Let’s get it right out in the open, I’m not normally a fan of subscription box services. From what I have seen online and through my friends’ experiences, I didn’t think there was true value in ordering a box of stuff that shows up at my door each month. It seemed to me that for every lone item that was legitimately cool, there were handfuls of others that held no interest to me and would instantly go in my garage sale or re-gifting pile. So when my sister called and informed me that she was interested in getting my daughters subscription box services for their birthdays, I was a little reluctant.
Based on my daughter’s age and personality, my sister ended up purchasing a 3-month subscription to Kiwi Crate for my 6-year-old. Kiwi Crate is targeted towards 4-8 year-olds and provides materials and instructions for a number of age-appropriate crafts. The first box showed up just after her birthday in April, and, like any package in the mail, just receiving a box addressed to her was exciting. Once the excitement subsided and we opened up the crate, we learned what was inside would prove to be a welcomed distraction and an opportunity for some quiet and fun bonding time for the two of us.
Opening the box, I was quickly impressed with the packaging and presentation of the projects and supplies. My daughter didn’t care about any of that, but eagerly opened the first package and dove into the instructions to make her first project: a flowered headband that she would wear for the remainder of our Kiwi Crate construction. The other projects included in this particular Kiwi Crate included a magic wand, a set of paper dolls, and a number of materials used to decorate them.
I was impressed with the clear labeling on each project to highlight the level of messiness and the amount of parental involvement needed to complete each craft. The magic wand labeled with “medium” parental involvement was spot-on in its description, as my daughter’s fine motor skills weren’t developed enough to tightly wrap the ribbon around the dowel rod wand.
One of the best things about Kiwi Crate is that almost everything needed to complete a project in included. This set came not only with ribbons and colored paper for the dolls, but also a pair of scissors to cut them out. Last, in addition to the crafting ideas and materials, each box comes with a booklet and an additional bonus project and ideas accessible with a unique URL code to tide you and your youngster over until the next crate arrives on your doorstep.
Kiwi Crate prices range from $19.95 for a single box to a 12-month subscription for $205 with even longer commitment and lower-per unit costs packages available. I haven’t changed my mind about whether or not I would order a subscription box service for myself, but Kiwi Crate has definitely made me reconsider the idea for my children. Even though I’m artistic, I don’t find myself actively coloring or crafting with my children like I used to when they were younger. Kiwi Crate gave me an opportunity to connect with my daughter by doing something fun that both she and I love, and I’m not sure you can really put a price on that.
For Christmas this year, we received a Kiwi Crate for my 7-year old daughter and a Koala Crate for her 3-year old sister. Both were a lot of fun! The instructions were clear, the activities were perfect for their ages, and there was just enough to do in a month full of a zillion other things. We are excited to get the next month!