The Upshot

KiwiCo, the company behind all-in-one boxes like the Doodle and Tinker crate, makes great STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) products for kids…and dads.

They consist of a shoebox-sized package filled with everything a kid needs to create something fun. These projects range from arts and crafts to science and technology, and we love them. 

Inside, the materials and instructions to construct a Tie-Dye Bag or Wooden Crane are all included. Helpfully, parents can select which line of Kiwi crate they want using age range and interest filters. Lastly, there is the option to setup automatic monthly shipments.

Let’s say you Google “crafts for kids” and find Pinterest images with ridiculously perfect “DIY” crafts.

Then you scratch your head and wonder how you missed the Becoming Martha Stewart class in college. If you’re this category of dad (such as myself), KiwiCo projects are for you.

The kits are well built, the kids get excited to work on them and it will keep them engaged for hours, not minutes.

Perhaps most importantly, KiwiCo strives to foster critical thinking and build confidence in kids. In this KiwiCo review, we’ll discuss the Doodle and Tinker crate specifically.

Jump to full KiwiCo review…

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The Full KiwiCo Review

Is KiwiCo worth the money? What comes in the Kiwi crate? Is it possible to eat an entire box of kiwis before they go bad? While we can’t answer that last question, we CAN speak to the other two! Let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of Kiwi crates.

*Before we get started, it’s worth noting that KiwiCo is the name of the company that produces a variety of themed “crates” as they call the all-in-one project boxes. Originally, they sold just Kiwi Crates but have since expanded to include the Tinker crate, Doodle crate and others. In the interest of word variety, we’ll be using KiwiCo and Kiwi interchangeably here. 

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KiwiCo Features

Age and Interest Based Crates

While we have personally used the Doodle Crate and Tinker Crates, a full KiwiCo review would be incomplete without explaining the breadth of what they offer.

Here is a brief rundown on the different crates:

• Panda Crate – 0-24 months; Explore and Discover
• Koala Crate – 2-4 years; Play and Learn
• Kiwi Crate – 5-8 years; Science, Art and More
• Atlas Crate – 6-11 years; Geography and Culture
• Doodle Crate – 9-16+ years; Create and Craft
• Tinker Crate – 9-16+ years; Science and Engineering
• Maker Crate – 14-104 years; Art and Design
• Eureka Crate – 14-104 years; Engineering and Design

All-In-One Packaging

Everyone likes receiving packages in the mail, especially your kids. To that end, the KiwiCo line of crates are shipped in a package the size of a small shoebox, featuring graphics printed on the exterior aligned with the crate theme. Now, on to what comes in the Kiwi crate.

When you open it up, all the materials your kiddo needs to create the project are included. Except things like screwdrivers and scissors. So, you don’t need to run to Michael’s or Home Depot five times in the same day to get that “one last thing” to finish the project. And as all dads can attest, this alone is worth the price of admission.

Not only are all the components of the KiwiCo project included, sometimes the box – or crate – itself is part of the project. For example, one of the Kiwi Doodle crates my kids’ put together was a Spin Art creation. In this case, the spinning action used the crate as a base. 

Blueprint and TinkerZine

Along with the aforementioned project components, all Kiwi crates come with an in-depth, illustrated blueprint detailing how to put it together. Folding out to size HUGE, with easy to read instructions and drawings, makes it easy for your kid to walk through the process.

Plus, the large format directions make it possible for more than one child to work on it at the same time. Reduced sibling squabbling is an underrated benefit of a Kiwi subscription.

Reduced sibling squabbling is an underrated benefit of a Kiwi subscription.

The TinkerZine supplemental magazine is a thoughtful and useful extra touch from KiwiCo. Designed to reflect the theme of a given crate, TinkerZine is laden with inspirational ideas, stories, fun facts, links to video content and a host of other fun activities. 

Monthly Auto-Ship

While KiwiCo offers all manner of trial periods and no-nonsense canceling protocols to ease concerns over constant shipments, you’ll likely find that the Kiwi subscription model of monthly auto-shipment is worth every penny. Why?

Because you’ll struggle to find something for your kids to do – when “I’m bored” rears its irritating head – that costs $16.95. Moreover, one month between projects hits that Goldilocks timeline straddling Not Done With The Last One and Are We Still Getting Kiwi Crates?

For the dads that spend time strategizing (some might say conniving) how you’ll balance keeping the kids entertained with you getting anything-at-all-done-ever, here’s a KiwiCo tip not listed on their Knowledge Base. To begin, it’s critical you get a hold of the Kiwi crate before junior(s) see it.

Then, squirrel it away from tiny prying eyes. When your little ones ring the Bored Bell, come to the rescue with a ready-to-go box o’ fun! Of course, as they get older, they may question your intentions. So just bribe them with a plate of Oreos and move along.

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Things We Like About KiwiCo Projects

All Ages Welcome

Considering the age range runs from 0 to 104 years, it’s safe to say KiwiCo has an age appropriate crate for everyone.

While we have not used every type of crate offered, based on what we’ve seen from the Tinker Crate and Doodle crate, we’re very comfortable recommending any of the other crate lineups on offer. 

Flexibility of Crate Theme

As they’re geared towards kids, it’s nice to have the ability to change your crate style, as said kids get older. Along with that, if you want to switch from say, Tinker Crate to Doodle Crate, mid-stream, it’s an easy change in your online account. 

