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Everyone loves getting mail, but mail is even better when it’s a box filled with goodies you get on a regular basis. Just like there’s an app for everything, there’s a subscription box for every age and interest. From subscription boxes that get preschoolers ready for kindergarten to cool maker boxes for teens and even an NPR Wine Box for adults, I am always in awe of the diversity of subscription boxes available for all ages.
Best Subscription Boxes for All Ages
I’ve curated my best subscription boxes for toddlers and preschoolers, elementary ages, teens, and adults into a jumbo sized list to help you find a gift for someone you love that reminds them how much you care about them on a regular basis throughout the year. You can also use this guide to gently nudge someone else in the direction of a perfect present for you!
Best Subscription Boxes for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Full Moon Fairy (from $17.95)
There is something magical about childhood and I absolutely love how Full Moon Fairy is all about adding more magic to the younger years in a wholesome way. Full Moon Fairy is a children’s book and themed gift series founded by mom, Karly, who wanted to bring more mindful, magical moments to her children while imparting invaluable lessons of kindness, connection, love, and empathy toward each other and the Earth.
Each month, families are welcomed to the whimsical world of Faye the Full Moon Fairy and her cast of adorable critter friends. Their adventures are ushered by the lunar cycle and grounded by nature and time-honored values. The customizable monthly parcels, are designed to be experienced upon the full moon. Each features a beautifully written hardbound bedtime story experienced as a series that follow the Lunar Calendar. Boxes include a small, surprise interactive element, or craft, inspired by the narrative. When surprises are set up to be discovered in the morning after a full moon, the enchantment of the tales feels absolutely magical to young kids. As a mom whose kids attended a Waldorf preschool, I absolutely love how Full Moon Fairy ritual ignites the imagination, instills lasting traditions, and creates precious memories! Best for ages 3-6.
The Preschool Box from Subscription Box Kids (starting at $39/box per month with a 12 month subscription)
As a former first grade teacher, I love The Preschool Box as a way to get kids ready for kindergarten. Each month your child will get a different box that features 16 different activities and all the materials you and your child need to get started. The best part is- everything comes ready to go so no prep is needed! Monthly Parent Guides make Preschool simple– just follow along as your little one fills out their reading log, learns new skills, and gets creative with crafts.
I received Box 1 to review that was all about learning letters A-D, numbers 0-5, and colors. The enclosed Parent Guide and Activity Workbook features easy to follow instructions for each week of the month with an activity for each day. In reviewing the daily activities, the easy-to-follow instructions outlined a fun interactive learning activity that would hold any preschooler’s attention. The year’s subscription is designed so each month’s box builds on the last to create a comprehensive curriculum to help your child get ready for kindergarten. Best for ages 3-4. Get $20 off with the code EARLYSALES
HOMER Early Learning from Little Passports (from $20/month, delivered monthly)
HOMER Early Learning focuses on at-home learning for kids who love discovering through play. Each month’s box builds critical skills through games and activities that help them hone new skills in reading, early math, colors, and more. They also encourage our youngest ages to get comfortable with feelings, kindness, mindful breathing, and more. Best for ages 3-6. Get 25% off with the code STEMDAY
Panda Crate by KiwiCo Clubs (Choose Essentials, Plus, or Deluxe crates ranging in price from $50-90 and delivered every 2 months)
KiwiCo has reimagined its beloved subscription line to bring fun learning journeys that guide kids through exciting topics, helping them explore the world and build skills, while fostering curiosity, creativity, determination, and confidence. Each KiwiCo Club builds on familiar topics while exploring new interests, creating a continuous journey of discovery and skill-building. Panda Crate is designed for babies and toddlers and each box contains research-backed toys and expert advice. The Essentials Crate features 5-7 toys tailored to your child’s age and developmental stage and an in-depth grownup guide. Plus and Deluxe Crates includes everything in the Essentials Crate plus 1-2 grow-with-me toys and 1-2 play guides. The Deluxe Crate also includes a perfectly paired book with your shipment. Best for 0-36 months. Shipping is always free to addresses in the US.
