Gift Ideas for Brainy Kids


Updated 11/24/23

What are the best educational gift ideas for intelligent children? The article provides a curated list of over 70 unique and educational gift ideas suitable for brainy kids of various ages. These gifts are selected to stimulate young minds, encourage creativity, and foster a love of learning. Options range from inexpensive to more costly, covering subjects like math, engineering, and science. Below is my curated list of unique and educational gift ideas for brainy kids. These hand-picked items are perfect for stimulating young minds, encouraging creativity, and fostering a lifelong love of learning.

There are plenty of great birthday gifts and Christmas presents to help intelligent kids of all ages get smarter…and lots of presents that will waste your kid’s time and money. I hope this list of educational math, engineering, and science gift ideas will help you find better options. Below are my suggestions for the best gifts for intelligent kids.

Each educational present idea includes a link to the item on Amazon.com, suggested age levels, and dollar signs to indicate the relative expense of each gift.

I have highlighted the costs of the gifts as follows:

  • $ – One $ sign indicates an inexpensive present of less than $30.
  • $$ Two $$ signs indicate a moderately expensive present of $30-100.
  • $$$- Three $$$ signs indicate gifts costing $100 or more.

Quick Gift Index By Child’s Interest:

All of the present ideas on this list have been handpicked because they are suitable for kids’ brains, develop smart creativity, and are at least to some extent educational and good learning toys.

I have direct experience with many, if not most, of the items on this list; others have come highly recommended. If you have any ideas to add to this list of presents for smart kids, please send me your comments below.

[BTW, if you have a birthday party coming up, here are some suggestions for fun places to have the birthday event and some ideas for party favors!]

Gift Ideas

My “Gifts for Gifted Kids” Top Toy Picks of the Month

  1. Mini Drone
    This is really fun, and easy to fly. It’s an indoor mini drone for beginners that will teach your child the thinking and basics needed to move on to more advanced drones. I have found it to be pretty indestructible…And the price is right too!
    Ages: 7+
    Cost: $
  2. Ken Jennings Books
    Ken Jennings has a great series of books called the Junior Genius Guides. There are currently six books. They are great. Titles include Outer Space, Ancient Egypt, U.S. Presidents, Greek Mythology, Human Body and Maps and Geography. These books are witty, memorable, and entertaining. Gifted kids who don’t always enjoy non-fiction books will still enjoy these while learning useful facts to impress their friends, parents, and teachers. Several years later my kids still occasionally quote information from these books.  Also, check out Ken’s other books such as “Because I Said So.” I would recommend this as a gift for gifted 6 year olds.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 6-10
  3. Laptop Stand Desk 
    While not a fun gift, this one is practical and inexpensive for what it is. With virtual learning becoming so prevalent, kids, especially older kids may want something a little more “adult” to keep their laptops on while they work on schoolwork. We purchased one of these, and it’s pretty good for the price.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages: 12+
  4. 24 Game
    This is a low-cost card game that is excellent for improving the automatic math skills of kids (and adults). Practice math facts while having fun. In short, you have to find. away to make 24 out of the numbers on the cards with addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division. There is a single-digit version and a double-digit version of the game.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 8+  (Or  younger)
  5. Candy Chemistry
    This is a fun idea – learn chemistry while making things like rock candy, chocolates, gummy bears, wintergreen candies, and more. The same manufacturer also offers a lower-cost kit that focuses only on gummy bear making.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages: 10 – 15
  6. Sphero Mini
    A programmable robotic ball that helps kids learn to code while playing games. Also, check out the larger-sized Bolt version of this excellent, fun toy.
    Age: 5+
    Cost: $$
  7. FamZoo.com Financial Literacy Debit Card
    Okay, this one is a standout in this list of gifts because this one is a gift that keeps giving and can help families by changing the way you give allowance and rewards. It’s a Visa debit card for each kid in your family. You can transfer money to their cards when they earn it or regularly automatically. Kids can even set up an account for the charity. My kids have benefitted from making their purchases and getting a handle on how much they have to spend. Check out my FamZoo review or go directly to FamZoo.
    Age: 5+
    Cost: $ – $$$
  8. Riddles and Trick Questions for Kids and Family
    This book is fun and gets everyone thinking with great brain teasers and puzzles. A great low-cost gift that any brainy kid and their family would enjoy. When my girls were 7 & 8 they loved this book. We got a lot of mileage from it and others like it, such as “Difficult Riddles for Smart Kids.”
    Cost: $
    Ages: 7+
  9. Terrarium Kit
    Inexpensive terrarium kit that glows in the dark. It is also a bit of a craft: fun to assemble and a great STEM experience.
    Cost: $
    Ages: 4 – 7
  10. Three Sticks Geometry Game
    Great game for sharpening geometry skills and creativity while having fun. Award-winning.
    Cost: $$
    Ages: 8+
  11. Rocketbook Everlast Fusion
    This is a great birthday or back-to-school gift for gifted 11-year-olds and older kids (High School or even adults with lots of meetings or anyone who takes lots of notes). Much more than just a notebook: this is an erasable notebook supported by an app that is used to take photos of the notes and send them to the cloud for permanent storage and organization. For a lower-cost option, look at the original Rocketbook Everlast or Read my full Rocketbook review.
    Cost: $$
  12. The Zoob Builderz STEM Challenge Kit
    This was better than I thought and my whole family enjoys it. This is a “build-it kit” with many parts that fit together, wheels, rubber bands, and string. They give you challenges, such as building a car with a retractable roof, with little guidance, and you have to figure out your solution to build the car and the roof with the parts provided. This is a great engineering toy for kids because it’s so flexible.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages: The ages for this kit are 6+, but don’t be put off by that if you have an older kid. I’d say up to 9-11 years old (or possibly beyond) would like to have this as a gift.
  13. Aerogarden Hydroponic Garden
    Kids love to grow plants, especially when the results are edible. Aerogarden has some great options for kids or the whole family to learn about plants and enjoy some fresh herbs, salad greens, tomatoes, peppers, or flowers. Several levels/options are available. Gardeners aged 6 and up might enjoy the Herbie pizza activity kit. There is also a nice 3-pod solution or 6 pod solution available. You may also be interested in the more advanced ultra kit.
    Cost: $$- $$$
    Suggested Ages: The ages for this kit are 6+. The Herbie kit is specially made for kids, but the other kits are great gifts for kids 10 and up.
  14. Tinkering Labs Robotics Engineering Kit
    DIY robotics engineering kit for children age 7 to 11 years old. The kit includes 10 electronics challenges that let kids use their imaginations.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages: 7 – 11
  15. Augmented Reality Anatomy T-Shirt
    It might not quite be great for the squeamish, but this is a cool idea and a great implementation. Point a smartphone at this t-shirt and get a human anatomy lesson like none other. Great science gift!
    Cost: $

