The landing on Mars of NASA’s Perseverance rover is just one day away! After traveling more than 300 million miles, the rover is about to enter the atmosphere of Mars and write alien space landing history. NASA will live stream the historic event on its website as school children around the world align on this memorable and historically challenging mission.
Space has always had a fascination for children, and with this mission aimed at finding a past life on the red planet, the appeal of this particular mission will no doubt raise many questions and a lot of imaginative play. If your child is as enthusiastic about this mission as we are, spark that curiosity with these STEM toys that will inspire their inner astronaut, astrophysicist and NASA scientist.
1. A starter set for astronauts
Credit: KiwiCo
Kiwi Co is one of our favorite STEM kits and this space themed set is filled with fun crafts and cool tidbits.
Best for ages: 7 to 12
Be amazed by STEM activities to get your future astronauts excited about space exploration. Kiwi Co is one of our favorite STEM kits for kids, and this space theme is filled with fun DIY activities and all sorts of fun facts about space travel, from the history of space exploration to the challenges of astronaut training to amazing facts about life on the planet. international space station.
Buy the Kiwi Co Astronaut Starter Kit on KiwiCo.com for $ 29.99
2. A miniature mission to Mars
Credit: Playmobil
This Playmobil set is sure to inspire hours of imaginative play.
Best for ages: 5 to 10
Let their imaginations take them to infinity and beyond! This space station toy is ready for hours of fantasy play. The set is filled with intricate little details and lots of battery-powered bells and whistles, such as lights and sounds, to make the entire mission feel authentic, even if it never leaves the playroom floor. Astronauts, a robot, space crystals, astronaut food and hydroponic plants make it a perfect playset for any child who has ever dreamed of their own mission to Mars.
Buy the Playmobil Mars space station from Target for $ 58.99
3. A LEGO research shuttle
Credit: Lego
City Lego goes into space with this shuttle, astronaut, rover and drone set.
Best for ages: 6 and above
The stones really hug the stars, with this 273-piece set that’s ready for a red planet. The Lego enthusiast in your life will have an extraordinary experience with a space shuttle, astronauts, two drones and an alien rover with an articulated grapple arm.
Buy the Lego City Mars research shuttle from Target for $ 31.99
4. An environmentally friendly space station
Credit: PlayPress
An earth-conscious toy for kids who love space.
Best for ages: 3 to 8
This plastic-free interlocking space station is eco-friendly and space-inspiring. This interlocking building set transforms into a science and exploration station, complete with a fully opening hatch, movable solar panels and an opposing grab arm for the astronaut to work in space, as well as all miniature repair tools, logs and spacecraft. that toy astronauts need to keep their space station in top condition.
Buy the PlayPress space station from Maisonette for $ 24.99
5. A space themed music box
Credit: Janod
This music box will lull them to sleep as they dream of the stars.
Best for ages: 18 months and older
This sweet music box is an extraordinary keepsake that will capture the imagination of even the smallest space cadets. Wind it up and watch the rocket spin around the small planet (which has its own mini moon), while the music plays softly.
Buy the Janod Galaxy Music Box from Crate & Barrel for $ 24.99
6. A cuddly astronaut with a cute carrying case
Credit: MeriMeri
This soft and cuddly astronaut is sure to inspire heavenly dreams.
Best for ages: 2 to 6
Who says space isn’t comfortable? This cute, soft and stuffed astronaut doll with mini jetpack and space shuttle carrying case is just what they need when they’re ready to snuggle up and dream about the stars.
Buy the astronaut mini suitcase doll from MeriMeri for $ 32
7. A pixelated alien and astronaut set
Credit: PlusPlus
Take me to your leader!
Best for ages: 6 and above
The Perseverance is looking for signs of life! Sure, we’ve been told there aren’t actual Martians, but it’s still fun to think about what kind of neighbors occupy our red planet next door. With this cool building set, kids can imagine what kind of life forms the perseverance could find – and build the astronaut they discover.
Buy the PlusPlus alien and astronaut bundle from Amazon for $ 24.99
8. A book of the coolest space facts
Credit: Rockridge Press
This book by a planetary scientist is really packed with some of the coolest facts about space.
