Gift Guides For Children Aged 6-12

Whether your child is an aspiring scientist, a creative thinker, or an outdoor adventurer, this gift guide is filled with engaging, educational, and fun ideas that inspire curiosity, creativity, and exploration. These gifts are perfect for hands-on play, learning, investigating and creativity.

If you’re interested in eco-friendly gifts, you’re covered – you’ll find plenty of presents here that are printed using only paper from FSC/PEFC certified suppliers. That’s Christmas, sorted!

For Scientists-in-Training (Aged 6-12)

Nurture their love of discovery with these hands-on science gifts that are both fun and educational. They’re perfect for children who love to explore new ideas, solve puzzles, and embark on imaginative journeys.

Letterbox Lab – The Explore Box
Suitable for explorers aged 6-12, each box is filled with exciting experiments that make science fun and accessible. All consumables needed for each experiment are included!

Letterbox Lab – The Investigate Box
More advanced experiments for kids aged 8-12 who are ready to dive deeper into science, delivered to your door every month.

Subscription to Whizz Pop Bang Magazine
A monthly magazine packed with experiments, facts, and activities for science enthusiasts.
Check out this amazing Christmas offer on subscriptions – get a FREE riddle book worth £6.99! Order by 19/12/24. 

Hoopla: Daring Dinosaurs
Peer into the distant past to take a look at awesome dinosaurs! Find out how to hunt for fossils, and if you don’t spot any, you can make your own fossil replica! Craft a terrific pterosaur and bake some delicious dino cookies. Plus there are puzzles, jokes and a roar-some dine personality quiz to take!

Whizz Pop Bang Snip-Out Science Book
Craft paper volcanoes, flying machines and more with this book of hands-on projects that blend science, creativity, and fun.

Whizz Pop Bang Science Scrapbook
A creative space for young scientists to plan investigations and record results of experiments.

Space magazines
Explore the Sun, Moon, Mars and the stars in this epic collection of space-themed science magazines.

Lab coat
This science essential keeps clothes in tip-top condition during even the messiest experiments!


More Gifts We Love!

Dinosaur magazines
From prehistoric flying beasts to the story of extinction, Whizz Pop Bang’s back issue collection is full of fact-packed reads for any wannabe palaeontologist.

Whizz Pop Bang Joke Book
Get ready for some super science-y giggles, with over 200 hilarious jokes to get the whole family laughing out loud!

Subscription to Hoopla Magazine
A wonderful magazine for curious kids aged 4-9, filled with science, positivity, creativity, and wellbeing. A gift that keeps on giving with new inspiration every issue!
Check out this amazing Christmas offer on subscriptions – get a FREE magazine! Order by 19/12/24. 

Hoopla: Secrets and Spies
Tiptoe into the world of secrets, spies and codes! Design a fantastic face mask to hide your identity, make your own cipher wheel, cook treats with hidden messages inside and solve some safe-cracking puzzles. Head outside to look for nature clues as you make a beautiful wristband, plus there are riddles, jokes and a colouring page to enjoy.

Whizz Pop Bang Riddle Book
Test their wit and problem-solving skills with this fun and engaging collection of over 150 tricky teasers.

Whizz Pop Bang Puzzle Book
Jam-packed with more than 150 brilliant brain-bending puzzles, all with a science twist! With so many puzzles to get stuck into, it’s sure to keep your child busy for hours and hours!

Hoopla: Treasure Hunt
Shine a light on glittering treasure! Grow your own edible crystals, craft a shining star and go on a treasure hunt! You can find out about shimmering goldfish and bake some delicious treats to give as a gift. Plus there are puzzles, jokes and a treasure-themed quiz.

Looking for gifts for curious explorers aged 4-9? Find a gift guide here!


Post Comment

Make a record-breaking paper aeroplane!

Here’s a record you CAN try to beat at home. The farthest flight by a paper aeroplane made from a single sheet of A4 paper is 88.31 metres! Find out how to make another record-breaking plane here:

Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to skydive without a parachute?! Head this way for the answer (and to watch a jaw-dropping video all about it!)

