Yahoo Finance Who Knew? Amazon Can Automatically Send Your Kids New Books Every Month
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Who Knew? Amazon Can Automatically Send Your Kids New Books Every Month
We updated this article in August 2022 to include more information about subscription boxes, removed all sold out products and included three new picks vetted and selected by the Good Housekeeping Institute.
There are so many subscription boxes available these days — makeup subscription boxes, clothing subscription boxes and food subscription boxes, but most of those are made for adults. It’s time for kids to get in on the fun too —plus, having something to look forward to when the local delivery person comes knocking at your door is exciting for all ages. And the best subscription boxes for kids pull double-duty, after all: First, they keep them entertained (and sometimes, clothed and fed). That’s worth the price of admission alone! Second, all those fun activities for kids and curated essentials make things easier on the parents who are constantly trying to find balance between tablet time and playtime.
Just like subscription boxes for adults, most kits require you to answer a few questions, including ages and preferences, but once that’s done, your child’s next after-school or weekend activity is delivered right to your door. This is especially convenient with clothing subscription boxes: No more dragging the kids to the store and forcing them into fitting rooms. Simply pay for what they like (and what fits them properly) and send the rest back on your own time.
Beyond clothing, here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts have selected some of the best kits for kids including subscriptions that they personally get delivered to their homes each month for their own children, boxes they buy as gifts for other children and brands that have rave reviews. Below you will find subscription boxes for baking and cooking with recipes from around the world, fun inclusive books for ages 0-14+, packages with developmentally appropriate toys and craft subscriptions that take DIYing to a new level. Whether you’re buying these as a great gifts for kids or for your own, we have exciting options for all children.
Here are the best subscription boxes for kids:
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1) Amazon Prime Book Box
If you don't have time to comb through the bookstore month after month, you can set your kids' ages and book preferences and let Amazon editors do the work for you. Each box comes with either four board books or two hardcover books, and Amazon estimates you'll save 40% on the books' list price with the service. Good Housekeeping Institute Chief Technologist and mom of three, Rachel Rothman, loves this service because her children regularly get new, age-appropriate content without her having to think about it.
Starts at $16.99 per month
Ages: 0-12Amazon - 3/35
2) STEM Club Toy Subscription
Finding educational toys for kids of any age can be tricky, so let Amazon handle it for you. The company's STEM club curates science, engineering, technology and math toys based on your child's age and ships them right to your door. Rothman is a fan of anything that gets kids excited in STEM, and likes that it provides a variety of activities.
Starts at $25 per box
Ages: 3-13Amazon - 4/35
3) KiwiCo
Subscribe to this box, and you'll receive developmentally appropriate STEAM-themed boxes each month. Toddlers can do activities like mixing colors and identifying shapes, then move all the way up to teens that can take on projects like building their own ukulele. There's even a box geared towards babies 0 to 24 months old. Rothman is a huge fan of the fact that the company continues to offer boxes for kids upwards of 16 years old.
Starts at $18.50 per month
Ages: 0+RELATED: The Best STEM Toys for Kids, According to the Good Housekeeping Institute
KiwiCo - 5/35
4) Universal Yums
Explore different cultures the right way — through snacks. Each box come stuffed with sweet and salty goodies from a different country every month, and you also get a 12-page booklet with trivia and recipes.
Starts at $15 per box
Ages: No ages specifiedUniversal Yums - 6/35
5) KidPik
Take the complexity out of clothing shopping with this subscription box from KidPik. "I love this one because there’s no styling fee, meaning there’s no risk to try it out. The styles are also really cute and my kids love wearing them," says Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping's Executive Director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab. Each box comes with seven garments, all from the Kidpik brand, as opposed to other boxes that use third-party brands.
No styling fee, boxes vary in price
Ages: 1-16KidPik - 7/35
6) Pipsticks
With Pipsticks, kids will receive a new pack of stickers that come in all shapes, sizes and fun designs every month. Our experts note how they are perfect for crafting. Good Housekeeping Institute Lab Director Lexie Sachs's daughters loved this kit so much that she also gifted a subscription to her friends. "There’s a fun element of surprise, and it includes a wide variety of sticker types," she said.
Starts at $12 per month
Ages: 3+Pipsticks - 8/35
7) A Kids Book About
A Kids Book About deals with topics of climate change, systemic racism, body image and more, making these topics easier for children to understand. Every month, subscribers can receive up to three books with different subjects from a diverse group of authors.
Starts at $16 per month
Ages: 5-9A Kids Book About - 9/35
8) R&T Crew
If your little ones are obsessed with all things cars and trucks, R&T CREW (the Road & Track car club for kids) is the box for them. Every other month, a themed box arrives with car-inspired activities, wearables and a special members-only R&T CREW magazine. While we may be biased as Road and Track is a Hearst-owned brand, our hands-on experiments have proven engaging and awe-inspiring for our kid testers.
