Whether you have a budding artist or a STEM enthusiast, these toy subscription boxes will be sure to delight.

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Science project with mom — AleksandarNakic / Getty Images

There aren't a lot of shortcuts in parenting, but when it comes to playtime, there’s at least one hack that can help keep things simpler: using a toy subscription service. Toy subscription boxes take the guesswork out of keeping your playroom stocked with toys, games, and activities that are age-appropriate, engaging, and (often) aesthetically appealing. “Play is essential for a child’s growth and development,” says Astra Academy-certified Play Expert Tammy Clower, adding that “quality toys enhance that play.” Some also teach children important skills through play or interactive activities. For example, some subscriptions will foster early literacy skills, while other boxes focus on encouraging interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—also known as STEM topics.

The best toy subscription boxes are those that include items that appeal to kids in the advertised age range, are high-quality and durable, and feel like a good value to parents and caregivers. Bonus points if they’ve been curated by a child development expert. We researched more than 40 toy subscription companies and tested several subscriptions ourselves, considering factors such as price, design, delivery cadence, and age ranges. Read on to discover which toy subscription box is the perfect fit for your family.

For Babies and Toddlers: Lovevery

Lovevery

Key Specs

Price: $80-$120 per kit
Delivery Cadence: Every 2–3 months
Plans Available: 1 subscription
Ages Served: 0-5

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It

If you’re starting fresh and planning to stock your playroom over time as your child grows, Lovevery is the kit for you. Stocked with toys, books, and other activities that have been inspired by Montessori, a type of preschool program, this subscription help your child learn, develop new skills, and explore their world.

We tested this subscription with two kids—for one month with a 30-month-old, and with another child from his ninth month through his fourth birthday—and we can honestly say that we were impressed with how high-quality the toys were. Most were made of wood or other sustainable materials, though you will receive some plastic toys (or toys that contain some plastic) over the life of your subscription. Still, these toys held up even when our kids played roughly with them.

We also loved that the toys were carefully curated by experts to match your child’s developmental stage and included enough items so you truly won’t have to buy any other toys to give your baby or toddler a complete playroom. We also found in our testing that several of the toys became instant favorites that the kids played with over and over. For example, the toddler who received kits for several years loved the Number Sense Nature Counters from the Problem Solver Play Kit. He insisted we bring this “number game” with us on our trips to see family so he could work on his counting skills.

Lovevery kits ship every two months through the first year of life, and then every three months after that. Each kit contains around eight toys that your child will likely love—and that are of high enough quality that you’ll be able to pass them down to any future siblings.

Five years of toys

Since we began testing this subscription, Lovevery has twice expanded the ages it serves, so you can also rest assured that you’ll get toys from birth to age 5.

As far as drawbacks go, Lovevery play kits do have a higher price tag than some other toy subscription boxes, and they’re delivered every couple of months (versus every month, like many competitors).

Still, kits that come every other month cost $80, and kits that come every three months cost $120—making the monthly cost around $40 either way. You can also gift Lovevery boxes, starting at $80 per play kit.

And if you’d like to get some of the Lovevery experience without a subscription, you can get engaging and high-quality toys—like the Block Set and the Music Set—and other items through the company’s shop. (Personally, we’ve had our eye on the Montessori Placemat & Utensils.)

To learn more, read our full Lovevery review.

For Ages 4-7: KiwiCo

Key Specs

Price: $24-$44 per crate
Delivery Cadence: Monthly or bimonthly
Plans Available: 9 crates
Ages Served: 0-100

Pros & Cons

Kits require parental support
Projects are hand-made and some lack durability
Cannot customize boxes for younger kids

Why We Chose It

KiwiCo is a popular toy subscription service that offers boxes (“crates”) full of hands-on activities and toys that will keep kids of all ages busy and happy as they explore new themes with art, science, and craft projects. It has options for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, older kids, and teenagers (which adults can also purchase for their own use). While all KiwiCo crates are interesting and offer quality products, their boxes for kids aged 4 to 7 stand out from the crowd. We tried it out with two preschoolers and a tween and were pleasantly surprised by how engaged the kids were.

As little ones grow out of toddlerhood and develop more dexterity—and a desire for more challenging projects and multi-use toys—KiwiCo steps up to offer just what they need. Each crate contains projects related to STEAM (that’s STEM, plus art) topics, an instruction booklet, and a magazine that shares information about topics that kids in this age range are interested in.

KiwiCo projects are unique because they are designed to be used as toys after completion, rather than simply stuck on a shelf or hung on the fridge. So not only do kids have fun building and creating, they end up with a new toy, like an arcade claw machine or a special kite, to play with and enjoy until their next crate arrives. (Or until a sibling accidentally steps on it. Ask us how we know.)

Testing insight

We got the arcade claw machine in one of our crates, and thanks to the detailed guide that was included, the kids were able to set almost everything up on their own. And they needed even less parental help playing with it afterwards, having a lot of fun taking turns trying to win prizes. As of the time of publishing, the claw machine has held up well, with no damage, and still continues to entertain.

KiwiCo crates for kids in this age range are around $24 per month, though you can expect a discount when you prepay for several months at a time. Shipping is free across the U.S. Since KiwiCo also offers boxes for older kids, it’s simple to change your subscription to a box that fits your child's interests as they age, making your life just a little bit easier as your kid grows.