Find out about more amazing record-breaking journeys in Whizz Pop Bang 113: FESTIVE SCIENCE FUN!


Post Comment

Watch a Christmas chain fountain video!

🎄 Watch a chain of beads flow upwards and out of a glass – this is surely the most fun you can have with your Christmas decorations! Every year, our children look forward to this moment almost as much as the big day itself!

🎄 You’ll notice that the chain arcs over the rim of the glass, going upwards, before being pulled downwards. So how does it work? This is a cool physics problem to ponder! It happens because the chain acts like lots of connected little rods. When you pick up one end of a rod, that end of the rod goes up, and the other end tries to go down. However, if the downward force is stopped by the pile of beads below it, there is a small kickback, and the rod is pushed upwards. That upwards thrust at each link in the chain is what makes the chain rise. This is an easy activity to try for yourself at home! Just make sure that you feed the chain gradually into the glass from one end so that it doesn’t get into a tangle when it’s flowing out. You could experiment with letting the chain fall from different heights (for example by standing on a step compared to sitting down) to see if that makes a difference to the height that the chain reaches.

🎄 Have you ever seen a chain fountain in action before? Watch a Mould effect video, otherwise known as a chain fountain phenomenon video here! It’s the perfect simple science experiment to try at home!

Special Christmas Offer

Use coupon code: XMAS23

For a limited timewhilst stocks last, we’ll send you a FREE copy of the 100th edition of Whizz Pop Bang when you purchase a new subscription using the coupon code XMAS23.

Free science magazine and gift card

Imagine how excited your child will be to receive all of this on Christmas Day…

• Our movie edition ‘LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!‘ as your first magazine

• FREE copy of the ‘SCIENCE PARTY‘ magazine!

• FREE gift card printed with your message to the child

• FREE festive packaging

Plus, your child will receive a magazine addressed to them through the letterbox every month!

Each month will bring a whole new world of excitement, with topics like Ancient Greeks, Outer Space, Bees, Aliens, Rainforests and Medicines.

HURRY! Order by midnight on 17th December for your items to be dispatched by Royal Mail’s last posting date for Christmas. This offer ends on 20th December or until stocks last. Place your order today to make sure your child doesn’t miss out.

Use coupon code: XMAS23

At the checkout, when asked ‘When would you like your subscription to start?’ select ‘Delivery as soon as possible‘.

* Christmas offer only valid on new 6 and 12-monthly subscriptions using the code XMAS23. At the checkout, when asked ‘When would you like your subscription to start?’ select ‘Delivery as soon as possible.’ Order by midnight on 17.12.23 for your items to be dispatched by Royal Mail’s last posting date for Christmas. Offer valid while stocks last or until midnight on 20.12.2023. Don’t forget to use the code XMAS23 at the checkout. Not valid in conjunction with any other offers.


Post Comment

COMPETITION CLOSED – WIN a Mega Connetix Creative Pack

We’ve got THREE bumper sets to give away from Connetix worth £115 each!

We have an epic giveaway this December, this is not one you want to miss out on! We’ve partnered with Connetix and have three massive, 120 piece magnetic construction sets to give away.

The Connetix 120 Piece Pastel Creative Pack makes playtime engaging and educational, sparking boundless creativity and promoting educational, playful experiences for children of all ages. This amazing creative pack offers a spectrum of shapes in 8 delightful pastel colours, making it the perfect canvas for constructing impressive Connetix creations, from intricate designs to grand-scale masterpieces.

Whether children are absorbed in solitary play or engaging with friends and family, constructions toys like this one from Connetix spark STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and, Mathematics) learning while nurturing fine and gross motor skills. Kids can assemble towering castles, futuristic rockets, majestic towers, sturdy bridges, and much more.

The high-quality, open-ended pack seamlessly adapts to your child’s evolving interests and abilities, providing a platform for increasingly complex and imaginative play experience

For your chance to win, simply answer this question in the comments:

Which is the tallest building in the world?

a) The Shard
b) Eiffel tower
c) Burj Khalifa

This competition closes at midnight on Sunday 31st December 2023 and is open to UK residents only. Whizz Pop Bang competition terms and conditions are here.


