So your little space lover has got the astronomy bug. Awesome!
Well, this stellar selection of solar system toys has been carefully chosen to indulge their passion for the cosmos while boosting their knowledge of our neighboring planets.
In short, we spent days of nerdy research to unearth the best solar system toys you can buy.
Ready to explore? Here we go!
Our picks of the best solar system toys
#1
Our opinion
This planetarium and star projector has two modes. On one side, it will project and rotate our starry sky onto your child’s wall or ceiling. When they have had their fill of learning constellations, your kid can flip the projector and insert slides showing planets and galaxies.
Out of all the star/planet projectors we identified, this had the best parent reviews. While it is definitely the model we recommend, it still feels cheaply built using lightweight plastics. Be warned that it may not last too long.
#2
Our opinion
The hands-on creative science toy begins with a careful model building exercise. Children paint the planets before carefully assembling the mobile. When complete, they can hang the impressive 30-inch mobile from their ceiling where it glows in the dark.
This is a brilliant STEM kit that, through engaging activity and kinesthetic learning, ought to deeply embed knowledge of our solar system into your space-loving child. Be aware that the recommended age is 8+. Younger children may find it difficult or boring, and for very young children some pieces are choking hazards.
#3
Our opinion
One of the fun parts of classroom education is all the neat school doodads for demonstrating concepts. We probably all remember the iconic felt boards where dozens of different sets of ‘stick ‘ems’ congregated. Well, here’s one for home, and its subject couldn’t be cooler. This kit is nearly a yard long with 30 pieces of outer space elements that kids can easily reposition.
#4
Our opinion
We’ve spotted the perfect Tee to wear to visit the planetarium. What’s better is they come in five colors and sizes for adults and kids. The solar system stand-outs are printed on the front of the Tee, so the world will know you’re raising future astronauts.
#5
Our opinion
This projector comes with 24 disc images of our planets, futuristic spaceships, and even more. The device projects images onto the wall, rotates, has an adjustable viewing angle, and can even be locked in place. This is an excellent way for little space-nuts to drift off to dreamland.
#6
Our opinion
These fluorescent stickers bring space to your bedrooms. A unique decorating item made just for kids who dream of lift-off from the spaceport. These planets, the sun, and 19 stars come in differing sizes. Charge up the stickers for 3 minutes just before sticking them up on the hero’s wall, and they’ll light up the night. It even comes with an exciting ebook
#7
Our opinion
This super-cool item looks just like a genie’s crystal ball. With an LED light base, it projects multi-colored light. Inside the sphere, a 3-D representation of the solar system floating in the middle of the space orb. The pattern can be constant or cycle through different colors and patterns.
#8
Our opinion
Melissa & Doug score again with this 48-piece floor puzzle made of sturdy, extra-thick cardboard. The space artwork is original and beautifully depicts our home solar system. As an extra help for parents, the puzzle pieces are easy to clean. This puzzle would be great fun for several kids to work on at once.
#9
Our opinion
Suppose you want the most extraordinary space art to hang anywhere. In that case, this framed wall hanging is a high-quality poster depicting the solar system. Printed on waterproof canvas and wood-framed, this is an actual work of art. The colors won’t fade in sunlight, so it will be around for the long haul. The poster also has the advantage of being fun and educational.
#10
Our opinion
This group of space toys will probably be a lot of fun for the younger kids. There’s not too much to interest school-age kids unless you make up a game with a group of them. Play a game of Hot Potato that involves launching the planets to the kids. The child catching the piece has to immediately identify the orb. Besides, the little kids will just bite them.
#11
Our opinion
Here’s a top-quality projector that brings to life our star systems on your wall or ceiling. There are 60,000 brilliant points of light that twinkle using LED tech and multilevel glass lenses. If that gets to be old hat, you can buy an additional 30 optional discs.
#12
Our opinion
This large banner is perfect to use as a backdrop for a birthday party, for photos, or a group launch view decoration. The poster is 6 ft wide and 44 in high, so it makes a big statement. The banner is polyester fabric, so it will last for multiple uses. You can fold, carry, and wash it.
#13
Our opinion
Although this set of flashcards is advertised for preschoolers, the collection is probably too advanced for that age. Elementary school kids, however, will be challenged. 15 cards represent our solar system’s denizens with both front and back colorful designs. The cards are small, about 5 x 3 inches, so they can go anywhere.
