The 5 Best Subscription Boxes for Kids in 2021

If you're looking for a way to enrich your child's education in a fun and exciting way, a monthly subscription box may be the way to go. The right subscription box will combine hands-on learning with your child's unique hobbies and interests.

Whether your child loves art projects, science, or books, there's an exciting subscription box out there that's perfect for them to unpack each month. Read on for our list of the best kids' subscription boxes below.

The 5 Best Subscription Boxes for Kids in 2021

Best Overall: Kiwi Co.
Best Budget: Little Passports
Best for Book Lovers: Kids Curated Books
Best for Science: Green Kids Crafts
Best for Cooking: Raddish

Best Overall : Kiwi Co.

Kiwi Co. tops our list of kids’ subscription boxes for its variety of options and enthusiastic customer reviews. Each month, hands-on science and art projects are delivered in fun crates that will inspire, delight, and teach kids essential skills. You select the projects' age range, from those designed for little ones 0-36 months up to those for bigger ones from 14-104 years of age.

They come with various supplies and resources to complete cool projects in art, geography, science, engineering, and design. Kiwi crates have won numerous awards, and parents rave about them.

Best Budget : Little Passports

Little Passports let kids explore the world without the hefty price of airfare. It’s a fun and affordable way to take them on various adventures and expose them to global benefits.

From their Early Explorers plan for kids ages 3-5 to plans for older kids, everyone has options. When you sign up the first month, you get an introductory package; then there are monthly packages that follow, including everything from books to experiments and more. You can choose to pay monthly or sign up for a 6- or 12-month subscription to save more. There’s an additional shipping charge, but parents say these boxes are a great overall value.

Best for Book Lovers : Kids Curated Books

There’s nothing like adding a new book to your kid's collection to help them learn, explore, and imagine, and Kid Curated Books makes it easy to do so regularly. After answering some questions about your child’s reading preferences (e.g., historical fiction, biography, adventure, or rhyming books; text-heavy, image-heavy, or a combination of both), you’ll start receiving book boxes based on their interests and reading levels. After receiving each box, you can continue to provide feedback, so the choices get even better over time.

Four books come in each box, and you can choose to receive books every month or space out your deliveries further apart. If you receive a book your child already owns, you can donate the books to a library, and they’ll issue you a credit.

Check out our roundup of the best books for toddlers.

Best for Science : Green Kids Crafts

When it comes to building kids’ science skills, there’s much fun to be had, and Green Kid Crafts delivers it right to your mailbox. Designed for children ages 2-10, each box contains toys, activities, books, and more to help young ones explore and develop important science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) skills.

Each box has a fun theme, such as “Safari Science” or “Robot Workshop,” and is age-appropriate and engaging. These award-winning boxes get rave reviews from parents and kids alike who say they’re fun, educational, and exciting for kids to receive.

Best for Cooking : Raddish

For yummy fun, Raddish (That’s not a typo: Think “rad” “dish”) delivers packages to kids that are designed to be a cooking class in a box. Each one is themed and incorporates other skills, such as math, science, and history, into the process. They come with recipes, grocery lists (food isn’t included), kitchen tools, and more to help kids learn new cooking techniques and make delicious food. The boxes are designed for kids ages 4-14, with some help from parents.

FAQs

What Is a Subscription Box for Kids?

Subscription boxes for kids are recurring shipments of kid-friendly products, project kits, books, or other items that center around a theme such as science, travel, engineering, art, or cooking. Some boxes provide materials and instructions that kids can use to create a simple project, while others include toys, books, and activities to help kids learn new skills through play.

Subscription plans are usually monthly but some are offered on a bimonthly or seasonal basis. Many companies also sell individual boxes for those who don’t want to commit to a subscription.

What Is Included?

Subscription boxes for kids feature a wide range of items, depending on the theme and age group it’s intended for. Science and art kits include materials and directions for hands-on projects, while cooking kits include kitchen tools, recipes, and grocery shopping lists. Boxes may also include toys, activities, books, and more to help kids explore and learn more about science, technology, geography, engineering, art, and math.

How Much Do These Subscriptions Cost?

The cost of subscription boxes for kids varies depending on the size of the box, theme, and what’s included. They typically start in the range of $15 to $35 per box, but prices will differ based on the type of projects and materials in the selected subscription.

For example, boxes with advanced science and engineering projects for tweens and teens are pricier than basic art boxes for younger kids. In most cases, you can get a discount if you choose a longer subscription plan. Shipping is often included, but some companies charge an additional fee for delivery.