Post Comment

COMPETITION CLOSED – WIN a National Geographic Glow-in-the-Dark Mega Science Kit!

We’ve got three Glow-In-The-Dark sets from National Geographic to give away! Scroll down to find out how to enter.

Explore glow-in-the-dark science with PUTTY, SLIME, CRYSTALS AND MORE!

Inquisitive minds will love discovering the world of glow-in-the-dark by making glowing slime and growing their own crystals!

The National Geographic Glow-in-the-Dark Mega Science Kit is an astounding collection of experiments and activities that all glow when the lights are out!

There is so much included in this Mega Kit: one glowing crystal seed, two DIY slime powders in glowing green and glowing purple, two slime containers, one glowing putty in a storage tin, one wernerite rock, one UV light, and a full-colour learning guide that takes you through each experiment step by step. Don’t worry, if you’re not a lucky winner, this kit is also available to buy from Amazon, perfect for Christmas presents!

To win one of THREE kits, answer this question in the comments:

How do most fungi reproduce?

A) Seeds

B) Pollen

C) Spores

This competition closes at midnight on 31st October 2023 and is open for UK residents only. For full terms and conditions visit whizzpopbang.com/terms-and-conditions

Thanks to Bandai, National Geographic and Playtime PR for this brilliant prize!


Post Comment

How to play mancala

Have you ever wondered how to play mancala? It’s an ancient game with lots of variations, but this brilliant video explains how to play one version of it.

If you’d like to try playing mancala, why not start by making your own upcycled set from planet-friendly materials?

Find out how to turn an egg box into an awesome African mancala game in Whizz Pop Bag: Safari!

Get ready to journey through the African savannah inside this wild edition of Whizz Pop Bang! Look out for thundering wildebeest, circling vultures and mischievous meerkats whilst you find out about the incredible adaptations that allow animals to survive in scorching African habitats.


You’ll be able to print leopard-print paper and craft a safari diorama, complete with its own watering hole and real live grass! Discover ten awesomely amazing safari animals, find out how walkie talkies work and get up close with one of the largest and most ferocious predators around – the glorious lion! Meet an elephant keeper at a very special Kenyan animal sanctuary, find out about Thomas Odhiambo who used science to find Earth-friendly ways to control pests on crops and see if you can spot the camouflaged creatures hiding in our photo gallery!


Post Comment

Homemade glue recipe

PVA glue is often used in crafts but it’s made from petrochemicals, the production of which is bad for the environment. Here’s a recipe for glue made from natural materials that works just as well!

You will need:

45 g plain flour
15 g sugar
5 ml (1 teaspoon) vinegar
100 ml warm water
Bowls
Spoon
Jug
Jar or tub with lid

What you do:

  1. Put 50 ml of warm water into a jug and add the sugar. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
  2. Add the vinegar.
  3. Put the flour into a bowl and slowly add the liquid, stirring all the time, until it is combined together. Keep stirring until there are no lumps.
  4. Add the rest of the water and stir thoroughly. 
  5. Store the mixture in a jar or tub with the lid closed in the fridge for up to two weeks. 

Post Comment

COMPETITION CLOSED – Win a brilliant engineering bundle!

Do you know a budding engineer who’d love to win this awesome bundle of engineering gifts? This month we are joining forces with DK Books and Thames and Kosmos to bring you this brilliant bundle!

engineering bundle competition with DK Books Thames and Kosmos and Whizz Pop Bang science magazine

Here’s what you could win:

The Way Things Work book from DK Books: Embark on a captivating journey through the world of engineering with this acclaimed book. Discover the fascinating inner workings of machines and understand the principles behind everyday inventions. Packed with detailed illustrations and engaging explanations, The Way Things Work will broaden your understanding of the technological wonders that shape our lives.

