Hey busy momma, need a break?
We understand that all too well. It can be exhausting being the primary caretaker, the chef, chauffeur and the entertainer (among other things). Outsourcing some of these activities is crucial to keeping our sanity, and also creating engaging and fun environments for our little ones. I
f you struggle with thinking up fun and educational activities for your little ones, or want to get them toys that challenge their minds more (plus- less clutter), you may want to consider outsourcing to educators and child development professionals who create kid-focused activities and a Montessori toy subscription box. But seriously, it might be your sanity saver…
Today we’re going to compare two kids’ educational activity subscription boxes: KiwiCo vs Lovevery. The difference between KiwiCo and Lovevery is that KiwiCo has crate options for children of ALL ages (literally up to 100 years old). Lovevery play kits, on the other hand, focuses only on ages 0-4 years old.
How Do They Work
Here’s a basic rundown of these amazing companies, and how their subscriptions work.
KiwiCo
The KiwiCo Crate is a monthly subscription that delivers Montessori-inspired toys or projects designed to engage your child’s creativity and encourage future innovation. This subscription isn’t only geared toward young children, but children of all ages! It’s perfect for parents who want to provide fun and enriching activities for their child to do while also teaching them how to practice their problem-solving skills and encouraging a lifetime of curiosity and learning. It’s also a great way to spend dedicated time with your child to improve bonding.
Getting started with KiwiCo is simple. You’ll head to their website and “get a crate.” You’ll then answer a series of questions about your child’s age and interests so that KiwiCo can recommend the best crate to start with. The crates are based on age and various interests. You can also have your crate addressed directly to your child, making it more exciting for them to receive it every month.
Once you’ve chosen the crate you want, you’ll select a subscription type that works best for you and your budget. You can also upgrade to the deluxe subscription for an added book in each crate. The books will be relevant to the monthly theme.
*Subscriptions auto-renew, but KiwiCo does have options for one-time purchases, and non auto-renewing subscriptions for their Crates.
If you decide to switch to a different crate, you can do so easily in your account. Here are a list of the different Kiwico crates, themes, and age ranges that KiwiCo crates offer:
|
CRATES |
AGE RANGE |
PRICE |
|---|---|---|
|
KiwiCo Panda Crate |
0-24 months |
$43.90 (ships every 2 months) |
|
KiwiCo Koala Crate |
2-4 years old |
$23.95 (monthly) |
|
KiwiCo Kiwi Crate |
5-8 years old |
$23.95 (monthly) |
|
KiwiCo Atlas Crate |
6-11 years old |
$23.95 (monthly) |
|
KiwiCo Yummy Crate |
6-14 years old |
$23.95 (monthly) |
|
KiwiCo Tinker Crate |
9-14 years old |
$23.95 (monthly) |
|
KiwiCo Doodle Crate |
9-16 years old |
$23.95 (monthly) |
|
KiwiCo Eureka Crate |
12-100 years old |
$32.95 (monthly) |
|
KiwiCo Maker Crate |
14-100 years old |
$32.95 (monthly) |
Lovevery
The Lovevery play kit is a subscription box focused on creating high-quality toys and activities for babies and toddlers ages 0-4. These toddler play kits are created by child development professionals that focus on each stage of a child’s development, and the activity guide is also great for you and your baby to learn together. They are tested against rigorous safety standards, and can stand up to the normal wear and tear of child play.
To get started with a subscription, you’ll head to Lovevery’s website and click “The Play Kits” in the top left navigation bar. That’ll take you to a page telling you all about the different play kits and child development stages. You can sign up for a subscription here and you will input your child’s basic info. Based on your child’s age, Lovevery will recommend the play kit to start with and the cost it’ll be to start your subscription. The price may seem steep, but remember that this play kit will last for months, and the subscription doesn’t ship monthly. Play kits for 0-12 month-olds ship every 2 months, and play kits for 13 months + ship out every 3 months. These play kits are packed with more toys and activities that’ll keep your child’s attention for a longer period of time. No need to clutter your home with toys!
Once you purchase your play kit, and start your subscription, you’ll be put on a play kit schedule and will be sent new play kits for each developmental age up to the age of 4, or until you cancel your subscription. Canceling is simple, you go to your account, and then click manage subscription. From there you can either skip your upcoming play kit, or cancel. You have 3 days before your next kit ships to do this, and if you cancel a prepaid plan, then you’ll be reimbursed for any play kits that you didn’t receive.
