit.

Easy To Follow Procedure

Reading comprehension and metacognition is highly dependent on age [2]. While younger users may require more in-depth and clear-cut explanations and procedures, older people can understand procedures that might seem complex or fuzzy. 

So an easy-to-follow procedure is not necessarily required, but adult learners would better comprehend basic instructions for the experiments.

Easy to Understand Manual

Same with the procedure, a manual is ideal to be easily understandable so both kids and older users alike may comprehend the information more accessibly. Plus, a complete and colored manual helps in engagement. 

If an adult learner is new to chemistry, an easy-to-understand manual is ideal to supplement their understanding of the concepts.

Availability of Resources

What good is a chemistry science kit if the resources needed for experimenting are not readily available? 

In selecting the best chemistry sets above, we ensured that each one included resources for every experimentation in their manual. Otherwise, there is no point in the kit if state regulations would limit learners from obtaining the molecules or the reactants needed.

Some chemistry kits use common household items too, which is helpful.

Price

Naturally, the best chemistry set for adults are those that don’t break the bank. However, you have to expect a good value for money for more expensive chemistry sets. 

The price would highly depend on what experimental procedures are included, plus other perks like tools and manuals. The price rarely matters as long as the kit is a good bang for one’s buck, like Thames & Kosmos C3000.

Interest

The best science kits for teens are the ones that resonate with your child’s interests and preferences. Before buying one, make sure you know what they’re passionate about so they’ll be more motivated to go through the kit. Say, if they like solutions or Harry Potter, a chemistry kit might be the best choice.

Level of Expertise/Knowledge in Science

Although a science kit is meant to teach basic science concepts, a certain level of background knowledge is imperative to optimize the learning experience. The purpose of STEM kits is to reinforce their learning on a subject. So it’s ideal for kids with no background on subjects to focus on basic STEM playthings before they try more advanced kits out.

Branch of Science

Some branches are more complicated than others, and you must also consider this when choosing what science kit to get your child. For instance, a biology kit may only deal with microscopy and exploration that incites curiosity, while a programming kit requires critical thinking and knowledge of programming languages. 

This means that buying this for young children might be reconsidered. Ask your teenager about their preferred scientific branch to gain a better insight. [3]

Included Equipment

As long as the included equipment for the science experiments is available, then there should be no issues. Although sometimes, a science kit requires separate ingredients or chemicals, and certain states restrict said chemicals.

In cases as such, steer clear from kits that ask you to buy separate ingredients and go for those that include all the needed equipment for the experiments.

Easy To Understand Manual

A clear manual is a must, especially if the target of STEM kits are children and younger teens, as this makes the learning process and instruction-following more manageable. Moreover, consider their gross and fine motor skills when searching for kits to buy as this will highly affect how they use the toy. [4]

Famous STEM toy companies like National Geographic and Thames & Kosmos give the best instruction manuals in their kits which other toy companies should follow.

Availability of Necessary Resource Materials

Most science toys include all the necessary resources to fulfill all activities included in the package. For some instances where external resources are needed, companies usually provide links to supplement learning. If toys don’t include all the necessary and complementary resources, then that’s a red flag to watch out for.

Always read reviews and the product pages to be up-to-date on customers’ thoughts and perceptions of the product.

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Number of Activities

Ideally, your kit should contain as many activities as possible for the learning to be continuous and consistent. Although, few activities are acceptable as long as they’re descriptive, comprehensive, and lengthy to finish. Look for activities that promote hands-on learning, as these are more effective in getting children engaged. 

Durability

Durability is a key pillar when selecting STEM toys. Given children’s naughty and active nature, there is a likelihood that toys get destroyed easily from mishandling. Choose toys with premium or at least high-quality builds. 

Avoid plastic as much as possible, especially in toys for younger, choking hazard-prone kids. However, plastic is considered safe for perfectly conscious teenagers during play.

Affordability

Ideally, cheaper toys are better since they can help you save more money. However, the price influences the quality of materials that you get out of the box most of the time. 

“Things with interesting parts and well-made tools will go so much farther than a big box of cheap stuff.” — Douglas Bowker, Animator 

The best thing to do is to find the balance between price and quality. An expensive yet effective science kit is so much more valuable than cheap, ineffective toys.