Green Kid Crafts is a kids subscription box company that sends you up to six science and art kits each month for $29.95 (plus free US shipping).
Green Kid Crafts strives to encourage the growth of the "whole child," which includes fostering a sense of care for our environment. Their process and products seek to have a minimal environmental impact, and the activities in each box aim to help kids engage with nature in creative ways. It's not surprising that Green Kid Crafts was actually founded by an environmental scientist! The thoughtful approach makes this box one of our favorite kids' art subscriptions.
FYI, COVID-19 Update: From Green Kid Crafts:
Thanks to our customer and community support, we have grown! We are excited to have recently shipped out our 1.5 millionth box!
While our production is on track, we are still experiencing some shipping delays as carriers face strain and high volumes due to COVID.
Green Kid Crafts is a small mom-owned, parent-run business committed to providing a high level of service.
Thank you for supporting our small business and our mission to empower the next generation of environmental leaders!
For more ways to keep your kiddos educationally engaged during these times, check out our Returning to Learning back-to-school guide to see how subscriptions can help make your life easier as you navigate this unique school year.
Choose between the Junior Discovery Box (ages 2-4) or the Discovery Box (ages 5-10+), both of which are $29.95/month. Green Kid Crafts also offers a Sibling Discovery Box (ages 2-10+) for $49.95/month, which sends two of each project. All subscriptions include free shipping.
This is a review of the Discovery Box for ages 5-10+, which costs $29.95/month + free shipping.
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).
About Green Kid Crafts Discovery Box
The Subscription Box: Green Kid Crafts Discovery Box
The Cost: $29.95 per month + free shipping. Save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: Materials and instructions for up to 6 science and art projects aimed at helping children ages 5-10+ get creative and engage with nature.
Ships to: The US for free, to Canada and select countries for a flat rate of $6.50/month
Green Kid Crafts "Art Lab" August 2020 Box Review
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Each month we receive a beautifully illustrated pamphlet that is jam-packed with information and instructions for all of the month's projects. Our theme this month was "Art Lab," so it specifically included introduction info, 6 experiments, a hidden picture, and bonus materials. We had a nice introduction to what art is, and how it can be used. The back of the pamphlet includes social media links where you can submit pictures of your projects with the chance of being featured in the pamphlet itself!
Hank enjoyed the vibrant colors of the pamphlet this month, and used it for his "stop, drop, and read" session!
This month we received an "Art Lab Expert" badge to attach to our badge chart. Aren't these cartoon art supplies cute?!
Project 1: Batik Treasure Bag
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Our first project this month was to create a Batik treasure bag. This technique is an ancient art form that uses wax to block out dye in patterns!
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To create our Batik treasure bag, we first thought about what type of creation we wanted to make. As I described this technique to the kids, we got out some scrap paper to draw on and soon discovered they were going into wayyyy too much detail to try and draw in glue, so we simplified and just went for it on the bag. Before using the glue, we cut the wax paper to slide into the pouch to avoid the bag sticking completely together. Using the glue, we traced shapes and landscapes onto our bags. Once the glue dried, we used the included paints to completely cover the bag. After the paint is dry, you wash the glue out with a tiny bit of soap and water and slightly scrub to find your design!
This technique was fun and unique! A great experience for all of us, leaving Charlie with a bag to store his beloved acorns!
Project 2: Crayon Batik
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Our second project this month was to create a crayon Batik. While supplies are separated into different pouches, we used paper and crayons, followed by black and purple paint, for this particular technique.
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This technique was interesting to say the least...we first drew a design in crayon. The instructions suggest pressing hard with the crayons and using lighter colors. After completing the drawing, we were instructed to CRUMPLE up the paper and I have to say, I have never seen my kids so appalled before! After working soooo hard to color the ENTIRE sheet of paper exactly how they wanted it, they have to crumple it up like trash?! Yes!! Once we unfolded and flattened our pictures out, we used dark paint to cover the picture. Using a paper towel, we blotted off the excess paint, and were left with...something. As you can see, Hank was the most heavy-handed with his crayons, and his results showed. Charlie declared his picture "ruined" and even though I thought I was pressing pretty hard, my apple tree was all that really showed through. While it might not be our favorite technique, it was something different, and we may have to give it another shot and follow the night sky suggestion they gave as the example!
