Although the best gift by far is the gift of reading, but near the top is the gift of play! Our family's favorite gift by far is the ongoing joy of subscription boxes that promote curiosity and playful discovery.
Subscription boxes have become quite trendy in the last few years, and for good reason! It's a well-known fact that kids get bored of their toys pretty quickly so sparking their imagination with a creative learning project once a month is the perfect remedy.
(Note: this post is not sponsored; we purchased the boxes ourselves! links and images are affiliate links.)
Why do we love subscription boxes so much? One of the best reasons we encourage you to find a box that's right for you is that they include everything you need!!! No more hunting around for materials and trying to figure out what project to do with the kids.
They are absolutely perfect for parents who want to spend time with their kids on tinker-y type projects but are just a wee bit lazy. (No shame it that!) If that sounds like you then one of these boxes might just become your favorite gift for kids, too. There's something to suit kids of all ages and interests!
KiwiCo.
Our family has subscribed to the KiwiCo. boxes for years! I've written before about how much I love the one on one time they afforded me with each of my kids. The best part of the crates is that they contain active projects, not just "make it and put it on a shelf" projects.
KiwiCo. Family by Age and Interest:
Ages 5-8, crafts, science: Kiwi Crate is recommended for ages 5-8. We've we put together projects like a marble run, miniature golf, luminaries and more. The crates contain art, craft and science projects.
Ages 9+, STEM: Tinker Crate, a science and engineering crate that is geared towards kids ages 9 and up. This is the crate I purchased for my tween. He put together a rocket, a glider, a catapult, an hydraulic arm, an irrigation system and more. I do think kids ages 7 and up will enjoy this crate, but will require more parental involvement for younger kids.
Ages 9+, Arts and Crafts: Doodle Crate, an art and craft based box for kids ages 9 and up. Can I let you in on a secret? I am seriously thinking of ordering this for myself!
Social Science, Ages 6-11: Atlas Crate, for kids who want to learn about the world, its history, culture and geography.
Babies and Toddlers: Panda Crate, for kids ages 0-36 months. These are research based products designed to stimulate brain development.
Preschoolers, Crafts: Koala Crate, which is perfect ages 3-4 years old and contains an arts and crafts project.
Teens, Arts and Crafts: Maker Crate. This is a craft box for teens ages 14 and up. The types of projects include macrame, clay, textile art and more.
Teens, STEM: Eureka Crates. This is a STEM-based box for teens ages 14 and up. Kits include projects like building an electric pencil sharpener, making and automatic soap dispenser kit, and other electronic and tech projects.
Universal Yums
Every month our family gets a box of global treats from Universal Yums. I'm not exaggerating when I say my kids jump up and down when it arrives on our doorstep every month. Each month features treats from a different country as well as an activity booklet that teaches a bit about the country from which they came. This box is definitely a huge favorite of ours!
Green Kids Crafts
Find it: Green Kids Crafts at Crate Joy | Green Kids Crafts
I love that Green Kids Crafts has two versions of their subscription box based on the age of the recipient. The Junior Box is for 3-4 year olds and the Discovery Box is for 5-10 year olds. This long-standing, award-winning company supplies kids with 4-6 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) activities and a 12-page magazine in each box. Crafts have an environmental or nature theme that teach kids about topics like animals, botany, or the night sky.
Crate Joy
Explore: Crate Joy
Crate Joy is a hub for finding just the right subscription box, rather than a single recommendation. They source hundreds of different boxes and organize them by interest category (like food, crafts, books, etc.), ages (kids, teens and adults). I can't vouch for all the boxes they offer, but if you want something unique like puzzle mysteries to solve, or a box of healthy snacks (we got the Snack Sack for a year or so and loved it), it's a great place to poke around.
Heather says
I don't see the image for tinkercrate/kiwicrate. I'd like to click on it to get the promo codes to work. thanks