Simple Machines mechanical engineering toy set

Simple Machines set from Thames and Kosmos: Dive into hands-on experimentation with this captivating kit. Explore the fundamental principles of mechanical engineering through a variety of interactive projects. Build and operate models of levers, gears, pulleys, and more, gaining invaluable insights into the mechanics behind simple machines. Unleash your creativity as you tinker, test, and unlock the secrets of engineering.

The Way Things Work engineering book

Engineering Magazine Bundle and Snip-Out Science Activity Book from Whizz Pop Bang: Embark on a thrilling STEM adventure with a bundle of three Whizz Pop Bang engineering magazines and paper-craft activity book! This magazine bundle is packed full of activities to get children inventing, designing and building and the activity book is stuffed with 30 projects to cut, stick and fold, all with a science twist! Test fantastic flying machines, engineer brilliant bridges, make a moveable skeleton, craft some super sea creatures and much more!

Engineering magazines for kids and Snip-Out Science Papercraft Activity Book

✨ To enter this brilliant engineering competition, head over to Facebook or Instagram, where you’ll find all the details you need to enter for your chance to win this awesome engineering bundle. ✨

T&C’s: This giveaway closes at midnight on Friday 30th June 2023. One winner will be selected at random from all entries via Facebook and Instagram and will be contacted in the first week of June. This competition is open to UK residents only. Winner will be informed via your original comment by @whizzpopbangmag – please be wary of scams, do not give personal details or follow any links from other accounts. For full terms and conditions visit buff.ly/3ij98Q3 This competition is in no way affiliated, endorsed, sponsored or administered by Instagram or Facebook.


Post Comment

COMPETITION CLOSED – Win a bug-tastic bundle of STEM gifts!

We’re super excited to announce that we’ve teamed up with Laurence King Publishing and Insect Lore for May’s online competition which we are running on Instagram and Facebook only! Head over there to find out how to win this bumper prize!

Science gift competition bug bingo Whizz Pop Bang science magazine Insect Lore Butterfly Garden

You could win:

Bug Bingo Game – This beautifully illustrated bingo game features 64 species of bugs from around the world. Identify all kinds of insects – from the giant hawker dragonfly to the kissing bug and the orchid bee to the sacred scarab – mark them off on your card and bingo! Bug Bingo brings a fun and educational twist to the traditional game as players learn the names and colourings of both favourite species like the honey bee and more exotic bugs like the vampire moth. Contains one masterboard, 64 superbly illustrated bug tokens, 12 bingo cards and brightly coloured counters for you to mark up your card, as well as a leaflet containing basic information and a few quirky traits for all of the bugs featured.

Science gift competition bug bingo

Butterfly Garden – Experience the miracle of metamorphosis with this unique Butterfly Garden! Observe caterpillars grow and change into butterflies, and then release them. The kit includes a 30cm tall reusable habitat for easy butterfly watching and a voucher for 3-5 caterpillars with food. Once you have received your caterpillars, they will eat, spin silk, and grow to TEN times their original size! After 7-10 days watch as they hang upside down and form their chrysalides! Then watch as they emerge as beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies and observe them for a couple of days before releasing into nature.

Science gift competition Insect Lore Butterfly Garden

A 6-month magazine subscription for Whizz Pop Bang! Keep your young scientist engaged with a monthly magazine subscription filled with hands-on science activities, the latest scientific news, jokes, puzzles, and more! The best part? Loads of the supplies needed for the activities can be found in your kitchen cupboard.

Science gift competition Whizz Pop Bang science magazine

We are running this competition on Instagram and Facebook only! Head over to our socials to find out how to be in for a chance of winning one of three of these awesome bundles.

T&C’s: This giveaway closes at midnight on Wednesday 31st May 2023. One winner will be selected at random from all entries via Facebook and Instagram and will be contacted in the first week of June. This competition is open to UK residents only. Winner will be informed via your original comment by @whizzpopbangmag – please be wary of scams, do not give personal details or follow any links from other accounts. For full terms and conditions visit buff.ly/3ij98Q3 This competition is in no way affiliated, endorsed, sponsored or administered by Instagram or Facebook.


Post Comment