Hear me when I say this. Y.O.U.!
You are the key component of these kits. Too many times, people give kids these kinds of kits and them turn them loose to figure it out. Of course, some kids want to assert their independence. They’ve got this and want to do it all alone, but please be there as a backup for when they meet frustration. Be prepared to jump in with some guidance. Guidance is not always telling. It can be asking questions that lead them to discover the answer with support. When they discover or complete something, be there to celebrate. Put your phone down, look them in the eye, listen with attentiveness, and soak up these beautiful moments.
Some kids are not about independence at all. They might not need your help, but they want your attention, your fellowship. In this case, don’t do the project for them, but teamwork, encouraging them to lead as often as possible or at least try. When you give the gift, also pledge the time to enjoy it with them to create last memories and many teachable moments.
Last but not least, some children will simply not want to try. That’s okay, but let it stop you from buying the kit. Get to know your child. Use the kit to grow their confidence. With the first kit, you might do all the work and simply talk them through it, letting them enjoy it. With the next kit, maybe they will be ready to try a few new things. Don’t force it, but let it unfold organically. Enjoy the time together and build communication skills.
With any kit or game or more complicated toy, the best gift of all is growth, not the gift itself. You are the key component. You might be modeling how to do it. You might be mentoring or coaching. You might be there just to celebrate the wins. Whatever your role, remember that these gifts are not so much about what’s in the box, but who you all become in the process. It’s a time to nurture patience, persistence, and the ability to recognize that failure is part of the learning process. These kits are a platform to develop a process of learning. “What do I know?” “What do I need to know?” “How will I find out?” “What did I learn?” These are life skills that will lead to success over a life time.
- National Geographic Science Kits—Full of many hands-on step activities. I love these kits for the quality and variety. Start with one that sparks your children’s interest. When you complete that one, explore a new one. My grandchildren loved this one too: Gross Science Kit (think slimy gross stuff)
- Snap Circuits—My kids loved them. Of course, some loved it more than others, but for all, it was a fun and safe way to see how electrical circuits work. It’s a great value with hundreds of activities. The kits contain everything you need and have a helpful manual. Award winning!
- Fischertechnik Mechanical Set—Wow factor!!! This set is an investment, but it is worth it. This if full of projects that build engineering skills that move beyond play. You have to check it out. My children were fascinated by the actual working projects they could create. For my engineering-minded kids, it provided hours and hours of intense discovery. There are less expensive starter kits and add-ons.
- Stepping Stone Kit—This is both fun and practical. It has the added bonus of being able to be a gift for someone else. The mold is reusable. Once you have completed it, you will know what materials you would like to use to make more. This allows for meaningful creativity.
- Wobbles Crochet Kits—These beginner kits are so cute and help your child learn with a small project geared towards success. Here’s a thought. Buy yourself an identifical kit and learn to do it together. You can choose between a narwhal, a chick, a bluebird, a dinosaur, and a fox.
- Pot holder kit–—Budget Friendly. If you have never made a humble potholder, you don’t know what you are missing. I think every kiddo should make at least one. It’s much more than the finished product. You knew I was going to say that, right? 😉 This kit requires planning, dexterity, eye-hand coordination, and patience. It creates an awareness of patterns. You can teach a lesson about the strength and usefulness that comes from weaving it together. It’s a picture of relationships and community. I also use this kit with adults in coaching and training. I ask each pair to work in teams, each using only one hand. Another great opportunity to learn life skills, but don’t start with that one. Allow time for success that can be repeated over and over. It might even lead to a little entrepreneurial effort. Trust me, Grandmothers will pay a fortune for these. 🙂 This is budget-priced. There are sturdier ones, but I chose this one because you can buy several and use them with a group.
- Tovla Jr Chocolate Making Kit—Let’s be honest, the chocolate alone would sell me on this, but there’s a reason I prefer this kit. It’s durable and reusable. It contains real-life, simple-to-use tools and an easy-to-follow guide. Once children are successful, this gift keeps on giving when they can make gifts or sell their confections to family and friends.
- Tovia Jr. Gummy Kit—For all the same reasons as the chocolate kit, with one exception. I’m not a fan of artificial colors or a lot of sugar. I was one of those parents who had children who strongly reacted to artificial coloring: easily frustrated, not sleeping, prolonged crying, etc. That means I was extra careful about avoiding that. In the “old” days, we were kinda sorta stuck with our own attempts at natural food coloring. Today, you can easily find an assortment of natural coloring. One more plus, is that with your participation, they can learn to use these molds to make nutritional gummies that could boost immunity.
WINS: creativity, relationships, cooperation, coordination, planning, independence, entrepreneurship, stem skills, resilience
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