4M
Lost Treasures:
Sometimes the coolest gifts are the ones you can't find on the first page. These are our lost treasures, hidden gems that are just waiting to be discovered by you!
Discover the World of Fun with 4M!
4M is where learning meets adventure! Their award-winning STEAM kits bring together science, technology, engineering, art, and maths in a way that makes discovery feel like playtime. From creative crafts to exciting experiments, 4M toys are designed to inspire curious minds of all ages to dive into hands-on learning and explore new ideas.
At 4M, it's all about sparking imagination and creativity while making sure the fun never stops. Whether you're building a cool gadget or crafting your next masterpiece, these toys encourage innovative thinking and help kids develop important skills, all while having an absolute blast!
What people think of 4M
Read their experiences to help choose your next project or gift.
Extremely happy - instructions are clear and it is so fun to see crystal growing ! Great science fun of you and your kid !
Tomas 16 June
Excellent. My grandson was delighted and is watching them grow.
Jennie 11 March
My Nephew loved this! Worked really well and kept him entertained.
Mel 05 June
I didn't have high expectations - but this crystallisation kit worked quite well in the end. Just follow the instructions and you can't go far wrong. It takes about a week before the crystals are large enough to be harvested. The larger pot takes a few days longer. The mix colour crystals gave nice results. Its a fun way to get kids interested in basic science. The age indication is for 14 & upwards, but I think this would be more more interesting for the 10-12 age group. Not a bad kit overall.
William 15 January
My nephews love the Science Museum, we go there often. This Xmas gift for them .. they loved it. Good quality and fun.
Amanda 31 October
Arrived safely and promptly. As described. Recommended A+++++
gerties9999 23 April
Found this great for teaching and learning about electromagnetism in a fun and practical way during lockdown
Vickie 20 January
I had no idea what to get the 8 year old neighbour kid for his birthday- the net search led me to Cool Things and this great toy! Love the science lesson wrapped in a cute little package. Love Cool Things - brilliant shop, fast safe shipping, little freebies and all round excellence. Thank you!
kat 18 August
Arrived safely and promptly. Exactly as described. Recommended A+++++
gerties9999 02 August
Really good stocking filler or for party bags. At my young lad's party all the boys loved racing their cars!
James 02 October
This airplane launcher is fun - if a little loud. You need to make a certain style of airplane to make it work well, but it was great for testing different designs for my son’s science fair project. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the hang of it, but once the kids can do it themselves, it’s a lot of fun. This would make a good present for kids ages 8-11. It tends to vibrate itself off of a table, so I recommend putting it on a rubber mat or a dish towel.
Anonymous 10 June
It was a great gift but sometimes the planes would get stuck in the track.
James 10 April
I have started using the kit with my Granddaughter and have had no problems so far.
Alison 05 September
these really work, got them for a 7year old. he loved this gift,
Anita 22 January
Great , we have so much fun, especially with the giant bubbles. Everything is well explained, and it's science and fun together. I recommend it.
Anonymous 31 March
Brought as a present for a friend and they absolutely loved it. Easy to assemble and use, hours of fun and can be reused over and over again with simple bubble solution. Very impressed and would highly recommend. Who doesn’t love bubbles!
Anonymous 20 December
Awesome! Our son loves it. Good idea to add baking powder to the bubbles solution (as per instructions included). Huge bubbles every time!
Anonymous 23 June
Cute as a gift, it was much appreciated
Anonymous 09 June
My nephew is only 10 but is so into science, this was the perfect Christmas gift for him..
Trish 26 December
This was purchased for my grandson for Christmas so I really cannot review how it is until after that time. It looks fantastic and I am sure he will get many hours of fun from his weather station. Arrived very promptly and all in good order. Thank you
Kerry Tarleton 05 December
very early Christmas present, looks good
Rosemary 09 May
excellent er super fast delivery item is excellent quality thankyou AAA+++
warny9366 07 August
My 7yr old niece loves her crafts so this was the perfect gift. The instructions were very easy and she was able to make this with very little help. Would recommend for any child!
Anonymous 17 March
Bought for granddaughter who lives making pom poms to decorate bedroom. This kit has everything you need.
Anonymous 03 July
We ordered two crystal kits. They were exactly what we were expecting. Delivery was early and prices were best I could find. Recommended.
ashley 15 July
Kids loved it, but the “spikes” on the resulting chrystal was really fine. Even when carefully handling it for the washing, the spikes would break. It is quite beautiful though.
