Meet Jacob, 5, and Susie, 3. Both are energetic preschoolers, passionate about playdough, Bluey and bathtime bubbles. We gave them the tough task of evaluating this brightly coloured analog microscope. It was a rigorous morning of examining leaves, orange juice and salt.

The STEM Toy

The microscope kit includes an LED light and lab tools, and is a STEM learning toy geared to younger children from ages 3 and up. A bit like a mini kitchen or a doctor’s kit, it’s a fun first step in celebrating science play, stimulating curiosity and questioning. The activity set is also easily portable; you can set up in the kitchen, playroom or even outside.

The Educational Experience

Kids can collect items from around the house or backyard, and examine them at close range through the viewer. At the same time, they’ll be practicing dexterity and fine motor skills and learning about science. There’s also an accompanying activity book to help mums and dads teach kids STEM skills and extend the fun of hands on learning.

Kids playing with STEM toy microscope

Fandex My First Microscope 30 x Zoom

The Verdict

So, what did Susie and Jacob see? Green spots, flowers, red lines, a circle and a yellow light. The pair didn’t hesitate to give a positive verdict: “Good” was the succinct evaluation.