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!
This month’s theme is MOVING WITH MUSCLES! 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, Atlas Crate, Cricket Crate, and Doodle Crate).
Explore! Magazine
An issue of explore magazine is included in every Crate. It is full of fun content that brings the project to life. explore! has read, draw, learn, explore, eat, and make designated activities. 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. Each expands on the theme of the box, whether through factoids, drawing activities, or recipes, but the variation is helpful for engaging different learning styles and interests.
There is always a comic featuring Steve the Kiwi and his pals.
They also include lots of historical and scientific information relating to the current theme.
When you run, jump, swing, or throw a ball, you’re using your muscles. In fact, you’re using a special type of muscles: skeletal muscles.
Rubber Band Arm is an activity that models the physics of the human arm, so kids can see how skeletal muscles, such as the biceps and triceps, work together to move your body.
They also teach about the function of involuntary muscles or smooth muscles. These muscles keep things moving in your gut and other internal organs like the heart, lungs, intestines and many more. We love the way Kiwi Crate embraces technical terminology instead of glossing over it — when kids encounter these concepts later in school, they won’t just know about them, they’ll be able to talk about them and demonstrate their knowledge with appropriate vocabulary.
All the items inside the box!
Kiwi Crate Crafts
The second booklet that comes in every crate is the actual instruction booklet for the crafts, and it often includes additional activities beyond the extension projects included in explore!
Every Kiwi Crate comes with a unique Steve sticker (like your merit badge for completing the box). The first box of an annual subscription includes a poster for displaying your earned stickers.
There’s a list of all the supplies they provided for the crafts. Each craft is also rated by messiness and parental involvement, so you can plan accordingly.
First, we’ll make a soccer player! They provided detailed illustrations and instructions on how to do it, and all the necessary parts come in the kit.
Once all the parts are combined, the next thing to do is to decorate it.
Here’s everything we need to make your own soccer player. A variety of heads are included, so you can choose one that looks a bit like you!
My son slid the dowel through the holes in the wood connectors. He made sure that everything is locked in place, so it won’t break easily.
Next, he hooked the rubber bands into the notch in the right leg and around the finger loop, then stretched it up over the bolt at the back of the hip. The string activates the kicking motion, while the rubber band pulls the leg back into ready position.
We tested it out by pulling out the string attached at the back. The foot moved, so it’s done!
Now, it’s time for a makeover! The kids added a jersey and head to the body.
This thing can really kick!
GOOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!! I love the idea of using the box as a goal, it’s so creative!
The second activity is the Bow and Arrow!
For this activity, the kids will need bow pieces, bolts, nuts, plastic rings, paper rectangle, straws, T-connector, foams, pipe cleaner, rubber band, and tape, all included.
While playing with your bow, you need to remember just three things: set-up your target, set-up your bow, and never aim the bow at people or animals!
Placing the rubber band inside the T-connector is quite hard, and this is where you will want to lend a parental hand. Use the pipe cleaner in half and hang the rubber band in the middle, insert the pipe cleaner on the T-connector and let it through. Adjust the rubber band until the T-connector is in the middle.
Once the T-connector is perfectly placed in the middle, lock it using the blue sticky foam. This T-connector will be the nocking point where the straw arrow will be placed.
Put the arrow inside the arrow rest, place the end of the straw on the T-connector and slowly pull it backward, then release. Now he’s successfully made his own bow and arrow!
Look at that marksmanship! We did this shot from pretty close to get everything in frame, but the bow can shoot a decent distance.
Extension Activities
Every Crate includes extension activities. For this crate, they included a recipe for protein fruit dip. There’s also a Kiwi Quiz and instructions on how to send a letter to Steve!
Kiwi Crate has once again captivated my kids with an exciting project. The boys had a great time assembling the soccer player and playing the game using the box as a goal. It even got them curious about how the muscles work, and how it affects our body’s movement. Of course, they loved making the bow and playing archery, too. The box included several tiny cups that can be stacked as targets. Kiwi Crate’s fun activities hold their attention in a way few other things can. They have a great time and learn lots of accurate information that they can apply to their academics. This subscription is perfect for anyone who has to keep kids busy for several hours, as they usually play with the items long after they’ve finished making them.
Did you enjoy this months activity? Let us know in the comments!
Visit Kiwi Crate to subscribe or to find out more about this fantastic kids’ craft subscription box!
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