18 Best Solar Kits for Kids & Their Reviews [Updated 2022]
March 27, 2021 Solar Devices
It’s never too early to teach kids about renewable energy and solar power. A fun solar kit that kids can build on their own is a great way to make the learning process both exciting and rewarding.
Solar kits designed for children usually involve assembling a solar panel to a circuit that would power the toy included. So, not only are they learning about solar power, but also about circuits and mechanical building.
This is a great way to get kids interested in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. With that said, let’s get started with the 15 best solar kits for kids and their reviews for 2022.
1. 4M Green Science Solar Rover, DIY STEAM Powered Kids Science Kit, Boys & Girls Ages 5+
This kit will give your kids everything they need to construct their very own rover.
The main body of the rover would be made out of a recycled soda can that would host the wheels and solar panel.
The kids would need to assemble all the parts correctly for the rover to work, which is all part of the fun!
This is an ideal build during a summer picnic when there’s a lot of empty soda cans available.
Don’t worry, a detailed instruction guide is included in the kit.
Once the rover is all set, all you need to do is take it out on a sunny day and watch the power of the sun make it run.
Pros & Benefits:
- Teaches kids about recycling
- Has detailed instructions
- Includes everything you need to build one rover
This solar kit is a whopping 190-piece set. That’s a lot of pieces for a lot of configurations. In fact, Discovery Kids STEM 12-in-1 provides you with blueprints to create 12 different kinds of robots.
Everything you need is included inside the kit, all the moving parts and connectors are there, this kit is impressive pieces.
With all these pieces, the kids can even invent their own robots using a variety of moving parts in the set. Their imagination is the only limit when it comes to building a robot, a car, or whatever they set their minds to.
This is perfect for young inventors.
Of course, a solar panel is included in the kit, this is what’ll power the different creations your kids can make.
Pros & Benefits:
- Has 190 pieces inside for full customization
- 12 robot blueprints included
- The kit is designed for young scientists, the parts are ideal for little hands
3. STEM Toy 4WD Car DIY Climbing Vehicle Motor Car Educational Solar Powered Car Engineering Car for...
This kit gives you two power choices. A battery-powered model for indoor play, so your car can run during rainy days and a second solar-powered mode for unlimited playing outdoors.
That’s an awesome feature that ensures you can use this kit in any weather, indoors and outdoors.
This model has an awesome angle adjuster. This gives the car the ability to climb over different obstacle courses of up to 5cm in height, without toppling over.
This will teach kids how angles affect height and the physics of obstacle courses. Your kids can learn about mathematics, engineering and different types of power-source all at the same time.
Pros & Benefits:
- Dual power source
- Teaches kids about angles
- Can go over obstacles over 5cm in height
- Teaches both math and engineering
4. Wooden Solar Model Cars to Build for Kids 9-12, Educational Science Kits for Kids Age 12-14, Gifts...
A solar-motor that the kids can assemble is included to serve as the power source for the car on a sunny day.
You’ll get static wooden jigsaw pieces that both kids and adults can assemble to build the car.
Absolutely no screws and other tools are needed. All you are in the kit. The awesome part is that there’s a 6-color paint set also included inside, so you can decorate the wooden car in racing patterns or really whatever patterns you like.
All the parts are safe, non-toxic and CPC certified. And pieces are made out of high quality wood so they’re easy to remove from their plates.
I can see this as a great gift for those that may be allergic to plastic materials. Or just want an eco friendly model car alternative, which is great because it’s composed of biodegradable materials.
Pros & Benefits:
- Eco-friendly, wooden pieces
- No tools needed
- 6-color paint included
5. Thames & Kosmos Solar Mechanics | Science Experiment Kit | Build 20 Models Powered by The Sun | Ages...
You can build more than cars with this kit. There are 20 available models of cars, planes, robots and even trucks!
This is perfect for kids that get easily bored with their toys, since they can just swap the parts and construct a brand-new model, just from one kit.
A 60-paged manual in full color is included in the set, so your kids can get hands on in the building of the kit.
And all the parts are compatible with other Thames & Kosmos physics and construction kits, so you can build with your other sets.
Pros & Benefits:
- 60-paged colored manual included
- Compatible with other Thames & Kosmos physics and construction kits
- Features a photo voltaic cell and electronic motor
6. TEDCO Tedcotoys Kids Activity 50-Foot Solar Balloon
TEDCO Tedtoys Kids Activity 50-Foot Solar Balloon is a huge balloon that can be easily filled up with air, without a need for any inflation device. Simply open the balloon and capture the breeze to inflate it.
