As plans for the fall are still up in the air, there are certain products that can help ease the anxiety and prepare kids for a successful school year ahead, regardless of whether they continue remote learning or head back for traditional in-person learning.
From buildable magnetic toys to science kits, these products allow kids to explore valuable hands-on tools and STEM subjects that will engage them in educational fun before school even begins. Here are some of our favorite picks from our friends at Thames and Kosmos.
Ooze Labs: Colorful Crystal Lab
Explore the natural beauty and wonder of crystals by growing them yourself in many different shapes and colors! Set up your lab station — complete with beakers, test tubes, centrifuge, display dome, and more — and use safe, non-toxic crystal salts to conduct more than ten experiments in crystal formation.
You can even make red, pink, blue, purple, and clear crystals using the spinning centrifuge! After you’ve completed the experiments in the kit, continue your crystal growing adventures using the cool lab setup and common materials from around your home. Rec0mmended for kids ages 6+ and retails for just $29.95.
Kids First Crystals, Rocks, and Minerals
Unearth the secrets of geology as you dig deep into the science of rocks and minerals and the crystals that form them. Through 18 hands-on experiments, kids will discover some pretty amazing things about geology, mineralogy, and crystal growing. Become a geologist-in-training as you mold your own crystal geode and grow three different types of crystals that vary in color and shape.
Work with real mineral specimens to learn how to determine a mineral’s chemical properties such as color, luster, streak color, hardness, density, magnetic properties, and carbon, sulfur, or iron content and use your findings to identify unknown minerals. As you explore, you’ll get an overview of the geologic rock cycle and discover how the three main categories of rock — igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic — are formed, altered, destroyed, and formed again. Recommended for kids ages 8+ and retails for just $44.95.
Brainwaves
Brainwaves is a series of games developed by game designers and neuro scientists with which players can challenge their episodic memory — their recent memory of autobiographical events. These compact, card based games are designed and scientifically proven to exercise the brain to improve memory functions.
These innovative memory games place demands on three types of brain functions: fluid intelligence, working memory, and long-term memory. Including, Brainwaves: The Astute Goose, Brainwaves: The Brilliant Boar and Brainwaves: The Wise Whale. Rec0mmended for kids ages 8+ and retails for just $14.95 each.
Magformers Amazing Rescue 50-Piece Set
Click and create your own adventure with Magformers AMAZING Rescue 50-Piece Set! Magformers are a magnetic construction toy where the possibilities are endless. Build and create your own fire adventure.
Build a fire station and fire truck, add wheels and fire accessories. This 50 piece set comes with 24 magnetic pieces, 2 characters and emergency vehicle accessories and much more to keep the city safe. Rec0mmended for kids ages + and retails for just $59.99. 
