Are you looking to bring more STEM to your kids life, but already have a packed schedule? Me too! Developing science, technology, engineering, and math skills are more important than ever before. As the schools focus more on reading, kids have a lot less hands-on times to build and create during their school day. Tinker Crates to the rescue.
Here is our honest Tinker Crate Review.
Disclosure – THANK YOU to Kiwi Crate for sending us a box to review. All Opinions of this Tinker Crate Review are 100% my own. Affiliate Links Included
Why Tinker Crates?
- Our kids are not getting enough building experiences.
I am a HUGE fan of STEM {Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics} and STEAM, which is STEM + Art for kids. As a classroom teacher with many years of experience, I know first hand, that our kids are not getting enough hands on building, designing, and experimenting in the classroom. Due to large class sizes and budget cuts, these “extras” are often the first to be cut from the curriculum. Getting (and doing – this is key because if your crate sits unopened on your doorstep or on the counter- there is no academic benefit to your child) - STEM boxes delivered to your door is WAY cool!
These boxes can help ignite and keep interest in science, technology, engineering, and math through the critical tween and teen years. My kids LOVE seeing the orange box delivered to our doorstep! They paper-rock-scissor to see who gets to open it! - Subscription Box for the “hard to buy for ages.”
My 10 year old is soooo hard to buy <non technology> gifts for because she has almost outgrown all the doll and stuffed animal toys. A subscription box gives the gift of experiences and learning. - Everything is included in the Tinker Crate Box.
The prep work. The research. The directions. The science and engineering behind the project. The supplies. Everything is in the box, making it super easy for kids to make and do.
Which of Kiwi Crate’s new line of crates do you like the best? Take their quiz…
One Mom and 10 year old daughters Tinker Crate Review
Mom: As a busy mom of three, I love seeing my kids come home and creating. I don’t always have the time, or less face it, the energy to come up with REALLY COOL engaging, hands-on projects for my kids to build. I really want to keep my kids engaged, thinking and challenged during after school hours.
Kiwi’s Tinker Crates to the rescue!
Everything, including the science and engineering behind how it works, comes beautifully packaged and delivered to your doorstep.
10 Year Old: I like to put together stuff that we wouldn’t usually put together!
Click here to peek inside a sample Tinker Crate
Here is how the Kiwi Tinker Crate arrived, a whole lot of science and engineering cutely packed into the box!
Click here to peek inside a sample Tinker Crate.
My eight year old wanted to get building right away. We have learned that she does best best when a grown up sits next to her as she sets up her activities, so the activity isn’t so visually overwhelming. I reminded her to first read through the instructions and we set the pieces out in an organized manner, rather than keeping them in the bags they arrived in.
She also is a little younger than Kiwi Crates suggested age range for this box. As a gifted learner, we were hoping this would be a great monthly STEM enrichment activity for her to do for after-school learning.
She was able to follow the directions on her own and assemble the pieces of the trebuchet independently.
After lacing the last piece on, it was ready for launch time.
This is where the FUN really started! She needed help with the first launch, but had no problem flying solo after that. Of course, the family was inside watching us from the window, so we called them outside.
My preschooler, toddler, and husband all waited in line to launch it too. Seeing all of them SOOOOO excited about STEM just warmed my heart.
We launched pom poms and plastic balls for at least an hour after dinnertime and then the next day and the next as well.
The kids did start to get a little creative in what other objects they could launch as well! HINT (watch the video below!)
Tinker Crate Review in a nut shell…
Not only was I impressed with this activity and the accompanying materials, but my daughter was as well. When I asked her to give me feedback on the product, she said,
“Mom, I think this is exactly what we need.
Do you think they could send us TWO boxes every month???”
Enjoyed this Tinker Crate Review? You may want to check out our Halloween Tinker Crate review. Watch out though, because it’s pretty scary!
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Tinker Crate is great! Thanks for sharing your experiences, we love these in our home as well.
My son had a great time with his crates. The cool science stuff for the older kids. We ordered the 3 month package and everything was awesome. Then came the fourth month. My son was happy, because he got another crate. I was not because I did not order it.
Not to worry though, their website lets you Pause your subscription. Note, not cancel, just pause. And don’t bother calling, They don’t answer and don’t call back.
Not to worry though, I have a nice stock pile of boxes now he hasn’t used. And I still haven’t figured out how to cancel this service…
Though yes! He did totally love the first 3 months worth of crates that I actually ordered.
I want to know two things. Can we know what is going to come for the coming months?
Is every single month different? I see only few pieces shown, so I’m worried that if I get a year suscription will repeat pieces, or a following year will be same as the previous.
Hi. How much does it cost to get one delivered every month for an 11 year old??
They have monthly plans with different pricing. Click GET IT on their website and the pricing will show.
Oh the Koala crate sounds so neat. Can't wait to check it out!
Great review! Crate looks like a blast! TY!
Muria, the 8-12 range is super hard (IMO) and I am SO glad that KIWI came out with these new lines of activity crates. They are needed for us busy parents!!!!
Crystal – I was EXTREMELY impressed with the crate! There were 2 informational books in the crates as well which were very entertaining and educational too.
I love this review! I've had my eye on Kiwi Crate for a little while, too 🙂 Looks like a ton of fun that my kids will love. Thanks so much for sharing at Saturday Science!
Thanks! These look really interesting! My boys are 9 and 11, and it's getting harder to find challenging but fun activities for them.