As someone who’s seen the joy and educational value subscription boxes bring, I highly recommend them as a creative, lasting holiday gift for children. Unlike typical toys, these boxes offer a delightful mix of fun and learning, tailored to a child’s interests, whether it’s STEM, art, or exploring cultures.
Plus, with various options to suit different budgets and interests, they’re an ideal gift from grandparents or relatives, helping maintain a year-long connection with each exciting delivery.
I’ve reviewed and ranked some of our favorite kids subscription boxes for the holidays, including picks based on their quality, ease of use, entertainment factor, customer reviews, and price (click here to learn about our entire Editorial Process & Methodology for product reviews).
1. KiwiCo Crates
KiwiCo| Tinker. Create. Innovate. With hands-on projects that make learning fun!
KiwiCo makes STEM learning fun and exciting for kids, while taking the prep and planning off your plate. With themed crates that arrive at your doorstep every month, three months, or six months.
Price
Subscriptions on sale for $15.95/month this holiday season (regularly $23.95/mo). One-off purchase options and classroom kits also available.
Recommended Age
KiwiCo makes sure every age group is covered and provides age-appropriate engaging custom content for the following age groups:
- 0-24 months (Panda Crate)
- 2-4 years (Koala Crate)
- 5-8 years (Kiwi Crate)
- 6-11 years (Atlas Crate)
- 6-14 years (Yummy Crate)
- 9-14 years (Tinker Crate)
- 9-16 years (Doodle Crate)
- 12-100 years (Eureka Crate)
- 14-100 years (Maker Crate)
KiwiCo offers subscription crates for all children, ages 0-18, and even children at heart. Their crates have an adorable animal-themed label based on the age group and interest level.
KiwiCo has done extensive research to make sure that the content of each crate is not only engaging to the specific age group, but also safe and age-appropriate.
Some projects require age-specific skills, however, KiwiCo has done a great job making sure there is an age range to help you choose the right subscription box for your child, not only based on age, but also based on categories, or areas of interest.
KiwiCo also offers crates for classrooms that align with NGSS and Common Core teaching standards so that you can supplement a student’s in-class activities, or give a subscription to your favorite homeschooler.
Key Features
- Quiz to match crate to child
- Incredible level of customization (based on age, area of interest, budget or shipping frequency)
- STEM-focused activities (hands-on learning through building and critical thinking)
- Engaging “learning through play” activities
- High-quality crate content
- 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscriptions
- NGSS and Common Core-aligned content
Click here to shop KiwiCo now.
2. Little Passports
Price
- $24.95/month for 12-month subscription, billed every 12 months
- $28.95/month for 6-month subscription, billed every 6 months
- $30.95/month for month-to-month subscription
Recommended Age
Available in 8 different categories that are based on age and interest, you are sure to find a perfect match for your child:
- 3-5 years (Early Explorers and Animals Wild)
- 5-8 years (Science Junior)
- 6-8 years (Space Quest)
- 6-10 years (World Edition)
- 7+ years (Kitchen Adventures)
- 8+ years (Science Expedition)
- 8-12 years (USA Edition)
Little Passports offers “passports” for your child to travel to in any area of their interest: from art to STEM to animals, children will playfully learn through exploration each time they open a subscription box.
For example, with the World Edition box, children can explore the world, learn about geography, be exposed to different cultures, and gain an appreciation for cultural diversity. The Kitchen Adventures box will offer your child step-by-step cooking instructions and provide many (if not all) of the ingredients to help create yummy dishes or desserts. Aside from keeping kids busy, they will also learn valuable life skills, such as cutting vegetables, safe cooking in the kitchen, or even following directions.
The theme-based subscription boxes have a key theme for each month, with supporting books, games, and an arts-and-crafts component to make sure that all learning styles are engaged. This also reinforces the lessons the children learn through play and interaction, keeping them interested and excited about each box content they receive.
Key Features
- Shopping filter by age group, interest area, and budget range
- Great STEM toy options for all ages
- Age-appropriate picks based on developmental stages of child
- High-quality toys
- Parent-approved, Award-winning selections (Parents’ Picks Award Winner 2021)
- Theme-aligned workbooks, experiments, and games to focus on one key idea with multi-disciplinary learning (art, reading, math, science-all on one)
- Perfect school learning supplement for extra-curriculars
3. MEL Science
Price
Starting at $29.90/month
Recommended Age
MEL Science offers subscription kits for all ages, from 4 to 99, and each box subscription has a different main theme:
- 4-7+ years (Coding)
- 5-10+ years (STEM)
- 8-12+ years (Math)
- 8-14+ years (Physics)
- 10-16+ years (Chemistry)
- 14-99+ years (Medicine)
With over 100 different hands-on projects to choose from, your child will never be bored. Every month, they will be excited and positively challenged to explore new science concepts.
The kits are geared toward specific age groups to offer age-appropriate content to ensure that each child is challenged at their proper academic and developmental level.
MEL Science also offers school and group orders, making this a great fit for small homeschool groups, Montessori schools, or micro-schools.
If you are an educator, MEL Science kits take the lesson planning and prep work off your plate. Everything the child needs to successfully complete the different projects is included in the kit (with small exceptions of certain household ingredients).
You can use the physics or the chemistry subscription box to supplement the academic theory lessons.
The content is exciting and fun, making boring science concepts like electricity come alive. For example, in one kit, your child will build a mini rocket ship.
Applying science concepts, thinking critically, solving problems with creativity, and learning from trial and error are all amazing skills that foster innovation and invention.