Gerrie 22 May
Absolutely brilliant results will be getting more. Very helpful in explaining how crystals grow
Edwin 21 March
Alot smaller box than what i was expecting. But it will do for my granddaughter for xmas
Anonymous 04 December
I didn’t know what to expect, but after 2 days a huge crystal had already formed, just the colour my daughter wanted. We couldn’t believe it, it’s beautiful and fascinating. The only issue is that now I have to buy more ;-)
Anonymous 03 January
Interesting magic water tap , brought as a gift
Gary 04 December
This kit has a theme of saving water and mmy lad loved it for the humorous way it let him feel he had an everlasting water supply. It is as easy to set up as a fish tank filter!
Sue 12 September
It was fantastic. Needed an adult to help assemble. Only quibble is chain didn't stay up. Magnet wasn't strong enough. Otherwise it was great.
Anonymous 19 April
When I saw this it reminded me of a large floating tap that we saw when on holiday which our kids loved. I bought it for my daughters 7th birthday and she loved putting it together with her father and proudly showed me how it worked. It also lead to us having a chat about why it’s important to be less wasteful with water.
Victoria 30 August
I bought this for my 10 year old son for his birthday. He loved building it with his grandpa and I’m not sure who enjoyed it more. Great quality and lots of fun
Narelle Dickinson 02 March
Absolutely thrilled the 11yr old. Enjoyed assembly as well as playing with the result. A winner!
Kerry Stamell 29 May
Looks great. Kids will love its movement. Colourful and quite easy to assemble
Bruce 09 March
Great product! After 24 hours the crystals were already present and well formed, see photo! Incredible then the fluorescence, recommended!
Edmondo 07 August
My boy loves this! He hates the fact he has to wait 7 days!
Anonymous 04 June
Love these for my son’s bedroom ceiling. So fun!
Anonymous 05 January
These stars glow really well and my sons love them so bought more for their bedroom ceiling. My son are 4&5 years old and every night they ask to see the stars, looking for their Meemaw (my mum) who passed last year so buying these little glow in the dark stars had meaning behind them e.g when they are able to be put on the ceiling, my sons will be able to see the stars every night and see their Meemaw, it may seem silly to some but my sons are still small and have very little understanding of where my mum has gone. Now they can sleep under the stars every night. Only giving 4 stars because the actual stars are really pretty and are very bright, inexpensive and a nice edition to any child’s room and from the ones I purchased a long while ago are easy to put on the ceiling. So I would definitely recommend them.
Danielle 23 March
Did lots of research on here and was really happy with the quality of these. Nice and sturdy and variety of sizes looks great. Recommended
Anonymous 03 October
My daughter (5 years old) loved it, but she needed help riding. can go on the water and hold on to dive rs success in the pool (sun), and bathtub (needs pile).
Thiago 03 May
The top is uncovered and disarmed with ease. Otherwise, very entertaining for children.
Maria 20 July
Crabby! Walks great but will tip over. Runs on batteries or the sun. Easy to put together. The walking motion is fascinating to young eyes!
Stephen 03 March
Bought as a gift, the child loved it and really enjoyed building and playing with it. Fab set for inquisitive minds. Needed a little help from an adult
Jane 08 September
My 8 year old son loved it! Pretty quick assembly. Requires adult help at times as “screws” are not always easy to insert
Cécile 29 August
It's not a must-have quality, unfortunately. But it works.
Anonymous 04 July
I have it on good authority from the 7 year old recipient of the model solar system that it is pretty cool. Apparently it was relatively easy to assemble too.
Kathleen Compton 24 May
Great instructional labs for beginners in robotics
Frank 06 January
Good product for a kid to play. Easy to use depends on the age of the child, for a 10 old child he manage to do by himself.
Natalia 18 December
i didnt like how hard it was, and the instructions were a bit hard to understand. overall, it was super fun to use.
David 09 September
I took awa one star as an 8 year old needed help. Instructions fine, but the right tension is important and not so easy. However, a really good toy
Norma 15 August
We had great fun making this... my grandson is 7 and he loved it and thinks it’s hilarious
Sue 25 February
I bought this robot hand for my 11-year-old grandson, he never leaves it, and enjoys it.
Momo 25 December
My 11 year old son loves it. He built it himself by following the instruction. We installed it on his bedroom door. It works great!
