Panda Crate is a bi-monthly subscription from KiwiCo for ages 0-36 months. They are curated based on the science of early development and are made practical, helpful, and convenient for parents. In fact, they actually consulted researchers at Seattle Children's hospital to make sure everything is well suited for each stage of your child's brain development.
In addition to this newborn subscription, KiwiCo offers other boxes for different age groups:
- Panda Crate for 0-36-month-olds,
- Koala Crate for 3-4-year-olds,
- Kiwi Crate for 5-8-year-olds,
- Atlas Crate for 6-11-year-olds,
- Doodle Crate and Tinker Crate for 9-16+-year-olds, and
- Eureka Crate and Maker Crate for ages 14 and up.
This is a review of Panda Crate's "Play With Me" for ages 13-18 months which costs $39.90 + free shipping.
About Panda Crate
The Subscription: Panda Crate by KiwiCo
The Cost: 1 crate every 2 months costs $19.95/month (with free shipping) which adds up to $39.90/crate. Save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: Up to six learning toys and books, specifically designed for your child’s age and stage. The line is split into five separate age bands: Birth-2 months, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 13-18 months, 19-24 months, 25-30 months, and 31-36 months.
Ships to: The U.S. for free, Canada for $3.95, worldwide from $4.95-$6.95.
Good to Know: You can switch to any of KiwiCo's other subscriptions at any time to suit your child's age and developmental interests.
Panda Crate "Play With Me" (13-18 months) February 2021 Review
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Each box comes with a Wonder by Panda Crate magazine, with information about the stage of development your baby is in and lots of tips and FAQs for parents. This Panda Crate, for ages 13-18 months, is titled "Play With Me." This issue emphasizes social development, emotional regulation, and independent play.
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Panda Crate sends informative cards with details about each product and ideas for how to use them to promote your baby's development.
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Every crate will also include "beyond the crate" activity cards with details of your baby's brain development, activities you can do with them to promote growth, and the science behind them.
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Poppy Plays Hide-and-Seek
Poppy the Panda shows up all over the design aesthetic for Panda Crate! Every month has a Poppy Panda book. This one is about Poppy's Hippo friend, Hugo, teaching her how to play hide-and-seek. I love the art! It's so cute.
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Ball Drop
This toy is made with beech wood and non-toxic ink and varnish. It's an interesting toy! It has a toggle inside that alternates which way the ball drops. The cut outs on the sides let you see the mechanics of it. Your child learns about the reaction (the ball changes sides) and they learn how to be able to predict the ball's movement. My daughter has had fun with this!
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Pegboard & Wood Bars/Pegboard & Wood Beads
This toy set counts as two of the toys/items in this box because it includes two ways to play with the pegboard: with wood bars and wood beads. The mechanics of using the bars helps your child build spatial awareness and early math skills. The wooden pegs offer open-ended play ("This piece fits there! And I can stack these!") and engages the part of the brain that controls emotions and problem solving!
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Ribbon Pull
This toy requires your child to use both hands at the same time for different tasks (holding the toy still with one hand, and pulling with the other), practicing bilateral coordination. This skill is what kids need to learn how to tie their shoes and write.
Verdict: Panda Crate is one of our favorite subscriptions! The goal of the box is to deliver scientifically-backed products to help promote my baby's development, of which I'm obviously a big fan. We consistently get lots of play out of the toys in each Panda Crate box. I'm also crazy about the design aesthetic! The branding is so cute with Poppy, the little panda, on everything. Plus the colors are modern and stylish. It makes me excited to see more from future boxes. Overall, considering the practicality, the information cards and magazine, the science-backed curation, the quality, and the great design of the items, I'm happy with everything you get for the $39.90 per crate cost.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, this is one of the two boxes they send during the 7-12 month age window. Panda Crate is more of a "line" of boxes from KiwiCo than a typical subscription model with different themes each month. When you sign up, you input your baby's age or your due date and they'll send you the appropriate box for your child's age and development at the right time. (Good to know: you can pick what month you want your first box to arrive. By default, it will arrive the month of your due date.)
Check out other Panda Crate reviews, more KiwiCo reviews, and the best baby subscription boxes!
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