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Entertain Kids This Summer With These 10 Activity Kits
Stock up on project kits that will keep your kids — from elementary-aged to teens — off screens and having fun this summer.
As we bid farewell to another school year, my thoughts are turning to summer. And while I have my summer bucket list ready with ideas for the kids such as watching fireflies, playing in the sprinkler and reading the next Harry Potter book, I know those long summer days can stretch on endlessly sometimes. Having a back pocket full of projects and crafts is my plan to keep the boredom at bay this year.
Keep scrolling for a fun-filled list of activity kits to hone STEM skills, get your kids out of the house and into nature and hopefully learn a new skill or two.
Your promising geologist will have a blast growing eight colorful crystals. In addition to learning how molecules form into crystals, kids will be able to display their newly grown treasures on the included stand (which lights up the creations!).
KiwiCo has creative kits for every interest and age group. We love getting their monthly subscription boxes, but you can also buy individual kits without having to commit to a subscription. This set of three projects is ideal for ages 9 to 16, and guides your tween or teen through clever engineering strategies.
Head outdoors and transform your backyard into an adventure zone. Complete with hanging hardware, tree protectors, steel cable and adjustable seat, this zipline kit is easy to install — all you need is an 8 to 10 percent slope.
Oh, the slime. Kids adore this ooey-gooey stuff, and this awesome kit seamlessly combines chemistry and art together. One batch makes chalkboard slime that kids can doodle on with the included chalkboard markers, and the other batch makes a glow-in-the-dark slime for illuminated play.
Create an escape room adventure without leaving your house. After downloading the digital files, simply print out the seven puzzles and play. Make it more advanced by hiding pieces around the room or get into the spirit of the theme with dress-up clothes or decorations.
Start your little scientist out with a beginner microscope to investigate and magnify all their teeny-tiny finds. Send her out into the yard to gather specimens, and then let her discover everything she can with the slides, scalpel, tweezers and vials.
Get crafty with this basket-making kit. An illustrated instruction manual and a link to a step-by-step video tutorial guides your kids through how to prepare and dye the yarn, and then weave three sizes of baskets.
Beckoning all future architects, this clever kit lets you build your own tiny house. Kids ages 8 and older are able to click the modular components (more than 115!) together easily and quickly to create different home designs.
Designed for ages 14 and up, this wooden puzzle will help your teen set his phone down for a couple hours and get his mechanical mind working. The combination of cogs, gears, lifters and switches sends marbles racing through the roller coaster maze.
Let kids create their own zoo at home. Challenge cards guide them through 20 fun building tasks to put their STEM skills to the test. Once they've built the habitats, they have 24 animals to fill up their little zoo.