General Gift Ideas for Smart Kids

  1. Walkie Talkies
    This is a great gift that can be relatively practical. There are loads of different walkie-talkies on the market. Just know that most of them DO NOT have the reach they advertise–not even close unless it’s line-of-sight, mountain-top to mountain-top. Even so, these are inexpensive and great fun, even if it is just local fun. The set linked is the Motorola TalkAbout 3-pack. For something much cheaper but still, with good ratings, this set seems nice and durable. If you need a 4-pack, this set looks pretty good.
    Cost: $ / $$
    Suggested Ages: 6-12
  2. MEL’s monthly STEM kit for kids
    This looks like a great idea, but I haven’t tried it. Amazon will send your child a STEM toy each month. You can select their age range (3-4, 5-7, 8-13 years old) and the rest will happen automatically.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages: Ages 3-13
  3. Magic School Bus Chemistry Kit
    The Magic School Bus Science kit has lots of great science activities that will keep your child busy and engaged.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages: 5-12+
  4. Globes
    Globes and maps of the earth are a must-have for any smart kid. Here is a decent globe… If a good globe is out of the budget, consider getting a Painless Learning World Map Placemat guaranteed to spark exciting mealtime conversations. For something a little different, and with less utility, consider this magnetic levitation floating globe.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 3-7
  5. Lab Coat
    Who doesn’t look smart wearing a lab coat? And they offer special insignias for doctors, vets, STEM, and Rocket Scientists… Basic coats cost about $16 on Amazon, but you can go up from there. My girls had fun with these and used them for Halloween costumes more than once.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 6-10
  6. A custom-made puzzle
    Take a photo of the boy or girl doing a puzzle, then have a puzzle made on Amazon based on that photo. For a few years, I had a tradition going where I had a photo of my girls doing a puzzle in which they were doing a puzzle, doing a puzzle…kind of fun, but it got too difficult to work out the detail in the photos because they canvas is a bit small. Nevertheless, a fun and unusual gift!
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 5-9
  7. Educational Placemats
    Let the super-smart kid in your life squeeze in some extra learning while they eat. It is surprisingly effective, and I have to say that some of these mats are true works of art. There are many of these with maps, presidents, periodic table of elements, bugs, planets, weather, types of butterflies, rocks/geology, astronomy, and multiplication tables. My kids learned a lot from having these placemats around. Still, today, even though my daughter is 12 years old, she remembers facts she learned when she was a toddler of 3 or 4.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 1 – 7
  8. Classic Games
    These two classic games allow for family fun and keep your child thinking: Chinese Checkers and Scrabble.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 8+
  9. LED Backpack – PIX Programmable LED Backpack 
    This gift is pricey, and I haven’t had a chance to get my hands on one, but I know plenty of kids who would have a great time customizing their backpacks digitally with LEDs that can display millions of colors. Sky’s the limit on what could be displayed: Favorite bands, logos, sayings, perhaps even equations for some of the true math nerdy children I know. It even does animations. It’s roomy and can hold a laptop.
    Age: 8+
    Cost: $$$

Non-Fiction Books

There is no shortage of great books for advanced kids. Here are some book ideas for kids of various ages. Depending on how advanced they are, they may benefit from any of these.

