STEM subscriptions for kids

[anonymous-user]

We're looking to get something delivered each month for our 5yo to have a go at, anything techy or manual, so stuff to build, experiments, puzzles, anything like that.

We've seen various adverts pop up for subscription services but have no idea what's good and what's poor value. Anyone do anything like this already?

[Miss VR]

Use these in lessons sometimes:
https://kitronik.co.uk/

[anonymous-user]

Thanks looks interesting, although we'd have to balance what he can do himself vs what he'd need guidance with.

Looked at a few of the subs in detail and it seems a bit like HelloFresh etc where if you just want something good delivered without having to think about it they're great, but you can save a bit and probably get some more targeted stuff by buying it yourself, so we'll probably just do that.

If was up to him he would just get a new Lego set every week!

[JonChalk]

Bought a couple of these for my 10 year old niece for Christmas (santa's workshop and domino machine).

https://www.kiwico.com

There's much wider range of kits in the subscription service.

[anonymous-user]

JonChalk said:

Bought a couple of these for my 10 year old niece for Christmas (santa's workshop and domino machine).

https://www.kiwico.com

There's much wider range of kits in the subscription service.

That's one that we looked at - did it seem like good value for what you get? And are they a once and done thing or would she go back to them again and again?

[JonChalk]

ScotHill said:

JonChalk said:

Bought a couple of these for my 10 year old niece for Christmas (santa's workshop and domino machine).

https://www.kiwico.com

There's much wider range of kits in the subscription service.

That's one that we looked at - did it seem like good value for what you get? And are they a once and done thing or would she go back to them again and again?

The santa's workshop is a once and done kind of thing, but looked good enough that my sister said it would come out every Christmas. Some of the items are stuck in with double-sided tape. All the wooden parts are just physically interlocked, so they could come apart again.

Not sure about the domino machine - that would probably be a one-time thing too.

Helped them put the workshop together when visiting before Christmas, and they are well-thought out and put together, my 10 year old niece had no problem following the instructions.

[Origin Unknown]

We had good success with MEL Chemistry sets. https://melscience.com/GB-en/chemistry/

Subscription service, not exactly cheap, but all of the experiments were engaging enough to hold the attention of my two kids up until about 10 I would say.

[aberdeeneuan]

Lego club is free, the magazine they send often has challenges in it for the kids to do.

[GetCarter]

Not on subscription but Gravitrax is used extensively in Germany as a STEM tool.

I'm slightly older than 5, but have a lot of logic fun with it on a rainy afternoon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIYO_cplqng

Starter sets on Amazon. It says age 8, but I know of others aged 6 who love it. ...and dads too!

Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 29th January 13:54

[ChocolateFrog]

JonChalk said:

Bought a couple of these for my 10 year old niece for Christmas (santa's workshop and domino machine).

https://www.kiwico.com

There's much wider range of kits in the subscription service.

Was going to recommend these too.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks, could even subscribe to something for a couple of months and then switch to keep it interesting.

Beats getting the Beano once a week anyway.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks, could even subscribe to something for a couple of months and then switch to keep it interesting.

Beats getting the Beano once a week anyway.