Bitsbox is a subscription service that teaches grade-school children (ages 6-12) how to code apps! Isn't that amazing? I am well on my way to raising my two boys to be complete nerds, and this subscription may be the key piece to the puzzle.
There are 3 subscription options: Digital Book is $19.95/month, Bitsbox Basic is $24.95/month with free shipping, and Bitsbox Deluxe is $44.95 + free shipping.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
This review is of the Bitsbox Deluxe, $44.95 a month, box.
About Bitsbox
The Subscription Box: Bitsbox
The Cost: $44.95 + free shipping
The Products: All subscription types come with an online account for kids to create their apps. All subscriptions come with a book of projects, although the digital book option is a download. The Original Bitsbox also comes with toys and swag that support the little coder lifestyle.
Ships to: Worldwide
Good to Know: If you have multiple grade school children in your household, they can each set up an online account for free for working on their apps. There's no need to purchase multiple subscriptions!
Also Good to Know: You need a computer for your kids to work on; Bitsbox's interface won't work on a tablet or phone yet.
Bitsbox November 2017 Review
Every Bitsbox comes with this really useful guide for parents. It's important, especially at first, for a parent to be at least a little bit involved, but trust me when I say there is no coding experience necessary! It also gives some fun spoilers for next month.
This is the introductory box that all new subscribers get, so it comes with this super cool app keeper! It's a great binder to keep all the monthly sets of cards, with a smaller pocket on the side to keep trading cards, stickers and other fun Bitsbox swag!
This is this month's set of app coding cards. There are 18 different projects in it for the kids to try, ranging from super easy and short to quite lengthy and complex. This month's theme is "Shoo Fly!"
Here's a look at some of the cards. Every project contains the code for the kids to copy to make their app work. Additionally, there are snippets of info such as "What's a Flag?" that help explain what the child has just copied, plus little challenges to see if the child understands the code well enough to alter the app a little. This technique works really, really well!
This month Bitsbox sent two toys:
The first was this set of fun wall crawling bugs! My nine-year-old loves these!
Here's one in action!
The second toy was this cool bug magnifier. The idea is to catch a bug outside in this, and then you can use the magnifying cap to check it out up close! All we had on hand was the wall-crawler, though.
Bitsbox also seems to include stickers, temporary tattoos, and trading cards as a regular inclusion in every box. The trading cards have additional little apps that the kids can code.
When the kids log in to their home screen, this is their "tablet" where they can see all the apps they have built. They can also go back into them and edit at any time.
This is the coding interface the kids use. Obviously, the graphics and sounds are already there for the kids to use, but they are writing real, honest-to-goodness code! Bitsbox makes it a really fun experience.
Now onto the apps! Feel free to click the links and actually see the apps in action! (They will run in your browser, no download required.)
My nine-year-old made this app, and it's kind of a gag app. You try and hit the fly, but you never can. He just runs around laughing at you. I'm glad my son's learning to build apps, but this one's not my favorite, haha.
He also made this app that's a lot more fun. You try to change an ant's direction by dropping pebbles! Or you can stop him altogether...
My eleven-year-old made this app where you try to blast bugs with a water gun! It's really hard!
He also made this app where you try to fling a ladybug to eat aphids (like they do in nature, of course). It's a really fun game, and so impressive. Give it a try!
The Verdict: Bitsbox is amazing! The apps are funny and engaging, and they're not hard at all. I'm still astounded that they actually teach the kids how to code! It's a great value since both kids can share one box with separate accounts online for working. It's one of the rare boxes that last the kids all month because they can keep returning to it whenever they like to try new projects - and they do! We are huge fans! I also think this would make a wonderful last-minute gift subscription for a lucky kid on your holiday shopping list!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? If you sign up by 4pm ET today, your December box will ship on 12/21.
Check out all of our Bitsbox reviews and the Kids Subscription Box Directory!
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Have your kids tried Bitsbox? What do you think?
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