  1. Ken Jennings Books
    Ken Jennings has a great series of books called The Junior Genius Guides. There are currently six books. They are great. Titles include Outer Space, Ancient Egypt, U.S. Presidents, Greek Mythology, Human Body, and Maps and Geography. These books are witty, memorable, and entertaining. Gifted kids who don’t always enjoy non-fiction books will still enjoy these while learning useful facts to impress their friends, parents, and teachers. Several years later, my kids still occasionally quote information from these books. Available as a box set. Also, check out Ken’s other books, such as “Because I Said So.” I would recommend this as a gift for gifted 6-year-olds.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 6-10
  2. Almanacs
    Another one of my favorite choices is Kid’s Almanacs. ❇ National Geographic Kids Almanac and National Geographic Kid’s Infopedia are great for kids who read starting from 5 or 6 years old. My girls found these very engaging. One of them picked up the almanac periodically to learn a fact or two, the other read it several times, cover to cover, and even got her friends reading them too. An inexpensive and worthwhile birthday, Christmas/Holiday gift! You may also want to look for similar books from National Geographic such as “National Geographic Kids Why?: Over 1,111 Answers to Everything,” I haven’t actually read this one, but it looks very interesting. I think my kids would probably like it a lot. You may also want to look at “National Geographic Brain Games,” “Bet You Didn’t Know: Fascinating, Far Out, and Fun-Tastic Facts,” and the “National Geographic Weird But True Collector’s Set.”
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 6-10
  3. Chess Book and Chess Set
    There are some great chess books for kids. It’s never too early for any kid to learn how to play this classic brain game. You might consider pairing this book with a new chess set such as this decent-quality wooden chess set. If your child is already a chess fan, and you want to get something fancier, there are giant chess sets that use pieces like these for outdoor chess ($$$).
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 6+
  4. Logic Puzzle books
    Your young genius may also enjoy the Perplexors series of logic puzzle books. They recommend ages 8-10 for this book, but they have several levels. These are fun, interesting, and inexpensive. Older kids (13+) might like “The Master Theorem – A Book of Puzzles, Intrigue, and Wit” — these are definitely “next level.” See more logic puzzles below.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Age: 8-10 (and 13+)
  5. Analogy Challenges
    This is a great educational gift suggestion. These books come in several levels.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Age: 7-10
  6. Greg Tang Math Books
    For younger kids who are just starting to learn math concepts, there are some great books by Greg Tang. For example, “Math Potatoes: Mind-Stretching Brain Food” and “The Grapes of Math” provide simple but helpful math riddles for kids. These are fun, interesting books, and as a former elementary school math teacher, I recommend them–they surely help kids think about math differently, and many kids will find them enjoyable.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 5-9
  7. Drawing Books
    Some very good books teach drawing skills–very important for the future inventor. I especially like this one, which teaches you how to draw in 3-D / Perspective drawing.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 7-13
  8. Make Your Own books
    If your child is a literary genius who would rather write than read, they may like to get started with these short blank books. They make a nice keepsake too. My kids had a great time with them. I will say that it got to be expensive to keep ordering more.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages: 5-8

Best Gifts For Smart Toddlers

Here are a few gift ideas for the youngest children. Given a chance, and some encouragement, kids can learn quite a bit from some of these.

  1. Busy Board – For the youngest toddlers, the busy board is a time-tested idea. This one has plenty of gadgets to keep your child busy.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested ages 1+
  2. Gears Building Toys – This will keep the smart kids in your life busy. Understanding the physics of gears is a great brain-building activity that reinforces dexterity, creative thinking, and motor skills.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested ages 3+
  3. LeapFrog DVD series
    These are great for teaching kids to read, and they like to watch them. There is a whole series to meet kids where they are on the road to learning to read (and math, too!). BTW, if you’re interested in teaching your kids to read early, consider Hooked on Phonics. BTW, you may also want to have a look at my list of educational kid’s TV shows for other worthwhile entertainment.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 1-5+
  4. Pengoloo
    This game is great for memory skill development, color recognition, and more. A fun, very good gift for toddlers. It’s a game that people of any age can enjoy, but of course, the best part is seeing your kids enjoying the game, especially when they beat the adults! I recommend this as a top game for toddlers.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 3-6+
  5. Educational placemats
    As mentioned above, some wonderful educational placemats make learning while eating fun. For example, this ABC placemat or this one on bugs and insects.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 1-8
  6. Periodic Table Building Blocks
    Well-made, non-toxic blocks with the periodic table of elements on them. You may need a chemist to go with these for maximum educational value, but they’re cool, nerdy, and probably will result in someone learning something about the elements. Cost: $$
    Suggested ages: 2 years+

Gift Ideas for Gifted Older Kids

Microscopes

Microscopes are a staple of brainydom. Try to get a decent one, though–in my opinion, there is nothing worthwhile under the $75 range, as far as I know. The very cheap microscopes are just frustrating and fall short. They all have issues with lighting and don’t do well with magnification–that means they’ll be abandoned after a few uses.

