KiwiCo Subscription Box Review
The doorbell rings; it’s the mail carrier with a big box for us. The boys rush into the room, full of excitement when they recognize the box. This is the scene at our house every month when our KiwiCo subscription boxes come!
As of July 2021, we have been getting the subscription boxes for 3 years now, and the kids love them still! Kids love lots of things though, and you need a real KiwiCo Review from an adult. Right?
We’ve gotten the Kiwi Crate, Koala Crate, Atlas Crate, Panda Crate, Doodle Crate, and Eureka Crate. Yes, we’ve had almost all of them! I will provide reviews for each KiwiCo box we have experience with.
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KiwiCo focuses on creating STEM subscription boxes for kids and teens.
They have 8 lines available ranging from babies up to adults.
- Panda Crate (ages 0-2)
- Koala Crate (ages 2-4)
- Kiwi Crate (ages 5-8)
- Atlas Crate (ages 6-11)
- Doodle Crate (ages 9-16+)
- Tinker Crate (ages 9-16+)
- Maker Crate (ages 14-adult)
- Eureka Crate (ages 12-adult)
We currently have subscriptions to 3 crates: Koala for the 4-year-old, Kiwi and Atlas which the 6 and 8-year-old share and complete together.
Kiwi Crate Review
KiwiCo designed the Kiwi Crate for ages 5 to 8. It includes all the materials and instructions for 2-3 projects and a magazine to extend learning. And you can add to your subscription and get a book related to each crate too! It’s like a hands-on unit study curated and delivered right to your door!
Each box is unique. In the first 6 months we received these themed boxes: arcade, the solar system, kaleidoscope puzzles, rainbow optics, secret agent, and the human body. And since then we’ve received tons more, all covering different topics.
The topics covered by each box are so unique! They give kids a chance to explore subjects they might not naturally be exposed to. This is great for expanding kids’ interests.
Some projects were a little difficult for our kids when they were 5 years old. They needed an adult’s help with them. Once they were 6, they could do most of the projects without help.
Each Kiwi Crate also includes a magazine. Inside the magazine, you’ll find a comic, more information about the topic of the box, an additional project, a couple of small activities (like a maze), and suggested books to further learning. Sometimes there’s also a themed recipe. Having a kids’ magazine included in the box is awesome!
Pros:
- The box theme is an excellent jumping off point for deeper exploration of the topic.
- KiwiCo provides links to more related projects online for each box
- Builds fine motor skills through the projects with varying amounts of difficulty.
- Fun projects that kids look forward to doing.
- Includes themed magazine.
- Comes ready to use, you don’t have to gather supplies!
- Projects are more complex than what most parents could make on their own.
Cons:
- These boxes do take up space and after each one you have to find a place to put the projects.
- The handmade toys and projects are not very resilient and will break if a younger child handles them.
Would I recommend Kiwi Crate? YES!
Kiwi Crate is a fun and engaging subscription box for ages 5 to 8 that you can use as a jumping-off point for deeper exploration and learning.
Koala Crate Review
Koala Crate is designed for ages 3-4 and includes all the materials and instructions for 2-3 projects and a magazine to extend learning. These are simpler projects perfectly suited to 3 and 4-year-olds. Most 5-year-olds would also really enjoy these boxes. Our middle son kept doing these boxes until he turned 6.
Our first 6 boxes had these themes: rainbows, farm, reptiles, music, dinosaurs, and bugs. We’ve had experience with lots more and all have been themes preschoolers love!
Our second son was 3.5 when he started getting these boxes. He was able to do all the projects with a bit of help, and has found every box to be fun and interesting.
Some of these projects have been more sturdy and we still have them and the kids still play with them.
Included in each box: project supplies, instructions, and a magazine. The magazine includes a short story or comic, more information about the topic of the box, an additional project, a small activity (like a maze), and suggested books to further learning.
These boxes inspired the boys to learn about new topics and further learning in their favorite areas (dinos). The boxes are perfect for ages 3-5, though they’re advertised for ages 3-4.
Pros:
- Developmentally appropriate projects for 3 to 5-year-olds
- Projects are fairly sturdy
- Builds fine motor skills
- Topics covered are interesting for this age
- Includes themed magazine
- All the supplies and instructions are included
Cons:
- Have to find somewhere to keep the projects after they have done them.
- Some (maybe 1/4) of the projects have broken easily.
Would I recommend Koala Crate? YES!
Despite the accumulation of extra stuff and the projects breaking sometimes, the Koala Crate subscription box is totally worth it!
Your 3 to 5-year-old will love it and enjoy these curated projects.
Atlas Crate Review
We just started getting the Atlas Crate this year. So far the kids have done 3 crates: an introduction, Japan, and Sweden.
We really liked that this subscription began with an introduction to world geography that included learning how to read a map. The number of activities impressed me in this box. I love that they’ll be building an Adventure Book with info about each place they visit with each Atlas Crate they receive.
The kids have been enjoying learning about different countries around the world. We have been getting the add-on book to go with the crate and they have been of excellent quality. I highly recommend doing this and also check out additional related books from the library to go with each crate.
Included in each Atlas Crate: 2 projects and supplies, atlas cards to build your own cumulative Adventure Book, plus instructions for additional DIY activities to discover geography, customs, history, and foods.
Pros:
- Age appropriate activities for 6 to 11-year-olds
- Projects are fairly sturdy
- Hands-on geography lessons!
Cons:
- Wish there was an option to get 2 crates per month
- Need space to put projects
Would I recommend Atlas Crate? Yes! It’s a great way for kids to learn geography and about other cultures around the world.
KiwiCo Review – Conclusion
Overall, we’ve been very impressed by the KiwiCo subscription boxes. The boys get so excited to see what’s in their boxes each month, learn new things from them, and feel a sense of accomplishment when they complete their projects.
They are a great addition to homeschooling with hands-on projects and provide inspiration for kids to explore concepts more deeply.
Plus, I LOVE that I can just open the box and go. I don’t have to search Pinterest for the perfect project. I don’t have to track down the supplies and try to find books to tie it all together. Instead, we get the ease of having it all delivered to our door, and we’re able to focus on enjoying the projects and learning.
Find the perfect KiwiCo Crate for your kids!
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