Agatha 03 October
We gave this to a girl aged 8. She was excited by it, did most of the assembly by herself, and enjoyed having her bedroom door 'protected'. She did need help pushing in the plastic pegs that hold the wires in place to complete the circuit. More importantly, she needed to be given a small cross-point screwdriver and shown how to use it. Does every family have such a screwdriver to hand? Even if they do at home, the child might be given the kit away on holiday or to amuse them on a long train journey. It also needs two AAA size batteries which are not supplied. The gadget worked well right away and is quite well made and designed. It does illustrate two science principles being used for a practical purpose (magnetic attraction and an electrical conductor moving to complete an electrical circuit) but with only a brief exclamation in small print. Overall I would recommend it, with the reservation that the batteries and screwdriver needed are not necessarily available and they should be mentioned on the box!
John 10 April
Bought it as a present for grandson he loved it
Jen 16 April
My 10 year old and 5 year old love this alarm. Wasn’t sure if it would hold out. But it did my head in for months. Every time I went into the kids room. The alarm went off and the kids were kicking off
Mike 06 July
I built this with my nephew and we really enjoyed it. It is now installed on his door - no more intruders for him!
Anonymous 22 January
Works like yo remember i.e. knock it and it will make it all the way down the stairs. Not like the cheaper ones or the plastic ones. This one works.
Anonymous 16 October
We have purchased several Science Museum products before, and found them to be a bit hit and miss in terms of entertainment, learning, quality and value for money. However, the science element, and the opportunities to experiment and learn about science processes, has always swayed us to come back to the brand. The intruder alarm was purchased as a gift for a child who loves to play 'spy' and set up traps and suchlike. We knew it would be well received and at the age of 11, he would be able to understand instructions and build the device himself without adult support. This would make a great stocking filler or small party gift for a child who likes to experiment and build things themselves, and might spark an interest which they could then go on to develop with better quality equipment. Don't expect top quality components, but something that would be good as a rainy day / short time activity.
Anonymous 01 January
Super fun and affordable gift my daughter has enjoyed and learned a lot. Totally recommended
Soraya 17 February
The hardest part of growing these crystals was to keep the temperature up in our room for a couple of days. I had no idea that was part of the process, but it makes total sense. The end results are not as spectacular as the photo on the box, but that's OK as maybe the room needed to be even warmer than we set our thermostat to. Since the chemicals need to stay off one's skin, my students got to feel like scientists, wearing lab coats and goggles, LOL! I will buy this kit again next year, assuming I'm teaching science then!
William 14 December
My 7 year old was really excited to make these crystals, the process is a bit of a faff but nothing too complex. He had fun with it but the results aren’t like the box. The tree crystal was a bit of a flop- definitely not as full looking as the box shows, the blue crystal was great but as you can see, it grew sideways rather than upright so it doesn’t actually stand up. Still, a fun piece nonetheless
Jo 04 January
Bought as gift but sounds like fun. Safety requirements are important READ packaging before giving to a child/teenager. My great granddaughter will love it.
Margaret 12 June
Amazing fun for both parents and kids haha. Great toy for children aged about 8. It is very messy toy so I would recommend this is used on a tray or tuff tub. Kids loved it though, even if the house is covered in clay dust!
Monika 27 September
This works fine for us. It was a little fiddly to put together, the trickiest thing was getting the wires properly seated in the terminals. But it went together well and the instructions were good. When closed the barrier extends out 56cm from the body, so it covers at most 3/4 the width of a normal sized door. Therefore the claim of the barrier being 64cm in length is misleading although technically true - the remaining 8cm is taken up by the width of the body. The barrier takes about 8 seconds to open which will make it a little tedious in the long run. But for £20 this has gone down well as a novelty item for occasional use. Make sure you’ve put the keycard into the card reader otherwise it won’t open. Advertised for ages 5 and over. I’d say this was too fiddly for a 5 year old to put together. But to actually open and close the barrier any age from 3 upwards would be fine. Just be warned it’s a little delicate. Only criticism would be it should have a better option to mount onto the wall/doorframe. It needs more than just one screw and some double sided tape because the keycard is a little tight to pull in and out. Overall this was what I expected, and gets 4.5 stars from me.
Phil 09 January
Great kit, super fun. Happy kids with super interest! Then all you need is a few food colors and the game is practically endless! Super approved
Niccolo 14 May
Super quick delivery and a fantastic product. I know for sure my granddaughter will love it for Christmas. Thank you so much for your efficient service. I have used this company before and would highly recommend them to everyone.
