Kids can’t wait for summer to arrive, but let’s face it: they get bored, and parents hear about it often. That’s why we rounded up a selection of kid-friendly subscription boxes to curb any mid-summer boredom woes. These monthly boxes are full of activities and projects to engage children on their own or with a parent, and there’s a range of themes to choose from.
For Creative Kids
If you’re looking for fun, creative and eco-friendly craft activities for youngsters, then Green Kid Crafts is for you. The monthly boxes are packed with three or four unique and en- gaging activities designed for children ages 3 to 10. Each month is focused around a new theme relating to arts, crafts and science, and all the activities are kid tested and parent approved. As an earth-friendly bonus, all Green Kid Crafts boxes are made from recycled materials and most of the supplies included with the activities can be composted, recycled or reused. $19.95 per month
Surprise Ride features fun activities on subjects like art, science, food and geography, designed to inspire creativity in kids. Each “ride” is specially curated for children ages 6 to 11 and includes all the supplies needed to complete two themed projects. There’s a book exploring the topic of the month, a tasty snack, a booklet with facts and information about the ride’s theme and ways to continue exploration, as well as other surprises. $29.99 per month
For Techie Kids
Created by two Boulder dads, Bitsbox introduces kids to the world of programming and teaches them how to code. Bitsbox is designed for children ages 6 to 12 and uses simple commands to create cool apps that really work. Each box features a different monthly theme and includes an activity book with 18 to 22 apps (with real code), app trading cards, stickers, temporary tattoos and a mystery toy. Once unboxed, kids simply look through the materials and pick an app to create, type the code into the Bitsbox website and then download, share and use their apps on a mobile device. Apps range from simple two-liners to games with graphics and sound effects. Kids can alter the code to make it their own. $40 per month
For Scientific Kids
The Kiwi Crate brand of boxes offers four monthly options, designed to promote problem solving and exploration in kids ages 3 to 16. Each crate features creative activities about science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Koala Crate is a play and learn box for children ages 3 to 4, which offers inquiry-based learning around a new topic each month. One box featured a special collaboration with Highlights for Children magazine and was full of activities about color. Kiwi Crate, for children ages 5 to 8, offers engaging STEAM projects about art and science. One crate was full of fun activities to teach kids about shadow and light—including making a flashlight and shadow puppets. For older kids, ages 9 to 16, Kiwi Crate offers two options — Doodle Crate explores art and design and Tinker Crate features STEM projects like building a hydraulic claw. $19.95 per month
For Adventurous Kids
With a monthly subscription to Little Passports, kids can explore new cultures every month as they ‘travel” to cities and countries around the world. The Early Explorers kit, for children ages 3 to 5, includes activity books, stickers, and souvenirs exploring a different theme from around the world. Children ages 6 to 10 can discover a new country every month with the World Edition kit. The first kit comes with a mini suitcase and a passport to document their worldly adventures; each subsequent kit features fun souvenirs, photos, stickers, activity sheets and a boarding pass to access more games and activities online. There’s also a USA Edition kit for children ages 7 to 12 to learn about the 50 states, using journals, postcards, stickers and pop-out models, along with interactive activities online. $12.95 plus $3 shipping per month
For the Whole Family
Cooper & Kid’s father-centered Cooper Kit is packed to the brim with activities for modern-day dads and kids to enjoy together. Each kit is filled with themed projects, toys, books and ideas for dads and kids to explore, and the shipping box even doubles as a toy. One theme was ‘the science of magic,” and contained hands- on science projects and activities about magic, a book of spells, a levitation wand and other goodies. $65 every three months
Awesome Pack is geared toward families with children age 15 and under, and it’s full of games and activities the family can do together. Each Awesome Family Pack is customized to your family’s specifics—ages, likes and dislikes, favorite games and so on—and contains six to eight specially picked items from top-selling brands. Every pack includes a board game, a family activity and activity for each child, surprise goodies for each child, a book to chronicle your time spent playing together and other surprises. Add pets to the customization and your furry family members get a special treat, too. Re-customize your pack to your family’s liking each month. The more you customize, the more tailored the boxes become. $44.99 per month
