I tested the best subscription boxes for kids

Why subscription boxes beat big gifts

Rather than one expensive present yearly, subscription boxes arrive monthly. They are consumable, educational supplements for homeschool or remote learning, and usually affordable.

KiwiCo: best for all ages

KiwiCo's monthly boxes cost twenty four dollars on a prepaid annual plan. Each box has one themed activity for ages from a few months to eighteen years old.

KiwiCo delivers clear instructions

Instructions are clear enough for young kids to follow. Pieces are easy for little fingers to manipulate. The final project is always delightful and age appropriate.

Stitch Fix Kids: best clothing box

Stitch Fix costs twenty dollars. You enter your child's age, size, color preferences, activities and budget. The box arrives and you keep what you like, send back the rest.

Highlights Puzzlemania: best puzzles

Highlights Puzzlemania subscription costs four dollars monthly, down from fifteen dollars. Each thirty two page puzzle book has sticker puzzles, word searches, Mad Libs style storytelling and riddles.

CrunchLabs Hack Pack: best science box

CrunchLabs Hack Pack costs sixty seven dollars, down from eighty dollars. Founded by former NASA engineer and YouTuber Mark Rober, it teaches STEM principles through robot assembly.

Hack Pack works for younger kids

Though aimed at ages fourteen and up, an eight year old assembled it with minimal help in an afternoon. The infrared turret illustrated infrared communication principles clearly.

“Why are you so worried, Mama? The drawings show you exactly what to do.”

CrunchLabs Creative Kit: best craft kit

CrunchLabs Creative Kit costs thirty dollars monthly, down from thirty three dollars. Aimed at ages six to ten, it includes themed projects like an ice cream stand or architect's treehouse.

Creative Kit encourages extended play

Unlike tie dye or pinwheel kits, Creative Kit projects come with accessories that encourage play long after assembly. Kids continued playing with the ice cream stand all afternoon.

Lovevery Reading Skills: best reading support

Lovevery Reading Skill Set costs one hundred sixty dollars delivered together or thirty four dollars every two months. It is a complete homeschool reading curriculum for kindergarten through second grade.

Literati Book Club: best book club

Literati Book Club costs ten dollars monthly. It sends five books each month. You return books you do not like and pay Amazon's list price for the rest.

Universal Yums: best snack box

Universal Yums snack box costs nineteen dollars for small or twenty seven dollars for medium. It includes an informative booklet, games and trivia about snacks from different countries.

Lingo: best coding box

Lingo was founded by Aisha Bowe, a former NASA scientist. In the Driver's Seat costs seventy five dollars and teaches how to build a backup sensor for a car.

Lovevery Play Kit: best for preschoolers

Lovevery Play Kit costs eighty eight dollars every two months. It offers stage based learning with Montessori inspired toys designed for different developmental stages from birth onward.

Lalo Play Box: best for babies

Lalo Play Box costs sixty seven dollars, down from ninety five dollars. There are ten different boxes designed for different months within the first two years of life.

SketchBox: best for artists

SketchBox costs twenty five dollars monthly. Each month has a theme assembled by an artist and includes supplies like graphite kits, charcoal pencils, paper and erasers.

Bake Eat Love: best baking kit

Bake Eat Love costs forty dollars monthly. The boxes are suited for older kids with more sophisticated palates. Kits include some prepackaged ingredients but require basic cooking utensils.

Stickii Club: best sticker club

Stickii Club costs twelve dollars monthly. It offers three different sticker styles, a storage sleeve and three stationery items. The club works with independent artists and illustrators.