You dread it every year: The List. We’re talking about the wish list your child gives you when their birthday is coming up.
Every year it’s packed with one screen-based activity after another. There are video games, movies, tablets, and more. As a parent, do you give your child something that brings them joy or something that’s healthier for their development?
As it turns out, you can do both. Subscription boxes for kids can get them away from the screen while they have fun month after month. The challenge is finding the right box for your child. Start with these popular favorites.
Our Favorite Subscription Boxes for Kids
There are so many reasons why subscription boxes for girls and boys alike make great gifts.
Your kids get the fun of a new surprise every month, not just on their birthday. As a parent, you’ll love them too because the subscription boxes focus on productive, healthy activities. Plus, the quick process of subscribing to a box doesn’t take as much time as shopping for the perfect gift.
If you love the idea but aren’t sure where to go next, consider these great options.
1. KiwiCo Tinker Crate
If you ask a child if they want to learn about physics, they’ll say no. If you ask if they want to make a paper airplane, they’ll say yes without knowing how much they’re learning.
The KiwiCo Tinker Crate brings fun physics projects into your home. In each box, your child will get everything they need to make a functional model or a similar type of building project.
You don’t need to have a future physicist on your hands for the Tinker Crate to be a hit. It’s suitable for any child over age 9 who enjoys building things and working with their hands.
2. We Craft Box
Is your child the one who rocks the arts and crafts sessions every year at summer camp? Maybe they’re the kid who’s always gathering sticks from the yard and using them for DIY projects.
The We Craft Box is the perfect fit for any child who loves to craft. Each box includes the materials and instruction to make a new craft, from 3-D forest scenes to fun masks.
We Craft Boxes are also designed for teamwork. Enjoying the craft project with your child gives you an opportunity to bond together. In fact, it’s healthy for you as a parent to take time out from your busy schedule too.
We Craft Boxes are rated as appropriate for kids between the ages of 3 and 10. Keep in mind that the younger your child is, the more help they may need from you.
3. Bitsbox
Who says kids have to wait until high school to decide what they want to do in their careers? Helping them explore and develop their interests now will give them a leg up on their futures.
If your child may have an interest in coding and computer programming, look no further than Bitsbox. This subscription offers a variety of coding projects to choose from in each box.
The variety allows kids from ages 6-12 to learn more about coding with a project that interests them every month.
4. STEM Club
If you’re not familiar with the term, STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Helping kids with an interest in STEM develop their minds and skills at a young age can help them prepare for a fulfilling career.
STEM Club is a subscription box that’s available on Amazon. Each box includes toys that STEM experts have hand-picked to help kids develop their analytical minds.
As you might expect, the right toys will differ a lot in various age groups. That’s why STEM Club allows you to select the box for ages 3-4, ages 5-7, or ages 8-13.
5. Little Passports
If you’re like most families, traveling the world with young kids isn’t in the cards. How do you open your child’s eyes to the world around them if they rarely get out of their hometown?
Enter the Little Passports subscription box. This box delivers helpful information about the United States and countries around the globe as well as a theme-based project. It teaches kids about the history and culture of places they may never be able to see for themselves.
Little Passports offers several options based on kids’ ages and the areas of the world you want them to explore. There’s also a box that focuses on science throughout the world.
6. Kidstir
When your child grows up and lives away for the first time, will they be the one who orders pizza for every meal? Or will they be the one who cooks dinner for all their friends?
To help kids develop their cooking skills while having fun, Kidstir is a great subscription box. On top of recipes and cooking tools, kids will get information about food and nutrition. You’ll help their health as well as their life skills.
If you want to focus more on life skills, Kidstir also has a box called Growing Up Guides. These boxes go beyond the kitchen to teach kids skills like money management, home care, and more.
7. Girls Can! Crate
If you’re raising a daughter, you want her to know that the world is full of possibilities whether she wants to become a business owner, a doctor, or an artist. That’s only true, though, if she feels the confidence to take advantage of those possibilities.
The Girls Can! Crate is all about empowerment for girls. Each box teaches them about female role models who have broken through barriers.
The box also includes activities and projects to help girls see how capable and strong they really are. It helps girls develop their skills, knowledge, and confidence at the same time.
Nailing the Gift-Giving Game
Every time you give your child a gift, you have multiple goals. You want it to be something they’ll enjoy and get excited about. You also want it to help them grow into healthy, well-rounded adults.
Subscription boxes for kids have it all. They’re packed with fun and offer a new surprise every month. At the same time, kids are learning and developing without knowing it. That’s a serious parenting win.
The ideas above can be a great start for your next gift shopping expedition. For more tips on living your best life, check out our lifestyle blog.