The warmth of the sun heats the balloon up and makes the air inside more buoyant, this makes it float like a kite. Great way for teaching kids about atmospheric pressures, Bernoulli’s Principle and Pascal’s Principle using solar heat.
You can explain the principles as you inflate the balloon and watch them be amazed by the results, and because it’s such a big product, one kit can be used by multiple children.
This is an easy assembly for young kids and a fun activity during sunny days. Imagine this on the beach or a backyard during a sunny weekend, it’ll be a big hit with toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Pros & Benefits:
- Designed for ease of assembly
- Fun and big balloon kit
- Reusable
- Requires no batteries and other tools
7.
This SuperSmartChoices kit offers 14 different robot configurations for the kids to assemble. It feels like getting over a dozen toys all in one box.
The awesome part of this kit is that it works both on land and water, so you can create boats that float or swim as well as climbing and running cars.
This is just perfect to take on the beach or pool during a holiday, as an alternative activity so the kids can spend some time away from their iPads and phones. They can collaborate on gathering the recycled materials and building the robots so it’s an awesome product for families.
This kit allows you to change its form multiple times. When your kids get bored of one robot, they can build another! It’s the kit that keeps on giving, so it will remain fun for the duration of the holiday.
They can practice robotics while learning about solar energy at the same time. This kit is perfect for young engineers.
Pros & Benefits:
- 14-in-1 with changeable forms
- Works both on land and water
- Interactive robotics for young engineers
This OWI Dodeca 12-In-1 Solar Hydraulic Robot kit has an awesome 231 pieces inside.
There are 12 possible configurations from a T-Rex, or a Forklift, or even a Dodeca. A gear box is included in each kit for smooth movements.
Each configuration can be easily disassembled to create another one, so you can try all of the possible robots, and maybe even create configurations of your own.
You can choose between the animal or automotive mode when you’re building your robot, for different moves.
The kids will also be introduced to hydraulics in a fun and exciting way because the robots are operated using hydraulic motions for their movements.
And all these configurations can be powered by the sun for unlimited play!
Pros & Benefits:
- 231 pieces and 12 modes for endless building
- Can be easily disassembled
- Solar Powered and uses hydraulics
Create a race car with the power of the sun with Thames and Kosmos Solar Car Set Science Kit.
This kit gives you the option to use it with either a battery or the solar panel included, so you don’t need to worry about using it indoors.
This is such an awesome feature because just imagine the possibilities, you can build this inside an apartment during winter and it will run. Or maybe outside in the sun during the summer, the point is that you don’t have to choose. It almost feels like getting two different sets all in one.
You can choose between four configurations, from a race car into a helicopter.
The assembly here is pretty straightforward and the instruction guides are clear enough for children.
Pros & Benefits:
- Four different configurations
- Dual battery source
- Easy assembly
- Works on land and air
10. ROKR Assemble Solar Energy Powered Cars-Moveable 3D Wooden Puzzle Toys-Funny Teaching...
Both a puzzle and a solar toy, this kit has wooden pieces laser-cut into a precise jigsaw puzzle that both adults and children can assemble.
White glue is included in the set to bind some of the key wooden pieces together. Since the pieces are made out of wood, you can draw or paint them and customize them in any way you like!
This kit is an Eco friendly way to introduce your children to solar energy. The part is since all the pieces are static, you don’t need screws and other tools to build this.
Pros & Benefits:
- Environmentally friendly
- Easy to assemble
- Perfect for jigsaw puzzle lovers
Reuse, recycle and repurpose with OWI Super Solar Recycler, this kit encourages kids to be Eco friendly and recycle. All this while they’re learning about renewable solar energy.
Inside is everything you need to turn trash into solar-powered robots. CD’s can turn into racers, used water bottles can become solar boats, even soda cans can be turned into different kinds of robots.
The instructions included inside are pretty easy to follow. The assembly time should be around 30-mins or maybe even less for older kids.
An ideal build for young kids during the summer because of how easy-to-follow the instructions are, plus this would give them an opportunity to collect trash and turn them into robots.
Pros & Benefits:
- Encourages kids to recycle
- Many different configurations
- Easy instructions
- Recycles different items
You can build 14 different types of solar vehicles with this kit, and it comes with everything you need already included.
From cars to boats, you can even create your very own vehicles! Inside are easy-to-follow instructions for young children. You might be thinking, “Do we need 14 different configurations for just one kit?”
Think about it this way, it would feel like buying many different kits for the price of one. And remember, kids get bored of their toys quickly, so once the robot or car is assembled, they may play with it for a couple of hours before leaving it on the side.
It would be great to simply let them disassemble the current configuration and learn about a new one, and that would renew their interest in the toy over and over again.
