No 09
The Mega Crystal Growing Kit is the science gift that produces something: six crystal chambers, six colors of crystal powder including two that glow, a light-up display stand, and a guide that explains what is happening. The crystals take a few days to grow, which is the lesson, and they come out looking like something from a museum shop.
It is the Christmas present for an eight to twelve-year-old who asks how things work, the birthday gift when the LEGO phase is fading, and the rainy-week project for grandparents to run. It is a project rather than a toy, and that is why it is remembered.
Ages 8 and up with an adult for the hot water step. Everything needed is in the box except the water. Thirty dollars for a week of checking the windowsill every morning.
Affiliate disclosure: links may earn us a commission. Picks are editorial and don't change based on payout.