Project 3: Scribble and Salt Painting
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For our scribble and salt painting project, we received a ton of supplies that we could work with. We used paper, colored pencils, paints, pencils, a paintbrush, and salt.
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To create our scribble and salt painting, we first started by using a pencil to scribble a long line all over our paper. Once we lifted our pencil, we were to examine the paper in all directions to find objects in the scribble (sort of like cloud watching!) We then were instructed to outline the objects and add extra details. Hank found a snake and a chocolate chip cookie, Charlie found a lobster, and I found a heart! Once we found our objects, we used paint to bring them to life. While the paint was still dry, we sprinkled salt onto our wet paint to create a fun textural element! The kids thought this technique was a fun one!
Project 4: Pulled Yarn Painting
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For our pulled yarn painting, we also used a varied array of supplies! This month was extremely customizable!
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I have to say, this project was the month's messiest!! To cover our workspace, I used an old foam poster board, which was good, because we needed the extra protection! In order to create a pulled yarn painting, we first had to get our yarn covered in paint. This was a bit foreign to the kids, as I usually tell them to not put anything into their paint pots besides a brush. Once they stuffed their yarn into the paint, they pulled it out and arranged it on their paper with the bit of unpainted yarn off the side. Pressing another piece of paper onto the top, we used a book for a bit more weight to see to it that the paint printed on the other piece of paper as well. Putting the sheets of paper apart, we were left with a mirror image! Next time, I think we want to try this with multiple colored strings!
Project 5: Roller-Stamped Cards
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For our roller-stamped cards, the kids couldn't wait to create their own rolling stamps! How did they turn out? Let's find out!
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For this project, I read the instructions to the kids, explaining a textured background may work best for this technique, but any sort of drawing/painting would be fine. I then left them to their own devices as I folded a bit of laundry...coming back, I found a big-horned sheep and a turtle! While I wasn't sure how they would like their fancy drawings stamped over, we moved onto the step of creating the stamps. They used their scissors and cut the foam shapes to sizes that would fit on their rollers and decorated them to their liking. Once they were complete, they pressed them into the ink and rolled away. Hank decided his big-horn sheep was getting rained on, while Charlie sadly felt like his turtle looked like it got hit by a car...poor turtle.
Project 6: Block-Stamped Bookmark
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Using a lot of the same supplies that we did for the roller-stamped cards, we created our own block stamps for bookmarks!
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To create our bookmarks, we used the watercolors to paint the background of the bookmark. After our background disaster with the poor turtle, I suggested we just use colors and textures for these backgrounds to start. While they were drying, we used scissors and cut out our stamp designs. Hank cut our shapes, and Charlie cut out a rectangle. Charlie then asked me if I would cut him out a deer antler, while Hank asked for a star. Using their ink pads, they used their custom stamps to create personalized prints on their bookmarks! Fun and easy!
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This month sure left us with some great artwork to hang up in our kitchen!
Verdict: We have been reviewing Green Kid Crafts for a few months now, and I have to say their curations always are surprising! My kids love art and we found the new techniques that were presented in the pamphlet to be easy to customize and fun. The only problem I have with this box is the price. While the curation was decent, I feel like the quality of the products could be stepped up to hit the $29.95 (plus free shipping) price point. After buying an extreme amount of school supplies for my kids, I know what $30 can get, and this didn't seem like enough to me. I know previous months have been a lot closer to their monthly price, so I'm hoping to see more boxes like that in the future! What do you think next month's theme might be?
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Here's what Green Kid Crafts says:
The first box of all subscription orders will ship immediately, through the 25th of the month. After the 25th, the initial box will ship with the following month’s mid-month shipment. After the first month, subsequent boxes will ship around the middle of the month.
Check out all of our Green Kid Crafts reviews and the best kid subscription boxes for more kids' activities!
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