Starts at $34 per box
Ages: 6-10PHILIP FRIEDMAN - 10/35
9) Lovevery
You can subscribe to Lovevery's "Play Kits" starting from birth. Then, once every two or three months (depending on your child's age), you'll receive a box with new toys that are backed by scientific research and ready to engage their developing brains. Each kit comes with a guide that walks you through the different ways to play and explains how it matches up with how your kid is growing. According to our testers, boxes comes with incredibly well constructed toys and a ton of information on how each toy aligns with your kid's development. Rothman herself loves to gift this when friends or family have new babies for its quality, developmental guidance and sheer enjoyment her kids and testers have found with them.
Starts at $80 per box
Ages: 0-4RELATED: The Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds Growing Out of Their Baby Gifts
Lovevery - 11/35
10) KidStir Cooking Kit
This cooking activity box makes their kitchen creations edible with easy-to-follow recipes, kid-size tools and a printed shopping list. Let's just hope they are less picky with their own dinner than she is with yours.
Starts at $24 per month
Ages: 5-10KidStir - 12/35
11) Little Feminist
This woman-owned company saw a gap in kids books and wanted to help diversify the world of children's literature. Their goal is to curate inclusive stories by LBGTQI+ and POC writers, amplifying stories of equality, empathy, breaking gender norms and beyond.
Starts at $23 per month
Ages: 0-9Little Feminist - 13/35
12) Little Passports Box
Spark their curiosity for culture with this global subscription box. Early explorers will learn about world themes like music and geographic features, while the big kids' box teaches her about a new country each month.
Starts at $22 per month
Ages: 3+Little Passports - 14/35
13) Brick Loot
For the LEGO enthusiast, this box comes stuffed with bricks, LEGO sets and LEGO-compatible third-party items so your kids can fulfill their Master Builder fantasies. It was started by a true fan when he was just 9 years old.
Starts at $33 per month
Ages: 6+Brick Loot - 15/35
14) Music Library Box
From Bob Marley to Beetoven, children can bring our their musical talents while learning about the worlds greatest artists. Each box includes a music-themed box, hands on activity and access to online activities and printable downloads.
Starts at $42 per month
Ages: 4+Music Library - 16/35
15) Baketivity
From snowball cookies to whoopie pies the sweets are endless. These kid-friendly baking kits from Baketivity will have your little pastry chef whipping up desserts in no time. Each kit comes with pre-measured ingredients, a complete grocery list, and full step-by-step instructions. Kids (and parents) can learn about useful baking terms and use tools that they may not be accustomed to. Each box comes with three recipe cards and with your subscription, you can access a step-by-step videos.
Starts at $35 per month
Ages: 4-10baketivity - 17/35
16) Hoppi Box
One thing that stresses out new parents is figuring out what toys are developmentally appropriate for their babies. Hoppi Box takes the work out of play, sending toys geared towards your baby's age and upcoming milestones, delivered quarterly. Each box comes with four or five goodies, tested by child-development experts.
Starts at $22 per month
Ages: 0-3RELATED: The Best Toys and Gifts for 2-Year-Olds, According to Parents and Parenting Experts
Hoppi - 18/35
17) Rowan
For some kids, there's nothing more exciting than getting their ears pierced. With Rowan, they'll receive a cool new pair of hypoallergenic earrings each month, plus some other goodies to go with it. Ears not pierced yet? In a lucky handful of states, Rowan can also connect you to a trained nurse who will come and do an at-home piercing.
Starts at $25 per month
Ages: 7-14Rowan - 19/35
18) Literati Book Subscription
Keep your bookworm's library well stocked. Every month, Literati sends five brand new books every month. Keep them for a week, then buy your kid's favorite. The company promises their prices are less than competitors. Rothman appreciated each box included little goodies as well for the kids, like relevant artwork or stickers.
$10 per month
Ages: 0-9Literati - 20/35
19) Rockets of Awesome
Fashion-industry vets design clothes specifically for Rockets of Awesome, so you won't find everyone wearing the same duds when the kids go back to school. There is a $20 service fee per eight-item box, which gets applied to anything you buy, with items staying in the $16–$38 range. Our pros love that the styles offered are functional and unique, and their kids always get compliments when wearing them!
$20 service fee
Ages: 2-14Rockets of Awesome - 21/35
20) Black Girl Mathgic
This STEM subscription box was created to help increase the mathematical confidence for young Black girls. Each box includes a math activity booklet, stickers, learning tools and more. It also comes with a note of affirmation, and each month features a profile of a different Black female mathematician.
Starts at $40 per month
Ages: 3rd - 9th gradeBlack Girl Mathgic - 22/35
21) Sensory TheraPlay Box
An occupational therapist created this box of sensory toys for children with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, neurological impairments and emotional disturbances. The most fun part: SLIME.