I recommend this for children 5-10 years of age. Perfect to introduce them to the STEM fields in an easy and non-frustrating toy.
This kit creates vehicles that runs 100% on solar power.
Pros & Benefits:
- Easy-to-follow for young children
- Comes in 14 different configurations
- Works on water
- Perfect for beginners
13.
Fun for both kids and grownups the Extpro DIY Assemble Toy Set Solar Powered Car Kit is an inexpensive beginner’s kit.
Alright, so maybe you just want to try one solar kit to see whether or not your kids will be interested in building them, right?
This is a great way to get started on building solar-powered toys, perfect for very young children with adult supervision, with easy-to-follow instructions. It’s also inexpensive, and that’s a great plus.
This toy requires very direct sunlight, so be sure to use it on sunny days for the best results.
Pros & Benefits:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to assemble
- Great learning experience for adults and children
This is an excellent kit for older kids and teens, Solar Lab 1.0 Electricity Learning Kit teaches you all about how circuits work and how the power of the sun is transformed into energy for machines.
The instructions included is very thorough and informative, this makes it so much easier to learn about photo-voltaic electricity production, even on your own.
This kit really goes more in depth about the science of solar energy and the best part is: no assembly required!
In fact, it comes very highly recommended by other users. One note, the product inside is not colorful so remember that if you’re buying this for a very young kid. But on the flip side, this means that this kit will be useful for adults to play with, too, because of how in depth and interesting the learning process is.
The product in the kit is made of great quality materials so you’re also getting great value for your money.
Pros & Benefits:
- Great Value For Money
- Good Quality
- No Assembly Required
- In depth learning about photo-voltaic electricity production
The Thames & Kosmos Physics Solar Workshop (V 2.0) Science Kit zeroes in on teaching the theory of photo-voltaic cells and how the energy of the sun is transformed into power.
All of that through a fun and trans-formative build! This kit will teach you how to build a praying mantis robot that moves just like an actual mantis.
And don’t worry about cloudy days, you can run the praying mantis you built through a battery.
Pros & Benefits:
- Dual power source
- Teaches kids about photo-voltaic cells and how they work
- Shows how solar power is optimized by mechanical constructions
16.
A cute replica of another source of renewable energy, the windmill, this desk toy is an awesome gift for both very young children and adults.
For young children, this is awesome since there is very little assembly required, and absolutely no tools needed. It shows how the sun can power a fan without any frustration in the building.
For adults, this is perfect as a stylish and sophisticated desk toy or room decor. No batteries required, it just needs to be placed near a window or outside in the sun.
The pieces are made from ABS engineering plastics.
Pros & Benefits:
- A stylish gift for adults
- Easy assembly for young children
- Made from safe materials
- Can be made into the decor
17. 2Pepers Electric Motor Robotic Science Kits for Kids (4-in-1), DIY STEM Toys Kids Science Experiment...
You can choose between two different kits here, one that makes a cute robot and the other yields a fun rover.
This is a fun and exciting build for younger kids, with simple instructions and very colorful pieces.
This a great gift to get young kids interested in solar energy and mechanical engineering, especially as their first ever build. The pieces are not intimidating, but still informative.
I would imagine that children who aren’t interested in building solar kits would find an intricate set to be intimidating. They might not enjoy building it, especially with small parts and detailed instructions.
This kit will be right up their skill-set, simple, brightly-colored and the robots are fun to play with.
Pros & Benefits:
- Easy to build
- Adorable and colorful pieces
- Makes an excellent gift for beginners
- Simple instructions
18. Starpony Firmament Kids Play Tent, Kids Toys Painting Playhouse Graffiti DIY Art Craft Coloring...
This solar car is about the size of a quarter. This has to be the smallest solar car in the whole world. It’s very tiny, expect it to need the constant sun to run, because the square footage of the panel is limited.
Now, some reviews say that this car doesn’t work, but that’s false, it just needs direct sun, so using this during a cloudy day will not be successful.
It requires no assembly or battery to run, you just need to expose it to direct sunlight. At this price point, it would be an ideal toy for young children that aren’t interested in making anything from scratch or assembling any pieces.
Another great idea is to give this as a gift to model car collectors, it will add a unique item to their collection.
Pros & Benefits:
- Compact
- Affordable
- No assembly required
- Makes for a great collectible
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for an educational kit to introduce your children to the STEM fields or just a fun toy they can play within the sun, it’s important to know the best products available out there.
We made sure that all the kits in here are both fun and informative. These products can start a lifetime of interest in science and engineering with the right guidance.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the 15 best solar kits for kids and their reviews for 2022.
See one that’s not on the list and should be? Let us know in the comments below.
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