Kiwi Crate is a kids’ craft and activity subscription that comes with everything you need to complete a great project or two, usually a pair of crafts that can be used as toys or playtime props. The box is geared for ages 5-8, and the projects are always age-appropriate, though some require more parental assistance than others.
Kiwi Crate is the most popular craft and activity subscription box for kids!
Everything in the Kiwi Crate! This month’s theme is Fizzy Chemistry Lab! Kiwi Crate includes all necessary supplies for the featured activities, plus explore! magazine.
DEAL: Use this link to save 30% on your first box of Kiwi Crate!(or KiwiCo family subscriptions Tinker Crate, Koala Crate, and Doodle Crate).
You really need very little from home to do the crafts. Usually, you only need a pair of scissors (which is sent to you with a new subscription!), but often the pieces are pre-cut, scored, or otherwise prepared for you already. The crate includes self-adhesive items or glue/glue dots if needed for the crafts. This kit was a little different than most because, although you do end up creating some simple artwork, the focus is nearly wholly experiential and not creating a game or toy.
An issue of explore! magazine is included in every Crate. It is full of fun content that brings the project to life.
explore! has lots of facts, blurbs, and information relating the topic of the Crate to real life scenarios and applications.
There is always a comic featuring Steve the Kiwi and his pals, plus lots of historical and scientific information relating to the current theme.
explore! teaches kids some of the science at work behind the project. It usually includes extension activities and some simple observational experiments to learn more about the principles underlying the project.
explore! has read, draw, learn, explore, eat, and make designated activities. Each expands on the theme of the box, whether through factoids, drawing activities, or recipes. I thought this box was targeted toward kids at the older end of the recommended age scale, as it dealt with the concept of pH in a very thorough manner, akin to what you might see in grade school coursework.
Our kids love to go through everything in the booklet first before starting the main project.
There is really a lot to look at and read – a comic, puzzles, and games – and it really extends your young one’s engagement with the Crate.
For parents, the activities are also a great way to keep your child entertained while you peruse the contents of the box and take a peek at the instructions for the crafts (it only takes a peek – they are always very clear and simple)!
Every Kiwi Crate comes with a unique Steve sticker (like your merit badge for completing the box).
The second booklet that comes in every crate is the actual instruction booklet for the crafts, and often it includes additional activities beyond the extension projects included in explore!
It includes an inventory of all the supplies included in the Crate, plus a messiness and parental involvement rating for each project.
Step-by-step instructions guide you through the project. They are clearly written and very easy to follow, pointing out potential pitfalls so you don’t go astray. Our eight year old was totally psyched about the chemistry theme, so she let her younger brother do the in-book activities, taking over the later pH experiments.
There was so much to do in this Crate! The first set of activities was making secret messages and color change paintings. This wasn’t a very detail-oriented art project, but the kids enjoyed it.
The second project also used color changing mixtures – the kids made their own color changing monsters!
The final project comprised a ton of activities. There were some experiments using combinations of mild bases and acids in the instruction booklet, but they also included a ringed book filled with more activities and experiments. There was enough to keep science-minded kids busy for a loooong time!
A big pack of litmus paper came in the Crate. We tested various household substances like milk.
And our baking soda and citric acid solutions, too.
There was a gas producing experiment, where we produced carbon dioxide by mixing our acid and base. Everything needed came in the Crate, including the bag.
In one activity, we grabbed some baking soda from home and added some soap from the kit.
Then we added a little water.
And then a little citric acid, after mashing the mixture to an even consistency.
And voila! We made play snow!
Kiwi Crate is always popular with our kids! The hardest part is often deciding which kid gets to do which parts of the Crate, since they love it so much! Crates usually have an activity or project that is fun to share, but getting more than one crate is always an option, too. We love that the Crate is suitable for a wide age range (years 5-8 actually covers a lot of ground, educationally and developmentally) – there is enough information and complexity to immerse older kids, while the light-hearted and approachable nature of the box makes it easy to use for Kindergartners, too. Kiwi Crate is great at gently introducing some science, history, and other lessons into the projects, offering both entertainment and educational value.
Visit Kiwi Crate to subscribe or to find out more about this fantastic kids’ craft subscription box!
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