How to Set up a Science Lab at Home

Before building a kids’ science lab at home, it’s essential to account for your children’s ages and their interest in science. A science lab for a middle schooler will look much different from one built for a child entering elementary school. The kind of space and materials a child needs for a science lab will depend on their age and interests.

Whereas an older child might be competent enough to handle ingredients and cleaning up messes on their own, a younger child might need a science lab set up in an area where you can frequently check up on them. Of course, you won’t be able to always be hovering near the science lab, so make sure to put it in a space that you feel comfortable leaving your kids alone in for short periods, no matter their ages.

What kind of science your kid is interested in will also affect the science lab’s placement. For example, if your kids like messier science experiments like chemical reactions, make sure to set up their lab near a sink. Overall, make sure to construct your science lab at home specifically for the kids who will be using it.

Once you’ve decided what kind of science your lab needs to be able to handle, you’ll need to consider which area of your house will best accommodate a science lab for kids, and how much space you have to fit one. Luckily, science labs don’t require much space if well organized, so that spare corner you have in the basement, office or playroom could be perfect.

Here are some crucial aspects to consider when you make your science lab.

A reliable science table is the central component of any science lab — it’s where the magic happens! Your science table doesn’t need to be fancy. Any desk or folding table will do, as long as there’s enough space for all the science your kid wants to explore.

The pivotal thing to remember when setting up your kid’s science table is to put it in an area that you don’t mind getting messy. As a natural part of learning, mistakes are inevitable. So, to promote learning and being unafraid to fail, make sure your science table is far away from valuable, fragile or expensive items.

Ensure there’s enough shelving or bins near your science table to hold all the supplies your kids will need for their experiments. If any of the ingredients included in the experiments are hazardous, store them appropriately in a safe area.

Experimenting in a poorly lit area can be dangerous, so it’s essential to locate your lab in a well-lit space. Try to station your science lab near a window or purchase a table lamp for the area if it’s difficult to see with the overhead lighting alone.

For experiments that involve smelly substances or harmful fumes, you’ll want the room your kid’s science lab is in to have appropriate air circulation. Again, setting up your science lab near a window can be beneficial by providing an easy way to ensure good ventilation.

Set your science table up on a floor that can handle spills. Flooring materials like vinyl or linoleum are easy to clean up. If you don’t have a good flooring option, make sure your child puts down newspaper before each experiment.

After you’ve set up your science lab, you’ll need to fill it with the right materials and equipment to use it. That doesn’t have to mean buying an expensive microscope. Instead, work with the magnifying glass you already have and get creative in finding experiments that don’t involve advanced ingredients or equipment.

Let’s explore what materials you need to keep around to make sure your home science lab is safe and fully functional.

When using their science lab, safety should always be your children’s top priority. Make sure your kids wear the right protective equipment to keep them and their clothes from harm while experimenting.

Here’s the science safety gear you should always have on hand:

To conduct experiments, your kid will need some fundamental supplies — and, because cooking is chemistry, you most likely already have a few science-related ingredients in your cupboards.

Check your pantry for these science items:

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experiments frequently use other household materials. Encouraging your child to build models out of miscellaneous scraps is also a great way to recycle.

Gather up these STEM materials and add them to your lab supplies: