Tinker Crate Subscription Box Review + Coupon – August 2017

Tinker Crate is a subscription box for kids ages 9-14 from the makers of Kiwi Crate. Like Kiwi Crate, it comes with everything you need to complete projects based around a central theme. Unlike Kiwi Crate, however, these projects are less craftsy and more based on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning and enrichment.

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

The Subscription Box: Tinker Crate

The Cost: $19.95 per month (free shipping)

The Products: STEM-based crafts and DIY projects for kids, with supplemental learning kits, booklets, and activities. Projects are designed to enhance children's critical thinking and problem-solving skills through activities that are exciting and fun!

Ships to: Anywhere in the United States and Canada, including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and APO addresses. Free within the United States, $6.95 to Canada.

Check out all of our Tinker Crate reviews and the Kids Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your Wish List or Subscription List!

Every box comes with a copy of TinkerZine magazine, which includes articles about that month's theme, as well as smaller projects and experiments. This month's theme is all about helicopters! I do this box with my eleven-year-old son.

Here's a peek at the table of contents from this month's TinkerZine, plus a look at some of the pages inside. In addition to the large project that Tinker Crate sends, the magazine has several articles plus smaller projects you and your child can undertake to gain a deeper knowledge of the scientific principles of that month's topic.

This month's big project is a pull helicopter! My son and I are almost always thrilled with Tinker Crate's project selections!

Here's a peek inside the instructions this month. They may look a little intimidating, but they are always very clear, complete, and easy-to-follow.

These were the materials Tinker Crate supplied for the project. With Tinker Crate, sometimes you have to supply a few things, but they are always items you have at home, like scissors or water. This month they included everything we needed for the project except scissors. Sometimes Tinker Crate includes some supplies for the smaller projects in TinkerZine, too.

My son's first step was to attach the purple foam to the handle, the handle pull, and the helicopter. This was actually the only step involved in building the "helicopter." I guess in this instance the helicopter refers to just the circle with paper blades.

He then attached tubes to the handle for the dowel to slide through. He put a cap on the dowel and inserted it through one tube, added foam spacers to the dowel, and then inserted it into the second tube.

Finally, he finished the pull apparatus by tying the string to the handle and the handle pull.

This is his completed helicopter in action! So cool!

Verdict: We love Tinker Crate! This month's project was a little less interesting and challenging than usual, to be honest, but both of my sons enjoyed playing with the finished product. I have often mentioned that my younger son is usually the recipient of the older one's efforts, and this month's finished project was especially fun for the younger one to play with!. It's very cool that this box is getting both boys inspired to explore engineering. Tinker Crate always picks out fun projects, sends quality materials, and provides loads of educational content. It's a huge value for $20!

What do you think of Tinker Crate?