Tinker Crate Motion Sensing Spider Review – Last Day to Save on Kiwi Crate Halloween Crafts!

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Tinker Crate Motion Sensing Spider box

Tinker Crate is currently offering a limited edition “Motion Sensing Spider” Kit!!  Tinker Crate is a subscription box that inspires kids to explore and learn about science, engineering, and technology, plus have tons of fun. Every month, you’ll get a new crate to help kids develop a tinkering mindset and creative problem solving skills. It is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focused and designed to help kids build their problem solving skills and to gain the confidence and curiosity to tackle problems where there’s no one right answer.

Tinker Crate Motion Sensing Spider unboxing

Tinker Crate is part of the KiwiCo Family, which also has a shop that you can buy individual crafts!  The Halloween Crafts are still available, plus Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hannukah are up too!


Kiwi Crate is having an amazing free box deal plus currently offering 30% off in the shop – perfect for picking up Halloween & Thanksgiving crafts. Use code FALL30 in the shop! Promotion FALL30 is only valid on Shop purchases. Does not apply to subscriptions, shipping charges and is not valid in Canada. Expires 11:59pm October 12, 2015. Visit the Kiwi Crate Shop to see all the different Halloween and Thanksgiving crafts available! Info about the free box deal below!

Tinker Crate Motion Sensing Spider review

Everything included in the box!
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There were items for making your spider, plus decorating the outside of the box.

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Plus everything you need for your awesome motion sensing spider.

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A peek at the inside of the box – which is precut so you won’t have to worry about getting things just right cardboard wise.

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The blueprint directions list the included materials plus the items you’ll need from home. As usual, there’s the offer from help from Tinker Crate should you need it.

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And the step by step instructions. This box is really for ages 9+. Although my daughter (almost 7) regularly does these projects, this was an extensive project that I did most of – we still had a great time and my kids are in love with this.


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There are separate instructions for spider assembly.

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Extensive troubleshooting tips came with the kit – there are a lot of steps where things could go wrong. I noted that in the instructions there were many stop and check places. This was good so kids didn’t have to undo all their work to find out where things had gone wrong – but also great as a teaching device to get them to check their work.

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This box also came with a FamilyFun Magazine Tinker Crate Mini Mag – and there were some great DIY Halloween projects in it – our favorite were the bizarre paper bag gargoyles!

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I didn’t take a whole lot of photos for assembling, because I did most of it – although my daughter helped where she wanted to. I connected the battery pack, motor, transistor, and motion sensing device, and checked that they worked properly (as instructed!).  I felt that it would have been easier to look at the second step and place the components where they would be in the box, because my wires were embarrassingly tangly. Tinker Crate included foam stickers to tape back the wires. I zip-tied the motor down, place all components, and assembled the spool. It was a bit tough to push on, but I got it. We assembled the channel for the string and affixed it to the underside of the box, made the spider, attached the spider, and we were pretty much good to go.

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You insert a small stick of wood through the rubber band on the outside of the box and twist it to the back to prep everything.

Tinker Crate Motion Sensing Spider spider

We hung our spider. I loved that he has 6 eyes. And of course added a spider web (included!).

Tinker Crate Motion Sensing Spider motion sensing spider

We don’t have a door frame to place the box on top of as directed, but the included mounting foam worked great.

https://youtu.be/h4a5CvAeRGY&rel=0

Of course we made a video so you can see that it really works. This is just a demo, not a whole unboxing. Warning – squealing occurs!

This was an amazing craft. I really wish they had gone all the way and included a Tinker Zine to explain the electronics behind the motor. However, if your kids would get excited about electronics and science by building an awesome motion controlled spider, or just want an awesome  motion-controlled spider, it’s not a huge deal. This one-off kit was considerably more involved than the typical Tinker Crate and costs a bit more at $24.95, but I’d say it’s well worth it.

Visit the Kiwi Crate Shop to see all the different Halloween and Thanksgiving crafts available!

Kiwi Crate is also offering a full-sized free trial box on each of their 4 KiwiCo Family Subscriptions. Get Kiwi Crate, Koala Crate, Tinker Crate, and Doodle Crate FREE (one of each per household). Pay $4.95 shipping!! Starts a subscription, cancel any time. Exp 10/31.

The Subscription: Tinker Crate
The Description: Tinker Crate help kids gain crucial STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills through hands-on activities that are also seriously fun. Every crate includes all the materials and inspiration for a super-cool project. Ages 9 to 14+
The Price: $19.95 per month

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  • PA Anna
    10.12.15

    I think this is too complex for me and my 7 year old. Maybe next year if it’s available.

    • Brandy
      10.12.15

      Yes it was very complex and definitely appropriately age-rated for this kit. I’m definitely a tinkerer by nature so I was happy assembling myself.