  1. Carson BugLoupe 5x Magnifier (HU-55)
    My only exception is for younger kids: there is something called a “bug microscope” which lets kids magnify a bug from the top and bottom as it walks around in a small container; these are only $10-15 and are great fun for some kids.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 3-6
  2. Mobile Phone (Android & iPhone) Microscope Attachments
    This clever device is cool and practical, and gift-worthy. You can attach it to your mobile phone camera to view objects and take photos. Gets pretty good reviews.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 6+

Otherwise, if you’re on a budget, please read the reviews on Amazon and find the best microscope you can for your price range–you AND your smart child will benefit. Here are some of my favorite general science microscopes:

  1. AmScope B100B-MS Microscope
    I know this one is a bit pricey at about $200, but it is a reliable, good scope that can do some very good magnification – AmScope B100B-MS 40X-2000X Biological Binocular Compound Microscope with Mechanical Stage
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages 5-15+
  2. Celestron 5 megapixel Infinaview
    Another great microscope is the -I LOVE THIS MICROSCOPE! It has a great LCD screen so your kids can see what the magnifications are easy. We have this microscope, and I can tell you it is super fun. I got it for my daughter when she was 6. She still uses it sometimes — now she’s 13. Once you have something on the scope, you can snap an image of it with the press of a button. I love this microscope, but note that it is meant to look “at” things–this wouldn’t be good for looking at cells–more for examining bugs, coins, fabrics, foods, etc…”close up.”  It comes with a rechargeable battery which makes it great to carry around to various places for microscope fun. I know this is a bit pricey, but it is very good. This is a great science toy for boys and girls of all ages. I am recommending this for gifted children aged 4 and up.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages 4-17

Climate Science, Astronomy, and Telescopes

  1. Telescopes
    A relatively pricey venture for a good, worthwhile telescope. Also, if you live in an urban/suburban area, it may be difficult to get the most from a telescope due to light pollution. Expect to spend more than $100 on a good one. For example, a well-rated telescope in that price range: Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope – any budding astronomer will prize such a fantastic gift.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages 5-17
  2. Weather Forecasting and Climate Science
    There are a few interesting kits to be had in this category. For example, Weather Station Science Kit seems like a great gift for a kid interested in meteorology.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 8+

Biology Science Gifts

  1. Thames & Kosmos DNA Experiment Kit
    The educational kit teaches quite a bit about DNA, including building a DNA model.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 10-15
  2. Anatomy
    Skeleton Floor Puzzle, Squishy Human Anatomy and human body model These are great learning toys. My kids love the squishy human toy. I didn’t figure they would keep using it, but actually, they return to it now and then, and it makes a cool display toy too. It really “adds some science” to their room.
    Suggested Ages 7-10
    Cost: $
  3. Anatomy placemats
    These are also good, but some people might not like having an anatomy lesson at the dinner table–I think it’s a great opportunity for a child to learn about the human body.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 7-12