Best for ages: 6 to 10
Who doesn’t love super cool space facts? Almost any book by planetary scientist Dr. Bruce Betts is a good choice for a child who is truly interested in space, but this is like an exploding supernova of incredible and entertaining facts about the mystery of our galaxy and solar system and the history of space Research.
To get Super Cool Space Facts for Kids by Dr. Bruce Betts at Amazon for $ 9.98
9. A planetarium they can take home
Credit: Discovery Kids
This cool toy is a night light and a planetarium in one.
Best for ages: 3 to 10
There’s nothing like falling asleep under the stars – unless you fall asleep under huge images of Venus, Jupiter and Mars. This projector turns their bedroom into their own planetarium where they can sit in the front for the best sights in our solar system.
Buy the Discovery Kids Space and Planetarium Projector from Target for $ 24.99
10. A very cool dust ball
Credit: Humango
This globe simulates a red sand storm on Mars.
Best for ages: 5 and above
This is a must for any Mars enthusiast. Give children a real sense of what a walk through a Martian landscape will look like. This dust ball provides a bird’s-eye view of what a trek across the surface of Mars during a red sandstorm could really look like.
Buy the Humango Toys Mars Dust Globe from Amazon for $ 38
11. A series of books about catstronauts
Credit: Little Brown
A series of books about astronaut cats who must save humanity through space exploration.
Best for ages: 6 to 10
There’s nothing like a graphic novel series to spark their imaginations. In this teacher-recommended series, cats are the ultimate space travelers, and book two is all about their mission to Mars. It’s almost to see who are the first cats to land on Mars. Will it be the prized CatStronauts Major Meowser, Pom Pom, Blanket and Waffles? Or will it be their rivals, the CosmoCats?
12. A finger puppet set that is out of this world
Credit: ThatsSewPersonal
This finger puppet set is perfect for the smallest aspiring astronaut.
Best for ages: 18 months to 4
This adorable finger puppet set will inspire even the little ones to explore our galaxy. This 16-figure set includes the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Earth’s Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, an astronaut girl, an astronaut boy, a star, an alien spacecraft and a rocket. They all fit in an optional zippered carrying case.
Buy the Solar System Finger Puppet Game from Etsy for $ 4 each
13. A solar-powered space rover
Credit: Green Science
With this set, kids can make their own solar-powered rover from recyclable materials.
Best for ages: 6 and above
The Perseverance will basically be nuclear powered, but it’s still fun creating your own little moving rover powered by the sun. We love this DIY kit that turns your recycling into a STEM project and learns about alternative energy sources.
Buy the Green Science DIY Solar Mars Rover from Amazon for $ 14.99
14. An official looking spacesuit with a real NASA patch
Credit: Aeromax
Adapt them for interstellar play in the series!
Best for ages: 3 to 12
It feels pretty good looking good, and with the official NASA patch, no one will deny that your little one is shooting for the stars with their space exploration ambitions. This one comes with an Apollo 11 mission patch and the Apollo Program patch, plus a very official looking NASA embroidered cap. This is available in orange, white and pink.
Buy the Aeromax Jr. astronaut suit with cap at Amazon from $ 27
15. A space helmet for their first mission
Credit: Aeromax
This helmet gives them the feeling that they are ready to move through space.
Best for ages: 3 to 10
No mind exploration is complete without proper costume details. This helmet completes the look with a tinted movable visor, NASA logo, colorful emblems and an American flag.
Buy the Aeromax space helmet from Amazon for $ 16.95
16. A solar system mobile
Credit: 4m
A DIY mobile kit of our solar system is a fun educational toy and a cool room rendering.
Best for ages: 8 and above
They can make the solar system their own with this DIY glow-in-the-dark mobile kit. This set includes eight planets that can be clicked together and the sun, the paint to make them vivid and a hanging frame. It also comes with a poster for more fun facts about the solar system.
Buy the DIY 3D glow-in-the-dark solar system kit from Amazon for $ 20.99
17. A board game to make Mars habitable
Credit: IndieBoards
It’s a race to make Mars habitable for humans.
Best for ages: 12 and above
The year is 2400 and humanity has begun terraforming the planet Mars to make it habitable. Players must increase the temperature, oxygen level and ocean cover until the environment is habitable for human life. Who will be the first to make the planet hospitable to humans? This game has more than 200 challenges that players have to solve.
Buy the Terraforma Mars Board Game from IndieBoards on Amazon for $ 64.39
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