Helen 07 December
Easy to put together with clear instructions
Richie 30 December
This project went together well. Nice item, must be perfectly level to wor.k properly though. It does not work properly most of the time. Very aggravating
Randall 09 October
Recently purchased the Electric Marble Run to entertain grandson No. 3 who stayed with us during the school holidays, the idea was that he and Grandson No.4 would both play with it. Anyway, they liked it so much we had to buy a second one for No.4 . An unexpected bonus was that nearly all visiting adults are intrigued by it and want a play.
J.L. Harland 16 July
I think it's amazing that kids can explore the workings of things that fascinate them. I'm glad I found the Cool Things site!
Joanne 16 April
I bought this for my Nephew's Christmas present and he loves it. He's nearly five so perhaps a bit younger than recommended but he's never unsupervised and I think this is a great entry into fun science for kids. There's lots of experiments and you don't have to do them all at once.
Anonymous 01 January
Build your own padlock and watch how the components work My foster son really enjoyed this activity
Dee 17 March
Grandson absolutely loves it he’s 7 yrs old
Shelley 18 July
I got it as part of an AR project and the use of holograms. It is ok, easy to assemble but the light source is not very bright and as a consequence you need a dark room to appreciate it.
Anonymous 31 July
I bought it because I was curious and I developed a passion for plaster I bought lots of plasters, 6 kg, several molds and I did a lot of other projects on the side and this thing really gave me a boost to start so really hats off to start a Sunday passion.
Cédric 06 April
Works exactly as expected. And has so far kept the color well through 3 washes
Robbin 01 July
Fun to do and colors seem to last. Color are a little less vivid than I would like but thats just a personal preference
Dylan 08 February
Great tie kit. Does not include any tshirts so be sure to get some before starting. I was able to do 12 size 5-7 t shirts.
Lucinda 10 May
Great instructions. We did 10 shirts. Kids had a great time. Colours stay in and don't fade with washing
Cate 07 May
It's easy to assemble, but once assembled it's very boring. It only has one function and kids get bored quickly. It's a good gift for a 5-6 year old kid interested in getting into robotics.
William 28 May
This was awell recieved gift for an 11yr old, who built it unaided and quickly. Good idea for young, budding electronics engineer!
Anonymous 05 January
We are absolutely thrilled with the KidzRobotix Motorised Robot Hand! It's an absolute blast to watch our grandson compose his own beats and see the hand play them. The kit is well-designed and easy to use. The only drawback is that the hand's motor can be a bit noisy. However, it doesn't diminish the fun. I highly recommend this from CoolThings Australia!
Kath 17 May
I used this for my science fair project and the teachers loved it
Anonymous 02 April
The toy is great for awakening children's interest in robotics.
Bruna 26 June
My son loved making this Rex a robot. His dad helped with the wiring as our son was a little anxious about that part. Great project for Xmas Morning.
Anonymous 01 January
Awesome project for me and my son. Easy to put together and lots of fun getting it set up to move
Sean 03 December
Great for an inquisitive mind who like learning about the why and is patient.
Jay 14 April
This had the 6 year old more interested than the 8 year old who it was given to. They did want the hat as in the front picture to pull the rabbit out but I can see this being picked up and used as they get a little older.
Jay 14 April
My granddaughter loved this product and put on a magic show for her friends who loved the tricks! Some of the tricks were a bit old for her at 7 but that means there are new trucks to learn for later. I love the science involved in the tricks.
Bee 25 January
Great but the kids need help for some experiences. The experience aren’t not very well explained Otherwise quite funny
Luc 30 December
I bought this for my grandsons 6th birthday, it was an instant hit. It works around the table and has a sensor which detects the edges, or obstructions, and just navigates its way around them. It never falls off the table. A brilliant gift, which he played with, whenever he had a spare moment.
C 19 September
Brought for my 9 year old. He loved building it then getting it to work. Great that it moves around a table without falling off. He was impressed by that :-)
Ian 10 March
A great time spent with my 4-year-old son. He was attentive to the end, was able to use the screwdriver and manipulated small parts... that was the way to talk about electricity and electrical polarity! In short, we had a great time... however, we still don't have the explanation of how this robot decides to change course at the edge of the table. A little explanatory note would have been great!
Guillaume 08 March
We recently purchased the Generator Creator, the KidsRobotix Drummer Robot and the KidsLabs Giant Magnetic Compass. The idea was to keep two of our grandsons (aged 10 & 12) entertained during the school holidays. Did it what; constructing and playing with the kits kept them interested and engaged for most of the fortnight - apart from the odd minor squabble they were interacting with each other on a level we hadn't seen before. Even better - their time spent on Ipads and Switch was only about 20% of what we were used to.
