The last days of summer have finally arrived! Regardless of whether you are one of those parents hurrying the kids out the door, the type to hold back tears as their baby heads off to kindergarten, or you're simply taking superhuman pills as you gear up for another year of homeschool... we know that this can be a trying time. We also know this year might come with additional challenges and anxieties as we all try to transition back to the “new normal” (what is that anyway!?). Having something at home that is consistent and inspires a love for learning is probably more important this year than ever before. This is where subscription boxes such as KiwiCo can be such an amazing resource.
As your kids head back to school, we wanted to share two ways that you can use KiwiCo subscription boxes to engage them when they are at home. We hear from one mom who uses KiwiCo boxes strictly for fun and to keep her kids excited about learning throughout the school year (yours truly), and another that uses them for supplemental learning alongside her homeschool curriculum (our awesome writer, Brandi).
The flexibility of these boxes doesn’t stop there, however. Many will use them to get their kids ready for kindergarten, while others actually order them for themselves! Which personally, I think is an amazing way to teach kids that regardless of how old you are, you are never too old to stop learning! Whichever way you choose to use them, this subscription box is one of our favorites and consistently ranks in our reader’s choice awards.
KiwiCo Subscription Boxes For Fun
There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~ Walt Streightiff
1 of 3
We’ve been receiving KiwiCo boxes for a while now and I’m always amazed at the truly thought provoking projects that arrive at our door. My older son receives the Kiwi Box, while my younger son gets the Koala Box. Not only are they excited to do the projects each month, but they ask tons of questions while doing it.
I also love that they don’t realize they are learning. The other day my son built a rocket launcher, and had a blast stomping on the “launcher” to shoot the rockets all over our house. And while he thought he was being hilarious by trying to hit his little brother every time he ran past, he was actually learning about trajectory, force, and aerodynamics. And sure, we aren’t talking about Lockheed Martin levels of learning, but it's a start and it keeps him curious. This is honestly all I can ask for at this point.
As for our 4 year old, he recently made an adorable frog measuring tape and went around the house measuring anything and everything (he was very excited to find out his Baby Yoda stuffed animal was 6 inches tall). Is this going to have him building furniture and hanging picture frames next month? Of course not. But, again... it keeps him curious.
Both of my kids go to school in-person, full time. Other than a few weeks of quarantine, they also went to school full-time last year. So for us, these KiwiCo projects are all about engagement, curiosity, and fun. My kids look forward to their monthly projects and typically will do them all within 24 hours of receiving the box. Sometimes we will turn them into longer discussions, but usually we just leave it up to the kids to ask the questions.
My older son is heading into second grade this year, and I feel like this is when they really start to dive further in-depth with the different subjects. Homework starts to pick up, and small projects will be coming home. I love that the KiwiCo boxes will be a fun, learning alternative to what he will be doing at school. I know that sometimes schoolwork can be tedious. I never want him to get bored with learning though, so we will be using these boxes throughout the year to make sure he stays engaged.
KiwiCo Subscription Boxes For Homeschool
“Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.” ~ Yoda
Brandi and her family have been using KiwiCo subscription boxes since 2018. They use the boxes in a completely different way from my family, since they homeschool and utilize them for supplementing their lesson plans. By using almost the entire range of KiwiCo lines, they have been able to cover lessons in subjects such as STEM, geography, and art.
“In the past, we have used the boxes as a fun hands-on way to end a lesson. For example, we did a frog life cycle lesson, and then we finished it up with our Peek into Ponds Kiwi Crate box. It tied in nicely, and provided a fun way to get some extra learning and engagement!
This year, I think I will be using some of the topics in our boxes as the basis for my lesson and then build the learning around it. There really is no wrong way to use them, and you can incorporate the boxes and their information as little or as much as you want. This flexibility is what I really enjoy!”
Brandi and her family receive Kiwi Crate, Atlas Crate, Tinker Crate, Doodle Crate, and Eureka Crate (although she admits to being the one that does the Eureka Crate!).
KiwiCo also has the option to purchase single projects or one-off packs. This is a great resource for anyone homeschooling that wants a few extra supplemental projects for each lesson. For example, if you are teaching a science lesson on geology, you could purchase their planet bath bomb kit. It comes with everything you need to make fizzy bath bombs, where they can use colors to show the different layers of the earth.
In addition to KiwiCo boxes for homeschooling, Brandi will also be using the MEL Science subscription box and a few of the We Craft boxes for art. She says, “I love how many different subscription boxes make it easy to just open and go, providing educational and creative opportunities without any planning on my part! It has certainly made our homeschool experience both easier and more well-rounded.”
Despite our different ways of using KiwiCo subscription boxes, we both agree that as parents these boxes have been instrumental in keeping our kids engaged. The effort and thought put into the projects they send is sensational. I also love that they have a group of kids test every new project before it gets final approval. Only a kid will truly know what another kid will love! For the most part, both of our kids have enjoyed the majority of projects sent (mine wasn’t a huge fan of the human anatomy project, but guess that just means he won't be a doctor... on to the astronaut ones!?).
As mentioned above, KiwiCo has quite a few lines of boxes and it may be confusing to figure out which one is right for your kids. For the most part, KiwiCo is very good at designing these boxes based on your child’s age, but nobody knows your child like you do! Here is a quick rundown of each one:
Panda Crate (0-36 months) - Yes! Babies can get the KiwiCo boxes also! Each month an age-appropriate project/toy will be sent to your child with activity cards for extra engagement.
Koala Crate (2-4 years) - A perfectly tailored box for that age when your toddler starts to become more curious about the world around him. Fun, easy projects that will start to get them excited about learning.
Kiwi Crate (5-8 years) - These crates are full of amazing STEM projects that you can easily incorporate into a homeschool curriculum or just for fun! These are a big jump from the Koala Crate, so your child may need a little extra help from you until they get to the older end of the recommended age.
Atlas Crate (6-11 years) - The perfect box if you are wanting your child to get extra lessons on different countries and cultures. (Also, a great opportunity to scratch the travel itch safely from home if you are unable to get away right now!)
Tinker Crate (9-14 years) - The next step up from Kiwi Crate, and fantastic STEM projects that will really engage your child with activities they actually want to do.
Doodle Crate (9-16+ years) - Art projects that are meant to inspire creativity as your child gets older!
Eureka Crate (12-104 years) - Yes, you read that right! This box is recommended for everyone from ages 12 and over! These are engineering and design projects that will level up your teen’s curiosity (or your own!).
Maker Crate (14-104 years) - Fun art projects for teens that will include all of the materials to make a unique piece of art each month.
Ready to sign up for a KiwiCo crate? Don't forget to take advantage of our special promos.
What is your favorite KiwiCo crate, and how do you plan on using them this school year?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.