Animals Wild from Little Passports (from $20/month, delivered monthly)
Animal loving kids will love this monthly box that gets them trekking through the Amazon, stomping through the Serengeti, plunging into the Pacific, wandering the woods, creeping through the Outback, following the flock, and more! Each month kids will get a delivery that features a playset full of lift-the-flap surprises and activities. By learning through play, they’ll step into the animal world with creative hands-on games and discover new creatures that will become part of a collection of 3-D animal friends. Best for ages 4-6. Get 25% off with the code STEMDAY
Sprout by by KiwiCo Clubs (starts at $24/month, delivered every month)
Designed for ages 3-5, Spout encourages independent play with a ready-to-play toy and matching build that grow with your child. Each crate builds confidence and develops new skills with an age-appropriate theme every month. I love how kids can join Kellan & friends on an adventure through the included storybook that encourages early literacy. Best for ages 3-5. Free shipping to addresses in the US.
Little Passports Early Explorers (from $20/month, delivered monthly)
This year give them a gift of adventure by teaching them about geography in an age-appropriate way each month. Every month your preschooler will get a package from Little Passports filled with fun activities, educational toys, stickers, trading cards, and learning games based on a theme like art, music, or food that teaches them about the world. For example, the Oceans package contains an educational fishing game that teaches children about different sea creatures, contains materials to conduct a salt water science experience, and a beautifully illustrated booklet filled with fun facts about each of the world’s oceans. Included stickers, trading cards, and other bonus materials in each package to make learning fun and engaging for young toddlers and preschoolers. Best for ages 3-5. Get 25% off with the code STEMDAY
Best Subscription Boxes for Elementary Ages
Lil Readers Book Club from Subscription Box Kids (starting at $39/box per month with a 12 month subscription)
The gift of reading never gets old especially with the gift of a subscription to Lil Readers Book Club. Each month your emerging reader will encounter 3 books and activities tied to a central theme.
The Lil Readers Book Club box I received for review was focused around the theme of snowmen. It included three books: Just a Snowman by Mercer Mayer, The Snowman and the Snowdog based on characters by Raymond Briggs, and Snowmen at Work, a board book by Caralyn Buehner. The enclosed Parent Guide and Activity Workbook included steps for getting familiar with books (identifying the front and back cover, title, author, illustrator, etc.), guide for discussing and identifying story elements, and discussion questions for each book. Instructions for craft activities and supplies are included in the book. As a former first grade teacher who spent years teaching students how to read, I love how themed Lil Readers Book Club boxes encourage reading comprehension while, teaching science facts and fostering math skills, problem solving strategies, reasoning skills, and more to encourage a love of reading. Best for ages 4-6. Get $20 off with the code EARLYSALES
Outside the Box Creations starting at $39/box per month with a 12 month subscription)
Give the gift of art through Outside the Box Creation, a subscription box that delivers art class in a box! Every month your elementary aged student will receive a box with a new art technique to explore along with high quality art materials to elevate their skills.
I received the Movement Art Unit box to review. It was comprised of 4 Adventures: Vocabulary and Practice, Create a Mask, Kinetic Drawing, and a Multi-Pose Portfolio Piece, plus all the materials needed to get started. Inside the box I found a watercolor paper pad, sketch pencil set, watercolor brush pens, eraser, wooden art mannequin, and a book Julia’s House Goes Home by Ben Hatke. The Activity Guide serves as the guide for each of the Adventures and includes helpful tips for parents about how to support their child’s artistic endeavors. Best for ages 6-12. There is also a QR code to access a Digital Art Room full of video tutorials and bonus resources to go along with the month’s box.
KiwiCo Labs: Science (from $24/month, delivered monthly)
Every month your young engineer will get instructions and everything they need to engineer a new build such as an archery set, motorized spin art, a pop-up pencil box, and more. They can also watch videos, earn rewards by completing projects, and more. Best for ages 6-8. Free shipping to addresses in the US.
