KiwiCo Crate Review: Creative Learning for Kids

I saw a 7 year-old with an arcade claw last week and said “cool, where’d you get that?” When I found out it was Kiwi CoCrates, I wasn’t surprised, because we’d just learned about these fun hands-on boxes for kids.

Have you heard of these subscription boxes? For an honest KiwiCo Crate review, keep reading.

My four year-old received a three month subscription as a Christmas gift and we are loving it. But it’s not just for little ones – they have stuff for older kids, too.

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WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT KIWICO CRATES

1. It’s less work for parents!

Who doesn’t love that? If you’re feeling a little lazy, or you’re just not interested in buying a ton of different supplies for an art project that your kid might ignore after three minutes, you’re not alone. The activities are already set up, so if you need a bunch of tissue paper squares, they’ve already been cut out! Have a sip of tea, my friend.

2. Children can work independently

This will depend on your child’s age, development, and personality. BUT even if you have a 4 year-old who looooves constant human interaction and hates to be alone (cough cough) you might be surprised at their ability to work alone with some KiwiCo Crates.

We busted out the first Koala crate on the day we took all the Christmas decorations and tree down. A sad day, for sure. Especially if you’re four.

Kiddo helped with the tasks for a while, but when the tree was about to be dismantled and dragged from the house, needles shedding, it seemed like a good time for her to focus on something else.

She struggled a little to remove the sticky backs from the rainbow pieces, but she assembled most of this pillow on her own!

Every time she thought it was fully stuffed, I’d say, see if you can get all the stuffing in! And she did.

The projects are not completely hands-off for the preschool age – the adult needs to give a little bit of direction to start the project. But the guides keep it simple and straightforward.

3. KiwiCo Crates have creative themes

No matter what your child is into, there’s bound to be a box that suits their interests.

So far, our two crates within the Koala group were themed Rainbows and Farm. Some of the others include:

• Fun with Flight
• Glowing Animals
• Woodworking Clock
• Color-Blocked Candles
• Hydraulic Claw
• Trebuchet
• Fiber Optic Stars

If you don’t know what all those things are, it’s okay – you can learn, too. Some are art-focused, others are STEM-themed, but all of them center exploration and discovery.

4. All ages are welcome

At first, I thought the KiwiCo Crates were aimed at toddlers and preschoolers only. I was delighted to learn that, not only do they have Tinker sets (construction, STEM, and building) for ages 9-16, they have Maker and Eureka sets for adults!

If you’re the type of person who loves to get a little crafty and work with your hands, but you’re not sure where to start, the macramé planters and punch-needle pillows look like a great self-care activity.

DO I REALLY NEED THIS?

Some of you may ask, why not just set kids up with some paint and paper?

And trust me, that strategy is a big part of our daily play. Over the last two years we have become “process art” converts through our classes at Homegrown Studios, and I will always make space for my child to have creative, independent play where she is the master of her creations.

But I like KiwiCo Crates for something special once in a while. It’s a treat to know that we’ll receive one once a month for three months. Or a whole year if we’d like!

When the babysitter or grandmother comes over, it’s a nice way for them to work collaboratively on a creative project without feeling the need to do lots of preparation ahead of time. We’ve done this successfully with two different caregivers.

Plus, many of the projects will be used again and again. My kiddo still “checks on her plants” in this farm garden and pretends to water them.

Her barnyard finger puppets are still going strong. And she loves her reusable watercolor bag because she feels like a grownup going to the grocery store. In fact, this bag is now part of our costume/dress-up bin.

ANY COMPLAINTS?

The only downside I notice about the crates is a little too much packaging. While the materials are extremely well-organized, it sometimes results in extra plastic.

OVERALL, IT’S A GREAT GIFT

I highly recommend KiwiCo Crates, especially as a gift. From experience, many parents feel overwhelmed by the number of toys and books in their house, and want to cut back on more items in favor of a more experiential gift. With these crates, you give the gift of exploration, learning, and creating together.

For grandparents, family, and friends who visit a child occasionally, KiwiCo Crates can be a really fun way to spend the afternoon together.

To get 30% off, use code Share30

30% off with code Share30

Hope you enjoy these as much as we have.

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In the meantime, be sure to get Think or Blue’s free guide, 20 Independent Play Activities for Kids – a must when your kids are home and need to play on their own!