Building, Engineering, and Robotics Gifts

  1. Meccano Robot Kit
    This is fun and a great introduction to robotics. It does require some assembly, but my 9-year-old loves it, so that could be worth it and part of the educational value. You program this robot by training its limbs and also get it to move and record your voice via an app. The robot recognizes thousands of phrases through its voice recognition software. Cost: There are two versions, the MeccaNoid G15 2.0 2nd Edition (Cost: $$) and the four-foot-tall Meccano MeccaNoid G15 KS Cost: $$$. There is also an expansion kit that looks like even more fun.
    Suggested Ages Boys and girls 8-10+ years.
  2. Architectural Engineering Kit
    Science experiment & model building kit. Twenty models of structural elements and real-world buildings! Learn architectural design with this Thames and Kosmos award-winning gift.
  3. Remote Control/Motor for paper airplanes-I wish they had this when I was a kid. The PowerUp 4.0 is a rechargeable, remote control motor that you can attach to any paper airplane. This means you can experiment and tweak the design, try different papers, etc, to see what flies the best and is easiest to control. You need a Bluetooth enabled smartphone or tablet to control the device. Gets great reviews.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages: 8-10 years
  4. OWI Air-Powered Car
    This is an interesting educational toy car that runs on compressed air. Note that there are a lot of assembly required, and some of it is a little bit complicated, but very worthwhile.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 10*-99 (Ten-year-olds will probably need some help with assembly)
  5. Geomag 110-Piece Color Construction Set
    This looks like a very fun magnetic building kit. The pieces are larger than for older kids, so they should be safer for smaller kids. I’d still use caution to purchase this for kids under 5 (or if you have kids under 5 in the house). Looks like a fantastic kit.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 3+
  6. OWI Solar Powered Robot
    Two levels of building so beginners and more advanced kids can be engaged. It has 14 modes.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages: 8-15
  7. Engineering Toy
    Roominate and GoldieBlox are two excellent choices for girls (and boys). I highly recommend these engineering toys for kids ages 4-5 (or even 6-7) –my girls enjoyed them. There are several great kits for both of them, so definitely search Roominate and GoldieBlox on Amazon to see the variety and price points for these gifts. They will pay dividends.
    Cost: $ – $$
    Suggested Ages 4-7
  8. Lego Mindstorms Robotics Kits
    This is a relatively expensive birthday, Hanukkah, or Christmas gift, but the payoffs are huge if your child takes to this. Your brainy child will learn programming, physics, and many more things that will be very important to the economy in their lifetimes. There are several different kits you can buy, for example, the EV3 kit and the lower-cost Robot Inventor Kit; Lego Mindstorms kits are the de facto standard robotics kids used in teaching at K-12 schools. I strongly recommend this as a gift. This is the ultimate STEM teaching toy for girls and boys of all ages.
    Cost: $$$$
    Suggested Ages 7-16+
  9. KANO Kit
    If the price for Lego Mindstorms is out of the question, various other robotics kits can be great fun for kids. You might also consider a KANO kit that teaches kids about building computers using the Raspberry PI. I’d recommend this kit strongly for those super-intelligent kids who’ve shown an interest in technology and engineering. A great present for the gifted who want to know how computers work.
    Cost: $$$$
    Suggested Ages 7-16+
  10. Little Bits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit
    Your kids might also enjoy Little Bits kits.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages 8-11+

Chemistry Gifts

Chemistry Sets and Books

Chemistry experiments are fun for boys and girls…and a great way for parents to work with their children to learn chemistry.

There are varying levels of these kits and books:

  1. Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything
    This is a great book about the elements. It makes learning chemistry fun.
    Cost: $
    Suggest Ages: 8+
  2. Magic School Bus Chemistry Set
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 5-7 years
  3. Amazon sells more serious (and more expensive) chemistry sets
    The Thames and Kosmos set is a great set to get started with chemistry. Any curious kid will enjoy these classic experiments.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested ages 10-12+ years
  4. This a great middle-of-the-road chemistry set
    Also, from Thames and Kosmos, this is a more in-depth chemistry set than the previous one. I would get this one for a more serious science-loving kid.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages: 10-15+
  5. This one is the ultimate set
    This is an even more serious chemistry set for teenagers / older kids ready to work through high school preparations for chemistry. This would be an amazing science gift for a kid with a deep interest.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages 12-15
  6. Happy Atoms set
    This is another great gift from Thames and Kosmos. It is a magnetic molecular modeling set and is a rather serious gift for the serious chemistry brainiac. There is also a larger atom modeling set available ($$$)
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 10-17

Other Chemistry Brainy Gifts

  1. Beaker Mug
    This could be a fun gift for older kids who love Chemistry. It’s a mug that looks like a beaker–it even has a caffeine molecule on it.
  2. Hand Boiler
    Fun, novel gift. This is just a fun, nerdy present. Kills will love watching the liquid boil by the heat of their hands. They can learn about atmospheric pressure and liquids/gas.
    Cost: $
    Suggested ages 9+
  3. MudWatt – Grow your living fuel cell – Clean energy from mud. This is a living fuel cell that feeds on mud (and other stuff your budding scientist may decide to put into it). This has won multiple awards and has some great STEM lessons. Great smart gift for smart kids.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested ages 8+

Math Gifts

  1. Fractiles 7
    Award-winning fun. This is somewhere between a math activity, a creative jaunt, and meditation. Kids will enjoy creating fractal patterns with diamond and square magnetic tiles.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 8+
  2. Prime Climb
    An award-winning math game. 2-4 person game uses multiplication and division. The manufacturer recommends it for ages 10+, but it should be okay for younger kids who are good at math. Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 10+
  3. Equate – The Equations Thinking Game
    Kind of like Scrabble for simple equations.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 8+
  4. Fun Math Books
    For younger kids who are just starting to learn math concepts, there are some great books by Greg Tang. For example, “Math Potatoes: Mind-Stretching Brain Food” and “The Grapes of Math” provide simple but helpful math riddles for kids. These are fun, interesting books, and I recommend them. Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 5-8
  5. Three Sticks Geometry Game
    Great game for sharpening geometry skills and creativity while having fun. Award-winning.
    Cost: $$
    Ages: 8+
  6. Blue Orange Tumble Maze
    Logic-fueled solo puzzle game – navigate through obstacles.
    Cost: $$
    Ages: 8+

