Solar System gift for a space mad kid

[Pflanzgarten]

Main caveat, she's 4 years old...

Wife is a scientist, kids are science mad but the youngest has an absolute mega interest in space and the planets. At the moment, talks about them every day, as soon as she comes out of school tells me all about what space things she has learned. Smart kid but at 4 year old has the attention span of a gnat.

Her sister is getting into biology so a Microscope looms (requested) but the space mad one?

We've had things that project a picture of space on her ceiling. Great for ten mins. One of those things that show the planets going around the sun-again, more of an objet d'art for an adult and a passing interest for a kid.

A space exploration DVD? I have a 3D cinema screen I guess but they get so bored at that age...

Any ideas? The Osborne books (spelling?) that enthralled us as kids are really aimed at kids who can actually read more than 3 letter words so I'm at a loss. So if you lot are into it, what do you recommend getting the next generation into it with?

[Pflanzgarten]

andburg said:

Lego rocket or shuttle?

Depends on the area but there may be a local observatory, could be a real go big moment? A proper observatory could really inspire

That was answered by google! I get it, plus I'd love to spend a weekend building a lego saturn with her but knowing the kid she'd get bored I reckon and not really relate it to space travel as even the huge Lego Saturn 5 doesn't fit mini figs in it so she can relate to what it is compared to her..

It's a tricky one...

[Pflanzgarten]

London is a mission unfortunately, although on the list to go with the kids next year. I've ordered a 3D Bluray exploring the solar system for her but again, that'll be something that gets watched once in a while.

I'm sure there'll be some sort of stem toys out there it's just my google-foo is letting me down on this one.

[Pflanzgarten]

bigandclever said:

This might be a bit wk, but could you do the old 'name a star' thing and make an evening of spotting it? Might have a bit of longevity to it, 'remember when..' and all that.

And a dangerously massive bag of Haribo

We did think of a telescope, what with big sister getting her microscope and lab coat! I just figured that anything that could be handled by a four year old would be a bit crap and anything better a bit complicated.

Love the idea though.

[Pflanzgarten]

The_Doc said:

Ahem...

You must have googled that around two hours after I did! Even that states that visitors should be over six years old however and that’s sort of the point of the post-she’s just a little bit too young/small for some of the experiences suggested.

[Pflanzgarten]

RizzoTheRat said:

I find Wicked Uncle is a great site for this kind of thing, they have loads of science and educational stuff and you can filter by age

eg
Little Astronauts game https://www.wickeduncle.co.uk/presents/all/age-4/l...
Glowing stars and space ships to decorate her room https://www.wickeduncle.co.uk/presents/all/age-4/l...
Projector https://www.wickeduncle.co.uk/presents/all/age-4/s...

Brilliant website-thank you!

I caved in and bought the TikTok viral spaceman projector (google it if you haven't seen it)-two for £6.50 delivered and the Chinese government getting all my details. Bloody hell I fired it up tonight and it's amazing!

Also got a National Geographic 3D Blu-Ray of our solar system but there's still room for something else.