The best gifts for baby nerds and smart kids
Holiday presents for the tots on your list
Got a nerdy kid (or nerd-adjacent kid) on your holiday gift list? Here are a few presents that will delight your favorite babies and kids—and their parents.
It’s not just for halloween. Guaranteed to turn your little cousin into a total space nut.. $40 on Amazon.
If you want to start their astronaut training even earlier, a colorful cosmic nightlight should do the trick. $24 on Amazon.
If your nephew’s tastes are a little too demure for a psychedelic space lamp, this glowing moon might be a good alternative. It’s $15 on Amazon. You can also check out some other themed lamps (including a dinosaur light and a spinning solar system) at the same link.
We can’t all go to the moon, but we can all play with rocks. Foster a healthy love of geology—and get that little nerd off their computer and outside, for once—with a high-quality rock tumbler. $120 on Amazon
If your little nerd is around 6-8 years old, it’s the perfect time to get them their very first science kit. And with fun experiments like baking soda volcanoes and “sunsets in a test tube,” you might end up geeking out right along with them. $15 on Amazon.
Is little Jimmy too young for his first foray into lab science? No matter. No baby is too small to drool on some blocks. As your bundle of joy grows up and starts stacking (and throwing) the elements, you can start to teach them about the periodic table before they even make it to preschool. This one goes for $35 on Amazon. Another option: A punny periodic table bib for $15.
Giant microbe plushies are the best, and this one is a no-brainer. Grab it for $9 on Amazon.
For the little poop machine who loves her some Star Wars. $15 on Amazon.
Glittery. Tulle. Star Trek. Dress. This perfect little number goes for $30 on ThinkGeek. It’s also available in (gasp) onesie form for $20. And if your little sis is more of a t-shirt girl, you can nab one of those for $15.
There comes a special time in every child’s life when they’re ready to build their own circuits. This kit, suitable for ages 8 and up, will allow your young charge to build 101 different electronic projects—a sound-activated switch, a musical doorbell, a voice-controlled lamp, a flying saucer, and so much more. Set them up for a life of tinkering. $18 on Amazon.