Craft Discovery from Little Passports (from $20/month, delivered monthly)
Craft Discovery allows kids to explore world cultures through arts and crafts each month. Winter Glow Cottage, Share & Wear Valentines, Easter Egg Artist, Party Piñata, Backyard Bird Bungalow, and more are some of the monthly themes that will help kids build creative confidence while celebrating the seasons. Best for ages 5-8. Get 25% off with the code STEMDAY
Science Junior from Little Passports (from $20/month, delivered monthly)
Elementary ages who love science and are curious about how the world works will love getting their monthly shipment from Science Junior. From learning about Weddell Seals, volcanoes in Hawaii, robots, sound, and more, Science Junior keeps kids learning and exploring STEM subjects through fun hands-on activities. Best for ages 5-8. Get 25% off with the code STEMDAY
KiwiCo World (starts at $24/month, delivered every month)
Explore the world in the most fun way through monthly deliveries that immerse your elementary student in new cultures. Each box includes two STEAM projects that will immerse them in lessons in geography, cultural customs, world history, native recipes, and more while they collect a pin for each country visited. Best for ages 6-12. Free shipping to addresses in the US.
Space Quest from Little Passports (from $20/month, delivered monthly)
There’s no better way to fuel a love of space than through hands-on activities that help them investigate alien life, deep space travel, and more. Space Quest helps ages 6-8 take a cosmic journey each month thanks to boxes that are developed with astronomers and other space experts. Best for ages 6-8. Get 25% off with the code STEMDAY
World Adventures from Little Passports (from $20/month, delivered monthly)
For families trying to teach their kids geography as you raise young global citizens, Little Passports is a fun way to start because the subscription is a ticket to an exciting global adventure. Kids ages 6-10 will enjoy traveling with fictional friends, Sam and Sophia, who find a magical scooter in a garage that takes them all over the world. The first month comes in the blue Explorers’ Kit suitcase filled with a passport, wall sized map of the world, welcome letter from Sam and Sophia, stickers, photos, and activity sheets, plus access to online games through the Boarding Zone. Each month a new country is featured and kids will love collecting stickers to affix on their suitcase and in their passports. Best for ages 6-10. Get 25% off with the code STEMDAY
Kitchen Adventures from Little Passports (from $20/month, delivered monthly)
Budding chefs will love getting a monthly delivery of a new cooking challenge featuring flavors from around the world. Rome, El Paso, Punjab, Buenos Aires, Beijing, and Crete are just some of the places they’ll get to know through cooking kid-friendly recipes and activities that teach them about the culture and introduce them to new flavors. Best for ages 6-10. Get 25% off with the code STEMDAY
Best Subscription Boxes for Tweens
KiwiCo Studio (starts at $24/month, delivered every month)
Give the monthly gift of creative confidence that comes with KiwiCo Studio. Every month your innovator will learn new art techniques and real life design skills to help them create unique works of functional art. Best for ages 9-13. Free shipping to addresses in the US.
Bitsbox (starting at $16.95/month)
Hooray for a subscription box that teaches real coding! Each month Bitsbox sends a box with a mix of coding projects, ranging from simple to more advanced. Kids look through the materials and choose an app. After typing the app into the Bitsbox website, they can change it to make it their own. Bitsbox apps run on any computer, tablet, or phone with a web browser, so kids can see and share their creations. Best for ages 6-12. Tweens will enjoy being able to complete the more advanced projects independently. Get 15% off with the code STEMGIFT
KiwiCo Labs: Engineering (from $24/month, delivered monthly)
KiwiCo Labs: Engineering is the age-appropriate science-themed subscription box designed for tweens. Materials for building a delivery bot, maze arcade, animatronics studio, and more are just some of the examples of each month’s projects. Best for ages 9-11. Free shipping to addresses in the US.
Science Expeditions from Little Passports (from $20/month, delivered monthly)
Master mechanical engineering and learn about roller coaster physics, make a model elevator, combine electricity and chemistry to power a digital clock, build a working pinball machine, learn about bubble science, and more. Every month Science Expeditions will encourage tweens to learn about scientific concepts in hands-on age-appropriate ways. Best for ages 8+. Get 25% off with the code STEMDAY
Best Subscription Boxes for Teens
SketchBox ($25/month for the Basic Box, $35/month for the Premium Box)
Creatives who swoon over art supplies will love SketchBox, a monthly subscription service that provides artists with supplies and a way to showcase their work. The Premium Box makes is an ideal subscription box for tweens and teens who love to draw. While the Basic Box is more affordable, it seems like the quality and quantity of art supplies in the Premium Box is well worth the money. No recommended age but this was gifted to my daughter when she was in high school and she loved it!