Physics Gifts

  1. Physics experiment kit
    This looks like a very good physics kit with lots of interesting experiments.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 10+
  2. Bubble tools from Zome Tool…there are all sorts of interesting things you can learn from bubble kits…plus they’re just fun. Some of the zometool kits let the kids build geometric shapes and then the bubbles are framed by those shapes. Here is one example kit for about . The zometools are also great for just creating stuff. Check out the more advanced kits for intelligent 12 year olds and up and here is a more advanced kit for kids ages 6 and up.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 5-9
  3. Sick Science Fast Physics Kit
    A fun way to learn about inertia and some other physics concepts. Smart kids will enjoy the activities in this kit.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 10+
  4. Chaos Machine
    A fun and interesting way to learn a bit about chaos theory
    Suggested Ages 12+
  5. Chaos Tower
    This kit offers some great Rube Goldberg fun + great physics learning from this kit.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages 10+
  6. Car Engine Model
    This is a great brainy gift for kids who like building models, and especially if they are interested in cars and engines. This is a “working” model of an internal combustion engine (it runs on an electric motor). It’s meant for older kids, but could be a project a parent and younger kid could work together on.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 12+
  7. Plasma Ball
    This is somewhere between science and fun. Plasma balls are the staple of any smart mad scientist.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 8-11+
  8. Spherio Ball
    This is another toy that may be a stretch for educational, but it sure looks fun and could have some educational value in physics. It’s basically a remote controlled ball–kids can build mazes and use ramps to get it to do some really fun tricks.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages 7+
  9. Kinetic Art Science Kit
    This is a great kit for kids interested in art, science, physics, or/and astronomy.
    Cost $
    Suggested Ages: 8-15 Year Olds

Magnetic games and toys

  1. Magnetic Toys
    Please be careful due to safety issues if you have young children in the house. Here is an example of a safe kit from Magformorers. Here is another one. Gearation Refrigerator Magnets also looks very cool and so does the wall coaster.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 4-8
  2. Magentic Levitation base
    This is something an older kid might like. It basically “levitates” lighter metal objects (you provide those). It is pretty cool.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 5-9
  3. Floating Globe
    This is basically a 6 inch globe that spins for quite a long time. Another cool but simple item kids of all ages would love. Here’s a video to give you the idea of what this miracle of physics actually is.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages 8-11
  4. Magic Penny Toy – This is a bit unusual. Make sculptures and do activities using British pennies (US Pennies don’t work because of their composition). Teaches kids math, science, creativity…just fun.

Geology Gifts

  1. Geodes
    This brainy gift is great for any budding geologist. You get unopened geodes — kids can break them open themselves.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 4-9+
  2. Rock and Mineral Collection
    Kids who collect rocks will like this. Note that the packaging is not fancy, but the actual rocks you get are very cool and numerous.
    Cost: $
  3. Rock Tumbler
    There are a few of these on the market. The professional one from National Geographic is very well-liked and they also offer a lower-end kit; this one is also rated well and somewhat lower cost. With patience, rocks can be polished exposing some real beauty…remember, it takes about a month to polish rocks and glass! This is an especially good gift for brainy kids who are patient…
    Cost: $$
    Suggest Ages 6-15
  4. Metal Detector
    Great for beachcombing. There are a a variety of metal detectors kids might like–some of the ones that are meant for kids, just aren’t that good. This is a good compromise, but if it’s too pricey have a look at some of the other choices.
    Cost: $$
    Suggest Ages 6-14
  5. Crystal Growing Kits – These are always fun and interesting. There are several levels to these kits. This one is a bit more on the pricey side, but is more complete.
    Cost: $$
    Suggest Ages 10+

Geography Gifts

  1. Geography jigsaw puzzle.
    Learn about geography by doing puzzles. Other puzzles: World Map with Animals, 100 Piece World Map Puzzle, Magnetic Map of the USA (Ages 4+).
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 4-9+
  2. Geo-Cards
    This a great card game.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 6+
  3. Globe
    Here’s a great globe that kids interested in geography will definitely like. Bonus idea: Inflatable, color-in/label globe.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 5 – 14
  4. Levitation Globe
    This is not the greatest political globe, but still really cool because it floats magnetically.
    Cost: $$
  5. Maps and Geography
    A great book by Ken Jennings – Jeopardy! superstar Ken Jennings offers his insights about maps in this excellent book.
    Cost: $