Key Features
- Boxed-kit engaging science experiments for every age
- Digital connection (optional) to enhance the hands-on experience
- Video guides to help with the lesson
- Augmented reality connection for an immersive learning experience
- Choose one or more science subjects
- Classroom-quality experiments
4. Universal Yum
Price
Starting at $16/box
Recommended Age
The Universal Yum box is a great gift idea for children of any age, from 3 years old to adult. Although some of the educational trivia is mostly geared toward children ages 8-12, it can be used by younger children with adult help.
Who’d think that snacks can be educational? If you are looking for a fun way to supplement your child’s geography lessons, or simply introduce them to different world cultures and foods, the Universal Yum is a fun and fairly inexpensive way to do just that. More fun than receiving a gift card to a local restaurant, the Universal Yum subscription brings you different countries to your doorstep every month, with a booklet that explains each snack, and has useful and quirky trivia about that specific country, as well. Your child can also rank their top 5 choices of snacks and compare with friends, who get the Universal Yum box, as well. With this box subscription, you can send a monthly sweet gift, and the recipients will experience a world-class culinary journey.
Note: Keep in mind that some snacks might taste unusual, whether it’s spicy, sour, or not a customary flavor (for example, fried egg and sea salt chips). Universal Yum boxes are for children who are somewhat open to trying new flavors.
Also, please check the ingredients for allergy-specific info, should your child have any dietary restrictions, or health issues. Contact Universal Yum, if you are unsure.
Key Features
- Sweet and savory snacks from different countries every month
- Informational booklet with activities, such as trivia and recipes
- “Pick your Country” feature
- Review past favorites online
- Option to reorder favorites individually (for yourself, or as gifts to share) in the Universal Yum shop
5. Music Library Box
Price
Starting at $40/month
Recommended Age
The Music Library Box is for any child from age 4 to 12, geared mainly towards the early elementary school years.
With music programs disappearing from many schools, it is more important than ever to foster and cultivate musical talent and music appreciation in children outside the traditional teaching venue on an everyday basis.
Research shows that music is very important for a child’s brain development, but also helps in many other areas of a child’s academic and personal success.
Music is also a key elective subject that assists in other areas in life, not only with math, but also with creative thinking, stress management, and artistic expression.
The Music Library Box was founded by a retired music teacher of over 20 years. It introduces different instruments, music genres, and music theory, as well as music appreciation with the help of hands-on instruments, books, and activities.
It also includes interactive digital content that enhances the learning experience.
Your child will learn how to play different instruments with ease through playful interaction. This is a great way for your child to experiment and explore which instrument they enjoy playing, without breaking the bank, or committing to just one instrument too early.
Even if you are not musically inclined, you can give the gift of music to a child, as the included lessons will make it a breeze for them to learn on their own.
Key Features
- Connection between music and art, language arts, math, or logic
- Great quality box content and instruments
- Online access to exclusive content
- Printable downloads
- Activity booklets
- Access to video music lessons
6. We Craft Box
Price
- $34.99/monthly
- $99.99 for 3 months
- $189.99 for 6 months
- $359.99 for 12 months
Recommended Age
The We Craft Box activities are geared toward children of ages 3-9, with some activities needing adult help with younger artists, depending on their skill level, and their gross and fine motor skills.
Arts and crafts can be stressful and messy sometimes, but they don’t have to be. With the We Craft Box subscription, your child can get monthly art projects delivered directly to the mailbox.
With everything needed included, you will foster the inner artist in every child, encourage them to express themselves, help them learn about art appreciation, color theory, different art styles, and encourage them to develop their gross and fine motor skills.
Art also fosters creativity and imagination in your child, something that is key to healthy early child development.
With the We Craft Box, you can focus on making fun memories with your child rather than having to plan and prep an art activity. Also, the supplies that come in the subscription box are of really nice quality so that your child sees your commitment to art. The We Craft Box gets the kids away from computer screens and helps them engage with different mediums, using their hands and eyes.
The children can reuse the non-consumables (such as watercolor or clay) over and over, practicing the skills they learned while creating new masterpieces.
The art projects are great for display, but also make for great gifts to showcase the child’s creativity and mastery.
Source: We Craft Box Website
Key Features
- 4-5 pre-kitted activities per box, with everything needed included (with the exception of scissors)
- High-quality art supplies
- Step-by-step directions and video tutorials for no-stress teaching
- One box can be used for two crafters
- A themed story is included
7. Green Kids Crafts
Price
Starting at $28.95/month
Recommended Age
- 3-5 year olds (Junior Box)
- 5-10+ year olds (Discovery Box)
Green Kids Crafts subscription box comes packed with STEAM activities. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math-including art to balance right-brain thinking with left-brain thinking.
You can order individual activities, or surprise your child with a box of a handful theme-based activities that include anything from a STEM building project to an art project that is all about bees.
Key Features
- 4-6 science and art projects
- 12-page magazine
- Choose individual science experiment boxes or mystery bundle packs
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, a relative, or an educator, you’ll appreciate the thoughtfulness that goes into each subscription box to help your child or student thrive developmentally, as well as educationally.
The best way to learn is through play, and each featured box subscription service incorporates that concept.
With so many different subscription boxes to choose from, we reviewed the top choices for each major academic and skill-set category, such as STEM, music or arts.
Once you know what interests match your child’s interests and which skills you would like to foster and support with an annual subscription, simply select the appropriate subscription plan based on age and size.
Have any questions about our guide to subscription boxes kids will love this holiday season? Comment below so we can help.
Scott is also a contributor to numerous top industry publications, including eLearning Industry and the TalentLMS Blog, as well as a trusted expert source whose analysis has been quoted and referenced in the LA Times, Fox Business, Houston Chronicle, NEA Today, and others.
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