KiwiCo Labs: Invention (from $24/month, delivered monthly)
Teens who love to build will love the challenge and joy of making their own trashketball set, pinball machine, printing press, and more. Each month’s Invention box serves as a hands-on laboratory for creativity that will get teens engaging in new learning that deepens their understanding of concepts taught in the classroom or teaches them something new. Best for ages 12-16.
Dear Holmes (starting at $79.99 for 3 months)
Get teens away from screens with a mystery that will appeal to their inner detective! Dear Holmes is a mail-based monthly mystery delivered straight to your door. Detectives are mailed letters and clues from a month-long mystery and tasked with using their wits and deductive reasoning skills to form a solution to the case!
Each month readers are invited to submit their solutions to the case so that Dear Holmes can choose a featured detective and highlight their work. Submissions are a great way to practice writing skills because teens will not only need to figure out who did it but identify how the crime was done and why other suspects and witnesses behaved in the way they did. This is a perfect gift for fans of the True Crime Network or True Crime Podcasts. Gift givers can download a letter to send in advance of recipients receiving their first Dear Holmes letter by mail. Best for ages 13+
Ipsy Glam Bag ($14/month)
Teens who love trying new products will never get tired of getting their Ipsy subscriptionin the mail! Ipsy subscribers start by filling out a profile to help match your skin color, makeup style, and more to the deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products that come in your monthly Glam Bag. Glam Bags are perfectly sized zippered cosmetic pouches featuring a different design each month. It’s a perfect subscription for YouTube makeup loving tutorial tweens and teens who live their lives in the beauty aisle, especially since it’s nicely priced at $14/month. Each month’s bag is automatically charged to your credit card but you can cancel at any time.
Best Subscription Boxes for Grownups
What do you get the adult who has everything? A subscription box that matches their interests, desires, and makes them smile. Here are a few favorites that I’m always happy to find at my doorstep.
Persnickety Box ($19.99/month for 30 photos)
An analog process for digital moments? Yes! Inspired by the Tinder swipe, Persnickety Box is a new way to scrapbook! Persnickety Box takes your favorite photos from your digital camera or Google Photos and provides 30 quality 4” x 4” luster prints in an eco-friendly keepsake story box delivered to your doorstep. All photos are converted from a digital image and processed like film in a dark room, embedding the image into silver halide paper (no ink!) that is fade, scratch, and water-resistant, lasting 100+ years. With each photo box you can add an album, journal, or acrylic frame. Persnickety Box is as a single box ($19.99/month for 30 photos) or annual subscription ($199/year which is essentially like buying 10 months and getting 2 months free). This is a great subscription for anyone whose camera roll is overloaded and would like to print a new set of photos each month.
NPR Wine Club (12 wines + a 3 bottle bonus for $84.99)
Just as NPR keeps you well-informed on current affairs, the experts at Laithwaites will let NPR Wine Club members know what’s happening in the wine world. Since NPR listeners appreciate depth and diversity, Laithwaites will introduce you to wines and characters from many different countries – a fascinating range of styles with a strong emphasis on personality and value. Tasting notes with every club case will provide the background story of each selection, as well as useful serving advice. In addition to the delicious dozen, you’ll uncork three NPR‐themed wines: Weekend Edition Cabernet, Consider This Sauvignon Blanc and Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! Zinfandel as a wine club member. Members pay an annual fee and then every case ships for free. These NPR themed wine charms ($14) would make a wonderful addition to this gift!
Recipes by Mail ($42 for a 6 month subscription or $78/year)
Offered by Uncommon Goods, Recipes by Mail includes favorite dishes the most well-known figures in history put in writing. This fascinating subscription series delivers detailed replicas of real handwritten recipes from renowned names like George Washington, Emily Dickinson, and Rosa Parks. Each month, your giftee will receive a historical document replicated on high-quality paper with painstaking accuracy and attention to detail. Each vegetarian recipe comes with context pages that share the writer’s history and the story behind the recipe. A great subscription to give foodies who love history!
