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DIY Christmas Tinkering Gifts For Kids

We like to come up with creative gifts to share with friends. Since we aren’t crafty people, my son and I decided to put together a Christmas tinkering kit to give instead. What’s a tinker kit? A tinker kit is like an inventors workshop. More than arts and crafts, a tinker kit provides materials to engineer inventions and build Christmas STEM projects. A Christmas tinker gift would make a wonderful early Christmas gift to enjoy all season long.

CHRISTMAS TINKERING GIFT FOR STEM

Christmas Tinker Kit Gift-2

TINKERING KITS

Do you have an inventor in the house? You know that kid that’s always showing you some kind of awesomely crazy contraption he or she has thought up?

Setting up a tinkering kit, tinkering station, or maker space is the perfect way to fuel his or her imagination and encourage engineering skills. 

The best part is that these materials don’t have to be expensive. In fact, some of the most inexpensive and even free materials are the best for creating cool STEM projects.

We love to build structures and try out different simple STEM challenges. There are so many places to find supplies like the dollar store, grocery stores, hardware stores, and even your junk drawers and tool boxes. In fact, if you open up your own kitchen cupboards and drawers, you would be surprised at what you already have collected.

ALSO CHECK OUT: DIY STEM KIT Ideas

The materials in our Christmas tinker kit also can make some pretty cool science experiments too and those ideas are listed at the bottom of this page! We hit up our local dollar store to find plenty of inexpensive building materials. Plus many of the supplies contain multiple items which can be taken apart and divided up into several Christmas tinker kits!

Christmas Tinker Kit Supplies

Don’t forget to grab your FREE set of Christmas STEM challenge cards

WHAT TO PUT IN A CHRISTMAS TINKER KIT?

SUPPLIES YOU COULD INCLUDED:

  • Pipe cleaners
  • Mesh tubing
  • Styrofoam pieces
  • Plastic candy canes
  • Curly ribbon
  • Colorful tape
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Pom Poms
  • Jingle bells
  • Rubber bands
  • Paper clips
  • Toothpicks
  • Straws
  • Mini plastic cups
  • Ruler
  • Play dough
  • Container to hold it all!
  • Optional: scissors and glue {I figure most people have these items but the tape is an adhesive too}

Please note these are all items I would add for 6+ year old kid. You will have to use your best judgement when it comes to the age and ability of the kids you are making the gifts for. Playdough is wonderful “adhesive” for younger kids!

Christmas Tinker Kit Supplies

Our Christmas tinker kit is jam packed with cool stuff to build inventions.

Christmas Tinker Kit Holiday STEM Project

Rubber bands, paper clips, toothpicks and tape are great ways to build on ideas.

Christmas Tinker Kit Dollar Store Supplies Holiday STEM

Why not add a sketch book to your Christmas tinker kit gift too. Every young inventor needs a place to draw out designs and creations, record notes, and test ideas! 

ALSO CHECK OUT: Christmas Catapult STEM Activity

MORE FUN GIFT IDEAS

  • Winter Tinkering Kit
  • Science Stocking Stuffers
  • Unique LEGO Gifts
  • DIY Slime Kit
  • Surprise Slime Ornaments
Christmas Tinker Kit Handmade Christmas Gift for Kids-2

Christmas Tinker Kit Gift For Kids

What else can you make from some of the items the kit? Click on the image below or on the link for tons of fun Christmas STEM Activities.

Christmas STEM Activities for Kids

 BONUS CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • DIY Christmas Ornaments
  • Christmas STEM Activities
  • Simple Christmas Crafts for Kids
    Christmas Crafts
  • Advent Calendar Ideas
  • stem activities for kids; science experiments for kids
    Christmas Slime Recipes
  • STEM challenges and activities for children that focus on Christmas science
    Christmas Math Activities
Previous Post: « Free Printable Christmas Countdown Calendar
Next Post: Santa’s Frozen Hands Ice Melt Activity »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nadia

    November 15, 2015 at 12:50 pm

    Such a fun gift!
    Thanks for participating!

  2. Jim

    December 5, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    We have a 10 year old he’s a little slower so it is this too early for him to start

  3. littlebins

    December 5, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Definitely not because it’s all about creating at one’s own ability level and you can add supervision as necessary!

  4. Kristi

    December 10, 2016 at 7:28 am

    This is fantastic. My friend is going in for surgery Monday and I’ve been trying to put together a “recovery” bag with some surprises to distract her 6 and 8 year old when they get crazy (as kids do) so she can rest. This is PERFECT. I’ve decided to make some for our neighbors and my kids as well. Genius!! Thanks for sharing!

  5. littlebins

    December 10, 2016 at 9:29 am

    God thoughts to your friend! This would be a great idea! You can also check out our Christmas STEM challenge cards to pair with it.

Trackbacks

  1. Santa STEM Activity Challenge Build a Sleigh with Free Printable Sheets says:
    November 30, 2017 at 12:49 pm

    […] always like to put together a STEM kit or tinker kit for each season or holiday. This season of course we have a Christmas STEM kit filled with fun but […]

  2. Kid-made Gifts Series - Teach Me Mommy says:
    August 30, 2018 at 11:25 am

    […] Sarah from Little Bins for Little Hands […]

  3. 25 Days of Christmas STEM Challenge Cards Countdown Calendar says:
    November 30, 2018 at 10:50 am

    […] You can check out our Christmas theme tinker kit to find great, budget friendly essentials to includ… […]

  4. 25 Days of Christmas STEM Challenge Cards Countdown Calendar | Ai Nime says:
    November 30, 2018 at 10:55 am

    […] You can check out our Christmas theme tinker kit to find great, budget friendly essentials to includ… […]

  5. Amazing Dollar Store Engineering Kits For Kids | Little Bins for Little Hands says:
    August 16, 2019 at 10:41 am

    […] Christmas Tinker Kit […]

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