#14
Our opinion
If your child seems unusually drawn to rockets, the moon, and our solar system, this is an excellent book for her. Even preschoolers will appreciate and learn from this book. They can learn about Venus or Mars, but what are called dwarf planets like Ceres, Eris, Pluto, and more.
#15
Our opinion
How about decorating your child’s room with their personal planetarium? You and your family can construct the representation of our solar system using planets with stencils, glowing paint, along with rods and strings for hanging. No batteries are needed, and instructions for its construction are included.
#16
Our opinion
The Gskyer telescope is made just for kids and their families. With a 400mm focal length and 70mm aperture, this is an impressive educational tool that allows kids to see actual astronomical bodies in our skies. The telescope comes with two replaceable eyepieces, a wireless remote with a smartphone adaptor, and a wireless remote.
#17
Our opinion
This is National Geographic’s entry into space education for younger children. The simple text and colorful illustrations make it a perfect bedtime book. The instruction begins with simple concepts close to home, then the story of our home builds on previous knowledge. Both parents and kids will appreciate this practical and straightforward introduction to our nearer space.
#18
Our opinion
Well, they might not yet qualify for an actual spacesuit; they can get the pajama set made for tiny astro-trainees. The pajama set is all cotton and machine washable. The bedtime clothing is a snug fit, so you’ll want to order the next size larger than your kids usually need.
#19
Our opinion
GeoSafari Jr. offers this real telescope for kids in kindergarten or the first few years of primary school. This talking telescope features Emily Calandrelli and lets kids explore authentic NASA images in the comfort of their own bedrooms. 24 images are contained inside the telescope, so the kids will love it even in bad weather.
NOTE: This is not for toddlers, for 4+ years. How about for Kindergartners?
#20
Our opinion
All parents know that if their kid asks for bedding with the theme of their latest obsession, then the fixation must be accurate. If the urgent request is for space-related sheets, then you should look up this set. There’s only one problem. The set includes pillowcases, shams, and a fitted bottom sheet in full-size only. The print on the sheet is excellent, but you should think carefully.
#21
Our opinion
The school backpack has lively graphics depicting stellar and planetary bodies that exist ‘in the black.’ It’s for kids more than 3 years old and comes in two sizes. There is a padded tablet sleeve, a zippered stash pocket, and two bottle sleeves. In addition to padded shoulder straps, the backpack has a chest strap to keep it secure.
How we chose these solar system toys
Our lead reviewer for this was father of three and post-graduate in Physics and Astrophysics, Kumar Grant. As a NASA-nerd and parents he is well placed to understand kids’ fascination with outer space.
Additionally, as real parents we are well aware that Amazon and other major online retailers sell a lot of cheaply made garbage, shipped half-way round the world, that often ends up in the bin days later. (There, we said it!) To avoid this sorry fate, we spent days hunting for solar system STEM toys that were both fun and reasonably well constructed. Kumar scrutinized the products for scientific precision and educational potential, ie, sensible representations of our solar system, planets, dwarf-planets, and our sun.
What to look for in solar system toys
Age appropriate
Sure, your children will mature, so you don’t want to get a toy that only lasts a few months. Be careful, though, not to go too far. When it comes to STEM, it’s highly important to match your child’s developmental stage. This encourages optimal learning and avoids your child losing interest.
Follow your intuition; if your 4-year-old can’t understand the concept of planetary motion or the difference between a black hole and the sun, avoid complex planetariums; similarly, a high school student won’t be too entertained by felt planet stickers!
Accurate astronomical features
Particularly with school-aged kids, make sure the toy you select is precise in its representation of astronomical features, eg, sizes, colors, orbital distances. It is nearly impossible to reflect this totally accurately (unless mercury is the size of a pea and the sun the size of your house!) however, demand a reasonable resemblance to reality. The more accurate the set is, the more educational value there is.
Size
Look carefully at manufacturers sizings. The size and shape of these toys varies wildly, and some may be a lot bigger or smaller than they may appear. Avoid the disappointment of a model solar system that is too big for your child’s room!
If you liked our selection of solar system toys, you may also be interested in our articles on science toys and science kits for kids.
