Tinker Crate - Is it worth it?

Over the recent years, science, technology, engineering, and math have led the career boards and every day, more and more people are transitioning into STEM education and Tech. Kids are not left out of this rapid development, as several programs and activities are available for them to kickstart their STEM journey early.

The Tinker Crate, for instance, offers kids the best opportunity to learn Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in a fun and engaging way. Tinker Crate is designed for kids from the ages of 9 and above to explore the fields of STEM and acquire the skills and expertise needed for them to thrive in their chosen tech careers. Tinker Crate is an infamous monthly subscription that has been tested and is trusted to help kids emerge as problem solvers, awesome Techstars, and skilled individuals.

In this article, I will be giving an honest review of the Tinker Crate subscription boxes for kids from my lens and from the lens of other parents who have used it with their children. You will also learn about the different types of Tinker kiwi crates by age; their pricing, advantages, and disadvantages of using Tinker Crate for kids.

Overview of Tinker Crates for Kids

Tinker Crates are monthly themed subscription boxes for kids to get started in STEM. The crates are available to all kinds of learners, including younger kids and complete beginners. Kids can engage in various simple, fun, and engaging projects that sharpen their curiosity and build their skills over time.

In her speech, Sandra, the founder, and CEO of Tinker Crate mentioned that the purpose of the Tinker Crates for kids is to “inspire kids to see themselves as creators and makers, not just consumers”. This has proven that the crates, beyond serving as a platform for learning for kids, also build intuition and critical problem-solving skills in kids. Tinker crates are necessary tools to help young kids become great innovators who can think and proffer solutions to problems.

All About Tinker Crate by KiwiCo

Tinker Crate by KiwiCo creates numerous possibilities for kids to explore the world of programming, engineering, math, science, and technology. The idea behind Tinker Crates is to equip kids with technical, soft, and hard skills through hands-on projects. Tinker Crate is one of KiwiCo’s amazing monthly subscription boxes for kids of all ages, to set the foundation for them to get started in robotics, science, engineering, math, and arts, through multiple hands on projects.

Through monthly subscriptions, kids can learn to explore multiple STEM projects to build them into great innovators and creative thinkers. Kids can have ultimate fun with their friends and family, while steadily acquiring knowledge. The monthly crates come in different “surprise” themes, so kids are left to guess and eagerly anticipate what the next Tinker project would be.

The Tinker Crates help to develop critical thinking in kids, as the projects challenge them to think hard and smartly to solve the puzzles. Older kids can also work independently with little guidance from parents. This sharpens their problem solving, creative, and critical thinking skills.

Tinker Crate Honest Review

In case you have been wondering if the Tinker Crates are worth the investment, then this review will put you through all you need to know before you purchase it.

Design

Tinker Crates is a subscription based kit designed fashionably and equipped with several tools and guides to create a particular project. Every month comes with its unique themed design to create a different project. Each Tinker Crate has an instructional guide designed with pictures and pointers to explain the process of completing the project.

Project Variations

Just as mentioned earlier, Tinker Crate is dynamic. It contains numerous project variations spread out over your subscribed month. Every month, KiwiCo delivers a project with a unique theme. Some of Tinker Crate’s project variations include a Trebuchet, a walking robot, and paper circuits, among others.

Durability

Tinker Crates are highly durable and can be used for a long time. The pieces are designed with plywood, which is very strong. Tinker crate is a high-quality kit that doesn’t wear out easily. In addition, KiwiCo offers a replacement for a lost/damaged piece or the entire crate

Personalizing the Crates

Another incredible thing about the Tinker crates is that they can be personalized for your little engineers. You can choose from the subscription options available, and you can also customize your preference according to age, type, pricing, etc.

What’s Included in the Crate

The crates differ, depending on the project. However, certain things are consistent in every Tinker crate. They include the following

Building materials
Tinker Zine (science activities for kids)
Instructional manual
Step-by-step pictorial guide
Puzzles

Kiwi Crates by Age

KiwiCo is an incredible monthly subscription box designed for kids of all ages to explore the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. For better effectiveness and ease of access, KiwiCo crates are distributed across specific ages.

Panda Crate

Designed for little kids between the ages of 0 and 24 months, the Panda crate contains all your toddler needs to know about counting numbers. Items in the box include 10 element counting cards, wooden shape puzzles, stacking cups numbered 1-10, a board book about counting from 1-10, and a maintenance guide for all toys.

The Panda crate is useful for developing math and cognitive skills in younger children.

Koala Crate

Koala crate is targeted towards younger children aged 2-4. It involves learn-by-doing, where kids get to engage in active fun activities while learning. Koala Crates expose kids to the concept of STEM through amazing science projects.

Kiwi Crate

Also for younger kids, Kiwi Crate is designed to introduce kids between the ages of 5-9 to STEM. The crate is equipped with quality materials to ace kids’ progress through hands-on projects

Atlas Crate

With a focus on geography and culture, Atlas Crate helps kids aged 6-11 to explore the fields of geography, culture, science, technology, engineering, etc., through multiple projects.

Doodle Crate

Doodle Crate is designed for older kids aged 9-16 to learn the fundamentals of STEM through awesome DIY-themed projects, like handmade soap, self-sufficient garden, etc.

Eureka Crate

Also for older kids, Eureka Crate gives learners an insight into the fields of engineering and design. It is best recommended for students who love engineering, architecture, creativity, and construction.

Tinker Crate Subscription Box Overview

Just as with other KiwiCo products, the Tinker Crate subscription box includes multiple themed projects that span several months, depending on your subscription. Each box includes a STEM project, tools, and materials to complete the project, instructional guides, and handbooks to complete the project.

Examples of Tinker Crates

Examples of Tinker crates include

Drift Motorcycle
Coin-eating robot
Trebuchet
Wooden Automation
Walking Robot
Paper circuits

Things to Love About Tinker Crate

There are so many things to love about Tinker Crate. First, Tinker Crate is affordable and worth the price! The materials are designed with plywood which makes them very durable. In addition, Tinker Crates encourage learn by doing through real-world projects with immediate results.

Also, the crates spam across a year subscription, so your kids enjoy surprise new themes and extensively explore the fields of STEM for up to a year. Parents also have the option of subscribing monthly or customizing their subscriptions as they wish. The plan is also flexible, so you can cancel or switch crates whenever you want.

Things to Not Like About Tinker Crate

The Tinker Crate is all-round amazing and full of quality stuff for kids to learn STEM. Truly, there is nothing not to like about the Tinker crates. If you are in doubt, you can browse through their website and purchase one at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ages are Tinker Crates for?

The Tinker crates are specifically designed for kids aged 9 years and above.

What is the average price of a Tinker Crate?

Tinker Crates differ in price, depending on your subscription and type. However, the average price of a tinker crate is $19.95/month. You can also save more with longer subscriptions.

What are Kiwi Crates worth?

You can get any KiwiCo crates for lower than $50/month. Kiwi crates are many, and the price is dependent on the crate.

Final Thoughts On KiwiCo Tinker Crate

For kids, STEM education should be fun, engaging, and simple to learn. With KiwiCo Tinker crates, kids do not have to worry about reading long boring texts or cramming formulas. Tinker Crate is all about learning by doing, and it serves as the perfect learning ground for kids in Tech.

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