We are a homeschooling family which means I am always looking for ways to supplement our learning, and subscription boxes seem to be the perfect way to do this! Not only are they unique and engaging, covering a range of topics, but most are also "open and go" which is so convenient when you have multiple kids at different ages and levels of learning. In this article, I wanted to explore some of the most popular boxes and cover a broad range of ages, so we're going to look at Lovevery, KiwiCo, and MEL Science.
If you want something for every age...KiwiCo
If you want a one-stop-shop for any and every age, then KiwiCo has got you covered. They have 9 different lines that span across all ages. For younger children, ages 0 -4, they have Panda and Koala Crate to support the transition of helping parents nurture their infants through play and exploration to a more hands-on approach to learning and play. This subscription continues to grow with your child through the middle years with Kiwi, Atlas, Yummy, Tinker, and Doodle Crates, and then they can transition to Eureka or Maker Crate, for ages 12-14 and up, depending on their interests. You can even switch between subscriptions each month or change to a new line if your child outgrows their current subscription. The ability to grow and change the way your child's interests and developmental needs do makes this one of the best subscriptions for any age.
If you want a Montessori approach...Lovevery
Lovevery's play kits include quality toys that are backed by science and support the Montessori approach to learning and self-paced exploration. In the first year, the emphasis is on building new neural connections through activities that help them process their surroundings, develop speech, and practice fine motor skills. From ages 1-4, the emphasis shifts to pretend play, building new skills, gaining independence, and even early STEM learning with activities to further support their fine motor skill growth.
If you want variety...KiwiCo
Not only does KiwiCo have something for every age, but they also have lines to address various interests. Kiwi Crate (ages 5-8) is perfect for STEAM learning with hands-on activities that teach a variety of concepts. For the budding chef, Yummy Crate (ages 6-14) teaches basic culinary skills with three new recipes and fun kitchen tools in each box. Do you have an explorer who loves learning about the world? Then Atlas Crate (ages 6-11) teaches them about different cultures around the world through games and crafts. If your child shows an interest in engineering, then they will love activities like building walking robots with Tinker Crate (ages 9-14) when they are younger or making their own stereo headphones with Eureka Crate (ages 12 and up) when they get older. Lastly, for the artist, they have Doodle Crate (ages 9-16) with an emphasis on arts and crafts or Maker Crate (ages 14 and up) which focuses more on art and design. All of these boxes teach new skills that will appeal to children no matter what their interests are and if their interests happen to change, you can easily switch to a different line to make sure they are always learning and engaged!
If you want a fun, techy way to extend your lessons...MEL Science
For those who have older kids, MEL Science offers four monthly subscriptions all focusing on different aspects of science and some of them have cool ways to extend your lessons. MEL STEM, for ages 5-9, has a hands-on approach to learning that is supported by an Augmented Reality experience accessible from their app. MEL Chemistry, for ages 10-16, provides all of the equipment needed to perform science experiments safely in the comfort of your own home and you'll receive a Virtual Reality headset in your welcome kit. These boxes are a great way to teach science at home or engage your budding scientist and with these cool tech features, they can learn in a new way.
The ultimate winner...KiwiCo
Image from our April Atlas Crate review.
KiwiCo gives you the best of all worlds. Not only do they have something for every age but they cover a broad range of topics sure to engage every type of learner. They provide quality materials and their hands-on lessons are designed by in-house experts that include childhood development professionals and former educators. I think every parent can find a crate their child will enjoy from this company!
Want to learn more? Check out our KiwiCo, Lovevery, and MEL Sciencebrand pages to get all the details and read reviews!