Electronics Kits

  1. Snap Circuits – These are good for kids of all ages…Snap circuits makes various kits for several age groups, for instance the Snap Jr. kit is for younger children. If your super-smart kid takes to these kits, they’ll have an advantage for the rest of their lives. Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 6-16+ These are invaluable at any age for the budding engineer
  2. The Raspberry Pi learning computer – This credit card sized, $35 device is an excellent tool for teaching a child how computers and electronics work. Here is an article that explains the device better. This is probably something a parent would want to work on together with their son or daughter–at least a first. Having said that, I am sure there are plenty of genius kids out there who will know what to do with it. There’s plenty of information on the internet about this device and it has really become a standard.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 7-16+
  3. Makey Makey Kit
    This is sold as “an invention kit for everyone”, and it definitely is fun and cool. No wonder it’s an Amazon best-seller. Turn anything into a keypad for your computer (Mac or PC). For example, you could make a few bananas into a music keyboard.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 7+
  4. The Kano Kit – This is a very interesting kit for kids 6-12. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it. Also based on the Raspberry Pi, it seems like a great way to get your genius child on the path to computer programming and becoming a “maker”. Definitely consider this gift if it’s in the budget Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages 6-12+

Computers

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the idea of getting your favorite brilliant kid some sort of computer of their own.

  1. Tablet ComputersTablet computers are a good gift option — consider going with a cheaper Android tablet such as the surprisingly very low-cost Amazon Kindle Fire. My girls both have one and they absolutely love it. My wife also has one and she loves hers too. It’s great for reading books, playing educational games (see my list of Amazon Fire Educational Games) and watching videos. Ours have lasted a few years. Many public libraries now offer free, downloadable e-books that will work with the Amazon Fire. Note that the Amazon Fire tablets do not allow you access to the Google Play Store–you have to use the apps that are on the Amazon App Store. There is a special “kids” version of the tablet that costs a bit more and has a few additional software features, plus it comes with a durable case…You may not need that though– the regular Fire does have the “Kids’ Free Time” app on it that lets you set limits for time and which apps they can use. We just have the regular 7″ Kindle Fire and it works great.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 5-16+
  2. Google Chromebook
    I am a huge fan of the Google Chromebook because it is so simple and malware/virus free. They are currently priced from about $150, most of the best values in Chromebooks are in the $200-300 range. ) for these. Recently some Chromebooks have been enabled for the Google Android App Store, greatly improving their usefulness. The Toshiba Chromebook 2 is slated to have this enabled later this year.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages 5-16+

Games and puzzles for smart kids

There are of course the usual suspects such as Chess Sets…but there are some other games for various ages.

  1. Perplexus line of mazes
    For example, there is the Perplexus line of mazes that come in various levels of difficulty. My seven-year-old loves the Perplexus Rookie and has spent hours working on solving it by getting the ball all the way to the end of the maze. Someone who enjoys puzzles like this might also like these Japanese puzzles.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 7-16+

There are other games I can recommend:

  1. Chess is always great for the developing genius mind. Aside from general Chess Sets for kids who already know how to play, there are some great learn chess kits and books that teach chess for kids as well. Your brainiac might also enjoy Chess Solitaire. Kids of all ages can learn to play chess. Very young kids learn to play chess, but I would say a learning set would be good for a kids who are 5-year-olds and above. Another great one is MENSA award winning Laser Chess.
    Cost $$
    Suggested Ages 7-10+
  2. Othello and Scrabble Junior also make pretty decent gifts as well.
    Cost $
    Suggested Ages 5-10+
  3. Cool Circuits by Sciencewiz
    This is a cool looking puzzle game. Complete the circuit to light up the board. 2013 Puzzle of the Year. The game is marked as 8+, but I think some seven-year-olds could enjoy it too.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 8+
  4. Melissa and Doug Suspend
    This balance game is even cooler than it looks. I know you don’t usually think of Melissa and Doug gifts for older kids, but you can make an exception here.
    Cost: $
    Ages 8+
  5. Pengoloo – This is a great memory game for people of all ages, but works fine for toddlers and up. Helps with memory and color recognition. Nice wooden pieces.
    Cost: $
    Suggested ages 4+
  6. Quardillions – Great strategy puzzle meant for one player.
    Cost: $
    Ages 7+
  7. LONPOS 3 Dimensional 505 Brain Intelligence Game – 505 challenging, fun 2d and 3d puzzles in a compact form.
    Cost: $
    Ages 5+

Logic Puzzles

  1. Marble Maze – One of my favorites. Learn about gravity and logic with this addictive and challenging gravity game. I strongly recommend this-my 6 and 7-year-olds both really loved this (back when they were that age) and it is truly educational. I frequently give this gift for children’s birthdays. Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 6+
  2. Quoridor is another good one. It’s meant for kids who are six and up…and definitely something a brainy kid would enjoy.
    Suggested Ages 6-10+
  3. ThinkFun Tilt This interesting logic game is loads of fun and a bit challenging.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 8-15+
  4. <Laser Maze – This is a logic game that uses a real laser. It’s got some things in common with the marble maze above. This is a fun single player game. The same manufacturer makes a two player laser game (ThinkFun Laser Chess).
    Cost: $
    Suggested ages 8+

Drones

  1. Mini Drone
    This is really fun, and easy to fly. It’s an indoor mini drone for beginners that will teach your child the thinking and basics needed to move on to more advanced drones. I have found it to be pretty indestructible…And the price is right too!
    Ages: 7+
    Cost: $
  2. Remote controlled airplanes and helicopters can be very educational and lots of fun. There are many levels of price to these…
    For example, the Holy Stone drones are easy to fly but the cheaper remote controlled drones, helicopters and planes can be just as great. Adult supervision is probably required, especially for younger kids. Try to find one with a video camera built in.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 6-16+

3D Printers

The 3D printer is the ultimate gift. Probably best for your older brainiac or with help from an able adult.