Eco-Friendlier Fun

Something that drives me nuts about most kid stuff is the insane amount of packaging used. Typically, there’s loads of non-recyclable material resulting in piles of trash.

With KiwiCo, the cardboard shipping container is also the crate, which cuts down on the waste out of the gate. In addition, in some versions, that container is part of the project giving it a longer shelf life.

Quality Materials

Though a typical Tinker or Doodle crate uses paper and lightweight plastic material, they have a substantial, quality feel. For instance, the Walking Robot uses heavy enough paperboard that it won’t collapse the first, second and third time your kid walks it off the table.

After the kit is complete, you can expect the end result to last for ongoing use, which is pretty awesome. 

KiwiCo Gift? Yes Please.

Kiwi crates are a solid go-to answer for “What does the little lady want for her berfday?” For one thing, she will be stoked to start receiving packages with her name on them.

Plus, the stuff inside is cool. On top of that, the Gift-Giver AKA Grandma and Grandpa are appreciated and don’t have to wrap anything. And most importantly, I mean LASTLY, the Parentals don’t have to do shi…er, a thing! It’s a win…cubed.

The Elusive Goldilocks Timeframe

Pop quiz nerd. What’s worse? A toy that your kid plays with for 3.2 seconds before total destruction? Or one with 11,000 parts the size of a fingernail clipping?

The kind that never gets finished because 10,973 of those parts are lost in an explosion of sadness as your child rips open the packaging. The answer is All Of The Above. So, a thank you to KiwiCo for hitting the Goldilocks Window of Kid Time with their crates.

The projects we’ve worked on take around 2-3 hours of work in total. Now, my small children are not sitting in one spot for 3 hours to build a Felt Succulent Garden.

Which is where the cardboard crate comes in so handy. Just pile it all back in to finish later! This is ideal for building your “strategic” list of things to do when Boredom strikes.

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Things We Would Change About KiwiCo Projects

Reduce the Plastic

It’s hard to find much we don’t like about the Kiwi subscription but we think there’s room to make them more Earth friendly. Often, there are small pieces within the crate that have their own plastic pouch.

Why not use a paper pouch instead? It could be a coated or lined paper for more durability. Since it’s already protected inside a heavy-duty cardboard box, maybe KiwiCo could develop a recycling-friendly pouch to reduce the plastic waste.

How Much Does a Kiwi Crate Cost?

You can buy a Kiwi subscription on an auto-renewing subscription basis, a non-renewing term basis or one-at-a-time via their online store. Here is the breakdown for each approach:

KiwiCo Crate Auto-Renew Subscription

• Monthly: $19.95
• 3 Months: $19.95
• 6 Months: $18.50
• 12 Months: $16.95

This Kiwi subscription puts a crate in your mailbox every month and the more months you sign up for, the cheaper each crate is. Keep in mind, you do pay for the entire period up front and at the end of the term, the subscription auto-renews.

While you can cancel the auto-renewal, you cannot cancel the subscription in the middle of the prepaid term. Also, note that the Panda, Maker and Eureka crates cost more.

KiwiCo Crate Termed Subscription

• Monthly: $24.95
• 3 Months: $60
• 6 Months: $110
• 12 Months: $205

You can see the termed pricing is very close to the auto-renew costs. So the only real difference here is that the termed model does not renew. However, if you’re on the auto-renew plan, you can always cancel it before the renewal.

In addition, the upfront payment, cancellation policy and cost differences are the same as with the automatic renewal plan. With that in mind, I’m not sure why KiwiCo offers it both ways but that’s above my pay grade.

On either of these subscription plans, you have the option to switch between Kiwi crate lines or choose a rotating option to alternate between paired themes. As well, you can elect to pause the subscription for a month if you need a break. 

KiwiCo Online Store

The KiwiCo online store is a great way to get a feel for the Kiwi crate projects without committing to a subscription. The prices range widely, like $11.95 for Volcano Slime to the Fire Lab for $34.95, but you can pick and choose, as you like. 

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Who Is KiwiCo?

Sandra Oh Lin, the CEO, a chemical engineer and mother of three, founded KiwiCo. She was looking to celebrate kids’ natural curiosity and creativity while helping parents who want to cultivate this.

Working with a team of designers, educators and engineers, they spend over 1000 hours on development of each crate. They also “employ” a small army of kids to test new ideas before they’re put into production. To date, KiwiCo has designed 1500 projects and won a wide array of awards from the likes of Parent’s Choice and Dr. Toy.

KiwiCo Alternatives

While I’ve never used these Kiwi crate alternatives, so cannot speak to their quality, they all sounded interesting and covered some additional interests.

• Little Passports – geography and foreign culture
• Raddish – cooking
• BitsBox – coding

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Final Notes on our KiwiCo Review

KiwiCo and their fun crates have been nothing but awesome from day one, in our household. Funnily enough, we started with the Tinker crate thanks to a gift from my mom to my 9-year-old daughter.

While she was mildly interested, her 8-year-old brother quickly took over and started building robots and electrical experiments with ease. Best part? No whining from his sister! So, my mom started a Doodle crate subscription for my daughter and now we have plenty to go around! 

I would highly recommend a KiwiCo subscription to anyone.

Where To Buy Kiwi Crates

Visit the KiwiCo website to get started.