Carnivore Club Classic Box ($59.99/month with monthly, every other month, or every 3 month options)
There’s no better gift for meat lovers than Carnivore Club’s Classic Box. This subscription box features 4-6 premium cured meats, including exclusive access to salamis, prosciuttos, bacon, and more you won’t find in your local grocery store. Choose a single month delivery or subscription options for a box to arrive at their doorstep every other month or quarterly.
National Park History by Mail ($42 for 6 months)
For the outdoor lover, natural park enthusiast, and history buff, this subscription provides backstories about America’s national parks from some of our country’s most renowned naturalists, politicians, and artists. Offered by Uncommon Goods, this captivating subscription series delivers detailed replicas of real sketches, field notes, letters, and photos from some of the legendary figures—including Ansel Adams and Theodore Roosevelt—whose names are forever linked with the history of our national parks. Each of the 6 months of the subscription the recipient will receive Each month, your giftee will receive meticulous (and display-worthy) reproductions of real historical documents related to one or more of our national parks. Context pages provide fascinating insight into the materials and park history.
BroadwayHD ($19.99/month or $149.99/year, normally $199/year)
Featured on my site (BroadwayHD Streams Award-Winning Theater to Your Living Room) BroadwayHD is a great family gift for parents and kids of all ages to enjoy. BroadwayHD is the premiere streaming service for live award-winning theater from across the globe. Fans can expect to see classics like The Sound of Music and Peter Pan, spellbinding productions like Cirque du Soleil: Toruk – The First Flight, the full works of Shakespeare, and a selection of the world’s greatest musicals including Kinky Boots, 42nd Street, The King and I, and An American in Paris and more in the comfort of your own home. Classic and modern productions ensure there’s no shortage of content available for a memorable family entertainment night. Verticals such as Most Popular, Musicals, Drama, Comedy, Concerts, Romance, Award Winners, Foreign Theater, BBC, Education, and more make it easy to sort through the wealth of content available quickly so you can watch on your computer, mobile device, Apple TV, Roku, or through Chromecast.
RawSpiceBar ($15/month or 3, 6, and 12 month subscriptions are available starting at $42.99 for 3 months)
For those who love to cook, there’s nothing better than the arrival of new, fresh spices to your doorstep every month. RawSpiceBar’s spice of the month club provides 2 salt-free, freshly ground spices, shipped monthly (or 6 spices, shipped quarterly), with plenty of recipes for all diets.
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES
Below is the entire list of what you can look forward to this year. These links will go live as guides are published so bookmark or pin this post now so you can come back to it as you do your holiday shopping since I’ll be updating it often!
- Favorite Advent Calendars for All Ages
- Best STEM Gifts for All Ages (preK-teen)
- Best Gifts College Students (inspired by my own college students!)
- Best Subscriptions Boxes for All Ages
- Best Hostess Gifts
- Gifts the Best Dogs and the People Who Love Them (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)
- Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers
- Favorite Ways to Teach Kids to Give Back
- Best Gifts for Teachers
FAVORITE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES FROM LAST YEAR
In case you wanted to start making your shopping lists now, here’s a look at last year’s gift guides that are full of great ideas:
- Toddlers & Preschoolers
- Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2)
- Tweens (ages 9-12)
- Teens (ages 13+)
- College Students
- Best STEM Gifts for Kids
- Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers
- Gifts for Teachers
- Gifts for People Who Love Their Dogs (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)
- Best Age-Appropriate Advent Calendars for Kids
- Best Subscription Boxes for All Ages
- Fair Trade Holiday Gifts
- Best Gifts for Unplugged Fun
- Gifts for Outdoor Adventures
- Gifts for Gadget Lovers
- Gifts that Give Back
- 9 Gifts that Make it Easy for Families to Give Back
Note to PR: I am happy to accept items for review to consider for specialty guides which will publish through December. Please be specific about the products you’d like me to consider reviewing in your pitch and if you’re able to offer a reader giveaway. Giveaway items will be directly shipped to readers upon conclusion of the giveaway. Thanks for understanding I’m on a short deadline to publish gift guides and do not have the bandwidth to return samples during this extremely busy time of the year or send links once posts are live.
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