  1. Crealty Ender
    The MakerBot is a popular 3D printer. You can print some amazingly cool things. Kids who learn a little 3D design software can create whatever they can imagine (and that fits on the small format printer). Expect to spend $750-$2500+ for entry-level models (which can do quite a bit).
    Cost: $$$$
    Suggested Ages: 7-16+ (younger children will need the help of an adult, at least to get started with this)
  2. Da Vinci Nano 3D Printer White 3D Printer
    The da Vinci mini is an affordable 3D printer. It uses non-toxic PLA filaments to print on a 5″x 5″ stage. This would be a good introductory 3D printer, it’s relatively cheap, and it’s compact enough to put right next to your computer.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages: 8+ (with adult help) or 14+
  3. FLASHFORGE 3D Printer Adventurer 3C
    Great all-around 3D printer with 150mm x 150mm x 150mm output. Reputed to be very easy to set up and use.
    Cost: $$$
    Suggested Ages: 8+ with adult supervision/help.

Creatures, Fungi and Plants

Live insects:

  1. Butterfly gardens and Lady Bug Land or if you’re a little more daring, you could go for a pet hissing cockroach. We have never given our kids a hissing cockroach, but both of our daughters loved the butterflies and lady bugs.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested Ages 3-10+
  2. Ant farms from Uncle Milton or other manufacturers…there are some great ones out now that use gel instead of sand…and have lights built into them. Very educational and fun! Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 3-10+
  1. Rolly Polly Farms – This is a great idea. Comes with a voucher for rolly pollies.
    Cost: $
    Suggest Ages: 5+
  2. Live praying mantis – Chinese praying mantis. Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 8-12+

Other Animals and Plants, etc:

  1. Shrimp Bubble Ecosystem Kit
    This is a maintenance-free shrimp habitat. No daily feeding, No filtration, No frequent water changes. The kit comes with 3 or 4 marine shrimp.
    Cost: $$
    Suggested ages: 8+
  2. Frog hatchery – Your child will receive a tadpole in the mail and watch it grow into an adult frog. Beware this is really a long-term commitment–frogs can live many years. The frogs in this kit are aquatic which makes them a bit easier to take care of.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 5-10+
  3. Sea Monkeys or Triops These are cool and easy to care for pets. My kids loved having sea monkeys. Consider getting a wristwatch aquarium to transport a few of them to show friends. Fun, educational and exciting. Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 5-10
  4. Worm Farm – This is a little different. Your favorite intelligent kid can observe earthworms in action and learn about their important place in our ecosystem by helping things decompose/compost. If worms are a bit much for you, you could just get this composting observation system…it’s a simple way to watch how things get broken down in nature. I’d say even younger kids, maybe even three and four-year-olds can get something out of this, and if it is maintained, the worms can last for years. We’ve had ours going on six years. Sounds strange to some people, but worms are kind of amazing! Cost: $
    Suggested ages 5+

  5. Grow Mushrooms: A grow your own Oyster Mushrooms kit and a grow your own shitake mushroom kit. This is cool and unusual. Some of the kits use organic bases for the mushrooms…great news for your dinner table. It’s definitely fun and interesting for kids to see how mushrooms grow–a sort of different experience from some of the seed/plant kits you can get. I recommend this as a gift for kids of any age, but probably for most kids; the ones who are older than six or seven years old will get the most out of it.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 7-10+
  6. Grow plants: Amazon offers a Hydrodome where you hydroponically grow lettuce . There are also other kits which allow you to grow carnivorous plants, or cacti.
    Cost: $
    Suggested Ages 3-9

Do you have a suggestion for this list? Feedback on one of the items? Please email me to let me know. I only want to feature gift ideas that are safe, educational, interesting, unusual, and fun!

In conclusion, selecting the right educational gifts for brainy kids can profoundly impact their intellectual growth and development. By choosing items that challenge their minds, spark their creativity, and foster a love for learning, you are investing in their future success. Explore our curated list of gift ideas, and find the perfect present that will inspire, engage, and delight the bright young minds in your life. Remember, nurturing their innate curiosity and passion for knowledge today will empower them to become the innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders of tomorrow.
Don’t forget to visit my ideas for birthday party places.

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