Starts at $42 per month
Ages: 5-9Sensory TheraPlay - 23/35
22) Bitsbox
Bitsbox challenges your future coder with a new fun app for them to build every month. Once they're finished, the game will work on their phone or iPad. For just $17, you can get a digital-only version of the box, with a PDF download of the app projects.
Starts at $17 per month
Ages: 6-14Bitsbox - 24/35
23) Raddish
Cook, bake and even explore global eats with these subscription kits from Raddish. Pick one of the three plans, or subscribe to all of them for the ultimate food experience. Each kit has illustrated recipe cards, kitchen tools, a step-by-step guide and more. From Korean rice bowls and dumplings to Swedish meatballs, your child will not only open up their taste buds to delicious meals, but learn about cultural cuisine outside what they may be used to.
Starts at $24 per month
Ages: 4-14+raddishkids - 25/35
24) Stitch Fix Kids
Answer some questions about your kids' styles and sizes, and a box will arrive with 10 pieces that they can choose — you just pay for what you keep, and you pay a $20 styling fee that gets applied to whatever you buy. (And no, it doesn't actually require a subscription, you can get a box whenever you'd like.) The items in the box usually stay in the $10 to $35 range, so they won't fall in love with something you'd hate to pay for. Our pros appreciate how well the box adheres to your kid's personal preferences and even notes that some of their kid's favorite items came from their Stitch Fix box! "This one’s good if you’d like to try styles from popular brands. If there are styles you love in the box, Stitch Fix’s site offers you similar styles or styles from the same brand," says Sachs. This year, the service launched The Commons, a new collection of 150 new pieces specifically created for tweens.
Starts at $20 per box
Ages: 2-14Stitch Fix - 26/35
25) Brave + Kind Books
Inclusion is key in this Decatur, Georgia bookstore that offers representation for children of different regions, races and backgrounds. Brave + Kind Books offers an array of selections that you can get delivered to your home monthly. Each month, a different selection of inclusive literature is curated for infants to teenagers.
Starts at $40 per month
Ages: 0-14+braveandkindbooks - 27/35
26) Spangler Science Club
For more STEM fun, Ellen Degeneres' favorite scientist Steven Spangler can send his lab to your home. Tell the kids to get their goggles ready as they explore science projects that help them understand the basic principles and ideas of physics, chemistry and biology.
Starts at $33 per month
Ages: 5-12Spangler Science Club - 28/35
27) America's Test Kitchen Kids' Young Chefs' Club
For kids who want to be hands-on in the kitchen, America's Test Kitchen's box comes loaded with easy-to-follow, kid-tested recipes, along with related projects and activities. For example, the "Taco Truck" box comes with Mexican recipes, a tool that helps kids make their own tortillas, an activity sheet where they can name and design their taco truck, and experiments that can be done with avocados.
Starts at $25 per month
Ages 5+America's Test Kitchen - 29/35
28) Just Like Me! Box
Each month, Just Like Me! hand-picks two or three children's books featuring characters of color, so kids can see themselves in literature. Each box is curated by age and includes learning tools and activities to go along with the stories.
Starts at $30 per month
Ages: 0-12Just Like Me - 30/35
29) Girls Can! Crate
This box is a monthly reminder that your little girl can do anything. With each box, they'll discover a new role model's story (think the tales of Frida Kahlo and Rosa Parks) along with a creative play prop and a couple of STEM activities to go with it. Mini versions of the kit are also available starting at $19.
Starts at $29 per month
Ages: 5-10Girls Can! Crate - 31/35
30) Because of Them We Can
This Black History subscription box includes educational activities and props, so children can dress up as each monthly historic figures from the past as well as current change makers, such as musical icon Stevie Wonder or astronaut and engineer Mae Jemison.
Starts at $40 per month
Ages: 5-12
Because of Them We Can - 32/35
31) Little Global Citizens
Traveling long distances with children isn't an easy task and gets easier as they get older. Until then, kids can explore the world with Little Global Citizens. Every kit is themed around a different country and includes activities, recipes, a storybook and crafts!
Starts at $35 per box
Ages: 7-14Little Global Citizens - 33/35
32) Green Kid Crafts
Kids can learn about topics like ocean science, volcanoes, or music through four to six different activities with a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) focus. Best of all, all of the boxes are carbon neutral, the company says, and one tree is planted for each box ordered.
Starts at $29 per box
Ages: 3+Green Kid Crafts - 34/35
33) Guide Dots
If you have a budding artist in your house, Guide Dots is a curriculum designed to teach kids to draw. The subscription combines strategically-placed dots and online instruction to get them making frame-worthy masterpieces.
Starts at $93 for three months
Ages: 4-9Guide Dots - 35/35
34) Monti Kids
If you're passionate about a Montessori education, this subscription will hook you up with Montessori materials designed by educators. Once you sign up, you'll also be able to connect with like-minded families and have access to resources and learning materials online. Our GH Institute engineers noted that the construction of these sets were always impressive.
Starts at $65 per month
Ages: 0-3Monti Kids
