Space Toys For Every Age
To celebrate World Space Week coming up (4th-10th October), we’re talking all things space toys! From the mysteries of distant galaxies to the thrill of launching rockets, space has captured kids’ imaginations for generations. These toys provide infinite possibilities for adventure and discovery and offer a stellar way for children to engage with science.
In this article, we’ll explore some fun space facts, share tips on teaching your kids about space, and reveal some of the best space toys for toddlers and children.
[Photo by our very own Bigjigs photographer, Alex Andrews!]
Space Toys & Beyond
Space themed toys like rockets and spaceships can make abstract ideas more tangible. Building kits encourage creativity and understanding of how things are made, while puzzles and art sets introduce space concepts like planets and stars in a fun, hands-on way. These toys give kids a chance to explore and comprehend the vastness of space at their own pace.
Learn more about the spectacle of space toys and discover why kids are so fascinated with these cosmic playthings in our quick Q&A.
What were the first toys in space?
Astronauts aren't the only things that go into space. Toys have made it to outer space, too! In 1985, the Discovery space shuttle took a Slinky, paddle ball, Yo-Yo, and a toy car into space to conduct fun experiments. The first doll in space was our very own Stargazer Lottie Doll who joined Tim Peake on a trip to the International Space Station in 2015.
How to explain space to kids?
Follow these easy steps to explain space to your children:
- Start simple: Begin with concepts they can see and relate to. Explain that Earth is a big planet we live on, the Sun gives us light and warmth, and the Moon comes out at night.
- Real-life examples: Explain gravity by saying it keeps things from floating away - show them how a magnet pulls metal down towards it.
- Introduce toys: Use space rocket toys, playsets, and picture books to teach them about astronauts, stars, and planets.
- Encourage questions: Kids are naturally curious, so let them ask lots of questions (and if you don’t know the answers, simply say “We don’t know yet, space is full of mysteries!”).
What are 5 facts about space for kids?
Here are 5 fun space facts for kids:
- The Sun is a star - and it’s the closest star to Earth (which is why it looks so big and bright!)
- Astronauts grow taller in space - without gravity, astronauts’ spines expand, making them a little taller in space than on Earth
- There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on Earth!
- Sunsets on Mars are blue and the daytime sky looks red
- Space is silent - space is a vacuum with no air or atmosphere, so sound can’t travel through it!
What do kids love about space?
Kids are drawn to the vast unknown of space because it stirs their sense of wonder and imagination. The idea of travelling to distant planets in super-fast rockets, meeting aliens, or floating among the stars taps into children’s creativity and love for adventure. Space toys give kids a chance to role-play as astronauts, build spacecraft, and explore the mysteries of the Milky Way, making them a consistent source of excitement and inspiration.
What to get a child who loves space?
When shopping for space gifts, consider toys that inspire creativity, exploration, and learning. Seek out craft kits for building rockets or model spaceships, solar system puzzles and games, interactive toys that encourage imaginative play, or space arts and crafts for creative kiddies.
Space Toys for Toddlers
Read on for a list of out-of-this-world space toys for toddlers to find the perfect plaything for your little love.
Bath Rocket Toy
A super fun space toy that can reach infinity and beyond, Tiger Tribe's Bath Rocket is a perfect first introduction to sensory play and STEAM learning. Immerse the rocket in bathwater and watch as the water levels rise! When it's ready to launch, water gushes out and the rotating jets create a cool dome shape.
Green Toys Rocket
Made from 100% recycled plastic, the Green Toys Rocket is equipped with a detachable top capsule and two astronauts in spacesuits, helmets, and backpacks. This toy rocket has a large flip down door and a nose cone capsule which opens up to reveal rocketship buttons and dials.
Loyal Companion Lottie Boy Doll
Loyal Companion is a Lottie doll inspired by Hayden, an autistic boy with a love of space! Hayden doll comes dressed in an astronaut-in-training jumpsuit and noise-cancelling headphones to quieten loud volumes. And by Hayden’s side is his trusty companion dog, Cookie!
Space Toys for Kids
Here are some of the best kids space toys for older ones, designed to challenge their problem-solving skills and deepen their fascination with the cosmos!
Spaceship Building Kit
Construct your own space rocket toy with Toyi’s Spaceship Building Kit! The sky’s the limit with this junk modelling set, packed with 48 construction pieces including joints, gears, clips, connectors, and more to support kids’ stellar inventions. Fabulous for STEAM learning, Toyi’s creative craft kits are designed to give new lives to disposable items and transform trash into toys!
Space Art Activities
Create intergalactic space art with Tiger Tribe's Foil Art Set. Choose a space card and use the wooden tool to peel off the holographic foil to reveal the adhesive sections. Next, grab a foil sheet and rub the foil onto the sticky section to see your space art masterpiece appear!
Space Jigsaw Puzzle
Piece together the planets and stars with this mesmerising 50-piece Space Puzzle. Ideal for playing individually or in a group, there's so much fun to be had! It also comes with a double-sided solar system fact and activity sheet, so little learners can carry on developing their astronomy knowledge.
Space Colouring Book
Bursting with astronauts, aliens, planets, and stars, Tiger Tribe's Outer Space Neon Colouring Set has 36 colouring-in pages, three sticker sheets, and three neon marker pens to make those pictures pop. It comes in a compact self-contained box to keep everything in one place. Alternatively, combine two childhood infatuations - space and dinosaurs - with this Dinos In Space colouring set!
How Are You Celebrating World Space Week?
If your little astronaut is doing something special this week, share it with us on Instagram @bigjigstoys!