J.L. Harland 07 July
Kidzlabs Giant Magnetic Compass
My 8 year old loves using this for all sorts of things. It's pretty sturdy and can pick up a range of objects. Love it!
Liz 09 April
Kidzlabs Octopus Robotic Claw
We recently purchased the Generator Creator, the KidsRobotix Drummer Robot and the KidsLabs Giant Magnetic Compass. The idea was to keep two of our grandsons (aged 10 & 12) entertained during the school holidays. Did it what; constructing and playing with the kits kept them interested and engaged for most of the fortnight - apart from the odd minor squabble they were interacting with each other on a level we hadn't seen before. Even better - their time spent on Ipads and Switch was only about 20% of what we were used to.
J.L. Harland 07 July
KidzRobotix Drummer Robot
we had a great time putting the robot together. Within minutes, my kids were coming up with their own unique beats.
tracey 17 May
KidzRobotix Drummer Robot
Easy to build and fun to use. My 9yr old did this on his own and loved it.
Anonymous 20 January
The grandkids loved it. I just had to bring coins, lol.
Anonymous 30 December
Easy to build, kids love them.. we had fun with it.
Anonymous 20 November
My son loves building toys so this was great for him. We managed to get it to work too.
Lilian 17 January
Great gift for my 8 year old son who loves building things. It also has a practical use after it's built.
Sarah 22 December
Our niece is quite arty and being able to paint her own things makes her really happy.
Trish 26 December
Little Craft Lantern Painting Kit
lots of fun!
Craig 05 September
Marvel Avengers Iron Man Mega Hydraulic Arm
Frequently Asked Questions About 4M
4M toys cater to a wide range of ages! Whether your child is just starting out with simple craft kits or tackling more advanced science projects, there's something for everyone, from young kids to budding teen engineers.
The recommended age depends on the individual kit. For example, the Scientific Discovery Kit is recommended for ages 5 and up, while STEAM Powered Kids Kitchen Science is recommended for ages 8 and up. Check the product page, packaging and instructions for the age rating and supervision requirements before choosing a kit.
Absolutely! 4M focuses on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Maths) learning, so every kit offers a fun, hands-on way to explore important concepts while boosting creativity and problem-solving skills.
Most 4M kits come with everything you need to get started, but some may require a few common household items. It's always a good idea to check the box before you begin!
Requirements vary between kits. Kitchen Science experiments, for example, use household items such as baking soda, vinegar and fruit. Some robot kits need batteries, a small crosshead screwdriver or a clean, used drinks can. Check the individual kit's requirements so you have everything ready.
Supervision requirements vary by kit. An adult should read the instructions and warnings before the activity begins and provide the guidance or supervision specified. The recommended age does not replace the kit's supervision requirements.
These are different ranges within the 4M brand, each with its own learning focus:
- KidzLabs focuses on hands-on science experiments and discovery.
- KidzRobotix introduces mechanics and robotics through motorised models children assemble.
- Green Science explores topics such as renewable energy and using everyday materials to build working science projects.
- STEAM Powered Kids combines science learning with creativity, often through sets containing several activities.
Choose the activity that interests your child, then check the individual kit's recommended age and requirements.
It depends on the kit. Some motorised projects require batteries purchased separately. For example, the KidzRobotix Tin Can Robot instructions specify one AA battery, which is not included. Always check your kit's packaging and instructions for the correct battery type and quantity.
4M science kits include instructions, with the format depending on the set. Scientific Discovery includes an activity booklet and project cards. STEAM Powered Kids Kitchen Science includes a booklet with step-by-step activities and explanations of the science behind them.
Yes, an age-appropriate kit can introduce children to science through guided activities at home. Sets such as Scientific Discovery provide project guides that parents and children can follow together. Start with a topic your child enjoys and follow the kit's instructions and supervision requirements.
Crystal shapes and sizes vary with temperature, humidity and how undisturbed the solution remains while growing. Follow your kit's instructions; each crystal can look a little different.
No. The eruption chamber stays inside the finished volcano to hold the eruption mixture. Leave it in place after moulding, as directed in the instructions.
Activities involving paint or plaster can stain. Cover the work surface, wear old clothes and clean spills promptly. Put leftover plaster in the rubbish, never down drains.
4M currently states that it does not supply refill kits or extra components. Check availability before choosing a kit specifically for repeated experiments.
Check the contents list and troubleshooting instructions first. If a part is missing or faulty, contact us for help with your kit.