Lovevery also offers items that are related to a subscription. For example, you can purchase the Play Gym which is good for the entire first year of your child’s brain development. The Play Gym also compliments the bi-monthly play kits your child will receive from 0-12 months. Another customization you can make to your monthly play kit subscription is adding on age-appropriate books for an extra $18 per play kit. You can also purchase a Montessori Play Shelf, block sets and other fun toys for your little one to enjoy.
|
Play Kits |
Description |
Subscription Price |
Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
|
0-12 Months (6 Play Kits) |
Playthings that build neural connections and connections with you. |
$80 per Play Kit |
Delivered every 2 months |
|
Year 1 (4 Play Kits) |
Supports your 1 year old natural curiosity and encourages exploration. |
$120 per Play Kit |
Delivered every 3 months |
|
Year 2 (4 Play Kits) |
Encourages your toddlers independence and gives them early STEM lessons. |
$120 per Play Kit |
Delivered every 3 months. |
|
Year 3 (4 Play Kits) |
Explores more sophisticated concepts during the “year of self.” |
$120 per Play Kit |
Delivered every 3 months |
KiwiCo vs Lovevery Pros & Cons
Here are the pros and cons…
KiwiCo
|
PROS |
CONS |
|---|---|
|
Crate options for all ages (literally up to 100 years old) |
Some of the activities could be a little messy, but what’s being a kid without a little mess? |
|
Fun and creative activities created by educators and child development professionals. |
Some activities may need parental guidance as they could be frustrating. |
|
All the materials and instructions are provided. | |
|
Great family activity | |
|
Decent price point. |
Lovevery
|
PROS |
CONS |
|---|---|
|
Child-safe toys that will LAST. |
Wait 2-3 months for the next box. |
|
Easy cancellations and you can skip Play Kits. |
Feels a lot pricier, but you are paying for multiple months so it balances out. |
|
Free shipping |
Only offers activities and toys up to the age of 4 years old. |
|
Created by child development professionals for age-appropriate toys and activities. | |
|
Reduce toy clutter in your home with these Monti kids toys. |
How Much Do They Cost
Here’s the cost breakdown for these two subscription boxes.
KiwiCo
A monthly subscription for a KiwiCo crate varies depending on the crate you get. The Koala, Atlas, Yummy, Doodle and Tinker crates all cost $23.95 per month. The Maker crate and Eureka crates are $32.95 a month, and the KiwiCo Panda Crate is $43.90 per crate, and is shipped every two months.
There are subscription packages you can also choose from to save money per crate. You can pay for a multi month subscription (3, 6, or 12) reducing the cost of each crate. Shipping is free to the US only.
KiwiCo also has a Deluxe Subscription option that you can sign up for at checkout. This is an additional cost of $10.95 per month and will include a book in your child’s monthly crate. The book will be curated to go along with the crate’s theme.
Lovevery
Lovevery may seem like it costs more upfront, but in reality, your subscription is not renewing monthly but every 2-3 months.
For 0-12 month Play Kits, you’ll be paying $80 per kit that comes every 2 months. For years 1, 2 and 3 you’ll pay $120 per play kit that ships every 3 months. So really that’s about $40 per month for the subscription. Not bad! You also have options to prepay for the Play Kits, which will save you some money. Lovevery offers prepays for 3 Kits, and 4 Kits.
Adding on books to your subscription is an extra $18.
What do you get?
Both of these subscriptions send you engaging toys and activities to encourage your child’s brain development.
KiwiCo
Depending on the crate you sign up for, you’ll receive a variety of themes and different activities/ toys for various age ranges.
For the KiwiCo Panda Crate, you can expect a lot of age-appropriate toys and stimulating activities to introduce your new baby to the world around them. That’s also why this crate comes bi-monthly because they focus on 5 different age ranges which are: 0-2 months, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 13-18 months, and 19-24 months.
As for all the other crates, you can expect 1-2 larger projects/activities or 2-3 smaller projects/activities every month. These projects will be based on the crates’ monthly theme and will come with all of the materials and instructions. Educators and child development professionals think up age-appropriate ideas for these crates, and then they go through a rigorous testing and refining process before it hits your doorstep.
The Yummy Crate will include 3 easy recipes, and a cooking tool as well as 2 other STEAM activities. The Doodle Crate will have a craft project with all the tools and materials included.
Lovevery
Your Lovevery Kits will come with quality Montessori-inspired toys and activities for your child based on their developmental stage. The reason that the Kits start to ship monthly after year 1 is because they are full of more activities and toys that will last and keep their interest longer. You can also add books to your Play Kits if you’d like.
Final Thoughts
Both of these kids-focused subscription boxes seem amazing! One is more focused on activities, and the other on Montessori-inspired toys. One caters to children of all ages, the other to the very crucial developmental years of 0-4. The prices per month are comparable, but KiwiCo is less expensive than Lovevery. If you’re looking for a way to provide educational activities and toys for your children without going crazy, then you’ve found it. Even though we’re mommas, we’re also human and can’t do it all. Outsource!
In the Lovevery vs KiwiCo comparison, we’ve decided we like KiwiCo better because the price point is more accessible to a wider range of families, and it has options for children of all ages, specifically those over the age of 4 years old. We also like that it has engaging activities that will challenge the mind of your child, and create opportunities for bonding time with you as you help guide them. Both are great child subscription options, and we’re sure you’ll be happy with either.
