Raise your hand if shopping for cool, well-made, and fun toys is way more challenging than you ever thought. You better believe my hand is up—way up.
Well, it was.
I recently discovered Kiwi Crate, a subscription service for kids, that’s made the task a whole lot easier.
In fact, I don’t even have to think about it—we simply get a cool, new educational toy delivered to the doorstep each month.
Sounds cool, right?! Read on to find out:
- What Kiwi Crate is
- A special 40% off promo code just for YOU!
- My honest review of the subscription service
- Plus, important information and cost and shipping
What Is KiwiCo?
KiwiCo—formerly Kiwi Crate—is a monthly subscription service for kids. Each month, the company sends subscribers a box (aka crate) full of everything you need to complete a variety of STEM projects, crafts, and activities related to one central theme, like science of color, lemonade stand, or treasure hunt..
KiwiCo boxes are specifically created to suit different age groups. Boxes include:
What Are Kiwi Crates?
Kiwi Crate Review: Sample Kiwi Crate Box
Kiwi Crates are the KiwiCo boxes (crates) for children ages 5-8.
These boxes include science activities, arts and crafts, and more. All of the items in Kiwi Crates are carefully curated by experts (including former educators and child development professionals) at KiwiCo to encourage discovery, exploration, imagination, and invention.
Kiwi Crate Promo Code 2024
With my special Kiwi Crate promo code, you can get your first box for just $11.97—including shipping and handling! That’s a 40% savings.
My Honest Kiwi Crate Review, Plus What the Kids Say
When it comes to toys, I’m a minimalist. Of course, I want my children to have plenty of stimulation, learning experiences, and fun things to do… but I don’t see the point of cluttering the house with a slew of plastic, junky toys.
I’d rather focus on investing in some really awesome one-of-a-kind items to entertain the kids. This subscription service definitely fits the bill, so we couldn’t resist giving it a try.
When our Kiwi Crate arrived, we let our five-year-old and her friend have at it. Here’s how things went down:
The project: create your own pinball machine
Kiwi Crate Arcade Box Monthly Subscription for Kids
Our box contained everything the girls needed to create their own DIY pinball machine. One thing I noticed right off the bat was that the girls were excited by the prospect of building their own toy. It definitely heightened the experience, since they not only had something new, but also had a fun task ahead of them.
Building the pinball machine
Kiwi Crate Review – Teamwork – Building Pinball Machine
Once they laid out all of the supplies, the girls needed a little bit of help to go through the instructions and get a handle on the project. But as soon as they had a bit of prompting from an adult, they were able to zip right through it.
Kiwi Crate Review – Kids Building Pinball Machine Detail
I thought it was the perfect mix of challenging and fun. It was complex enough to hold their attention, but not so difficult that it overwhelmed them.
Kiwi Crate Review – Kids Using New Tools While Building a Pinball Machine
For example, when the girls first saw the fasteners (called Brads), they needed a little help figuring out how to secure them. But soon they got the hang of it and I heard them encouraging one another, saying things like “you peel it like a banana!” and “You have to do four washers and four Brads.”
The finished product
From start to finish, the whole activity took about 30 minutes. Again, this wasn’t so long that they lost interest, but it was enough time to feel like a worthy investment to me.
Plus, after the girls were done building the pinball machine, they played with the finished product for at least 30 minutes more. They also took the pinball machine over to a friend’s house to show off their handiwork—their friends were so into it that they didn’t want to give it back!
Later that night, I saw Paloma and her older brother playing with it again. This toy definitely went the distance!
2020 update – here’s a new project we just finished ?
My six-year-old daughter Paloma and I just completed this solar system, which was a great opportunity for me to teach her about our incredible universe.
What I love About Kiwi Crate
Overall, this was a great project for my five-year-old. She’s looking forward to creating another fun project next month, and I’m all-in on making the investment for her. Here’s why:
- It’s stimulating: As I mentioned earlier, this project was the perfect mix of challenging and fun. It wasn’t super easy, but it was attainable. Because of this, the project held their attention and they were able to complete it and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
- It encourages teamwork: One of the most rewarding parts of this project for me was watching how well my five-year-old and her friend worked together on this project. I heard them saying things like “you can press this one down” and “Can I peel this one?” There was no competition—instead, they really banded together to learn new skills and create a new and unique toy to play with.
- It’s expertly curated: These boxes are designed by former educators and child development professionals, then reviewed by an advisory board that includes educational, developmental psychology, art, and science professionals. This process ensures the crates and the items in them are developmentally appropriate for each age group.
- It’s tested by kids: Every single Kiwi Crate is tested by real kids to ensure projects are fun and age-appropriate. This makes me feel more confident that we’ll receive something my child will actually want to play with.
What Age is Kiwi Crate for?
As mentioned above, Kiwi Crate is best suited for children ages 5 through 8. Before launching, each crate is tested by kids to ensure that projects are engaging, fun, attainable for kids in that particular age group.
If you have kids outside of this age range, you may be more interested in one of KiwiCo’s other crates, listed above.
How Much Are Kiwi Crates?
Kiwi Crate Review: How Much Do Kiwi Crates Cost?
Like many subscription-based services, the price of Kiwi Crates is dependent on the commitment you make. The longer you commit to receiving the subscription box, the less expensive it is.
The downside is, if you want the least expensive 12-month option (a total savings of $155.40), you have to be willing to pay about $200 upfront. The most flexible option—a month to month subscription—costs just $19.95 each month.
Though a greater investment in the long run, some people prefer this option, as it breaks up payments and provides the flexibility to cancel whenever you’d like.
Either way, this video shows just how much you get in each box:
Kiwi Crate Promo Code 2024
With my special Kiwi Crate promo code, you can get your first box for just $11.97—including shipping and handling! That’s a 40% savings.
What is a Deluxe Kiwi Crate?
A Deluxe Kiwi Crate is the same as a regular Kiwi Crate, but also includes a book specifically curated to go with each month’s theme. There is a slight upcharge of $9.95 per order to get the deluxe version.
How Long Does Kiwi Crate Shipping Take?
When you order your first box, KiwiCo typically sends it within 2 to 3 business days of purchase. Once it ships, your Kiwi Crate will typically arrive within 5-7 days.
Going forward, your box will ship every month for the duration of your subscription. If you’re unsure when your next box will ship, you can check the status of your order on the “My Account” page of the KiwiCo website.
How About You?
Have you tried Kiwi Crate? Let us know in the comments below!