The biggest drawback we found in our testing is that some of the toddler toys weren’t as durable and didn’t hold up to aggressive play, especially if they were toys that required some assembly (or that were made of less durable materials, like felt). Still, we found KiwiCo Crates to be an affordable and engaging option that is widely popular for good reason.

To learn more, read our full KiwiCo review.

For STEM Toys: Mel Science

Key Specs

Price: $30+ per kit
Delivery Cadence: Monthly
Plans Available: 2 subscriptions
Ages Served: 4-99+

Pros & Cons

Younger kids may need support to complete projects
No option for a less-than-monthly delivery cadence
Cannot purchase individual boxes

Why We Chose It

If you have a future scientist in your family, there’s a simple way to get everything they need to experience all the science-based learning and fun they want. MEL Science offers monthly kits for people from ages 4 to 99+ that include materials and instructions for five to seven fun, safe science experiments. We tried the MEL Science STEM and Physics kits for two months with two siblings (7 and 10 years old), who had a blast engaging with each kit.

The MEL Med subscription, for ages 14 through 99+, starts at $65 per month for a box based around medical topics like dentistry, pharmacy, and surgery. There’s even one that includes everything needed to build a working ECG monitor. (That’s the machine in a hospital room that beeps with every heartbeat as it records and displays the heart’s electrical activity.) Each Med box includes up to five projects, professional medical tools that have been proven safe for kids to use, and even virtual “patients” for your child to “treat” via an app.

With a Science subscription (starting at $30 per month), you can mix and match up to six subjects to receive a box with up to seven experiments on a new subject each month, which only adds to the potential surprise factor for your kiddo. Or kiddos, as all MEL Science boxes come with up to seven fun experiments that can be used by two kids. (But if your kids aren’t big on sharing—or if you have more than two kids—rest assured that you can also get a discount on two kits delivered monthly.)

The Science subscription options for younger kids are the Coding box (for ages 4 to 7+) and the STEM box (ages 5 to 10+). The options more appropriate for kids over 8 are the Math box, the Space box, the Physics box, and the Chemistry box (although this last one’s targeted at ages 10+).

About the age guidelines

Our kids thought that the age recommendations might be more of a suggestion than a hard-and-fast rule, though. In their opinion, some kits that were supposedly for older kids could’ve been used by younger kids as well. As parents, it seems like some kits just need adult supervision—like a chemistry experiment we got that involved fire—while others don’t.

Another big bonus? Each kit is accompanied by interactive video instructions that help make the fun and learning more accessible to kids who are too young to read written directions or who have reading-related challenges, such as a learning disability.

We like that you can browse the special subject boxes online and see which activities and items are included. However, you cannot buy any of them individually—you must subscribe to the subject in order to eventually receive a specific box that your child’s interested in. Additionally, the Med subscription is separate from the Science subscription, which means having to pay twice if you’ve got a kid who’s interested in (for instance) chemistry and medicine. Finally, we wish the kits came with less packaging waste to throw away.

But overall, the Science and Med subscriptions at MEL Science are excellent options for kids with a special interest in STEM, for STEM enthusiasts who want to try out new experiments and projects with their kids, and for parents who are just looking for a fun way for their kids to spend an afternoon. And you can save up to $180 per year by paying for multiple boxes up-front. That’s a win-win!

For Future Gardeners: Horti My First Plant

Key Specs

Price: $135
Delivery Cadence: Monthly for 3 months
Plans Available: 6 plans (1 for kids)
Ages Served: 3+

Pros & Cons

Short-term subscription with one-time payment
Comes with all the tools your kid needs
Includes mini-lessons
Educational
Non-toxic plants included

Some items are cheaper when purchased elsewhere
Subscription only lasts three months
Plants are similar to first plants that come with adult membership
Requires parental involvement

Why We Chose It

Chances are, when you think of “toys,” you think of action figures or games. Even “educational” toys tend to be focused on items that a child can build or interact with. But that’s why we love this subscription: It’s truly unique, educational, and fun. Horti’s My First Plant subscription is a one-time purchase subscription that lasts three months and takes your child on an educational adventure into the basics of gardening and plant care.

The company says the subscription is suitable for children ages 3 and up, so we tested it with a 4-year-old preschooler. We agree that it is suitable for young kids—but only if their parents are there to supervise and assist with the lessons. For example, while the plants are non-toxic (which is reassuring if you’re worried your child might decide to nibble on one of the plants), the boxes come with terracotta planters that can break if they’re dropped.

Protect those tiny green thumbs

We were glad to see a plastic (rather than glass) propagation tube in the first kit, but be aware that the final kit comes with very sharp mini snippers, which we personally were uncomfortable letting a young child handle.

Over the course of three months, we received three boxes that covered some basic lessons about plant care:

Repotting: The first box included a hand-painted terracotta planter, a 4-inch plant, a soil disk (which we had to rehydrate before planting our new plant in the pot), and instructions.
Watering: The second box featured a Melissa & Doug chameleon planter, two peat pots, a planter, another soil disc, and seeds.
Propagating: The final box included another 4-inch plant and painted planter, a soil disk, and mini snippers.

The lessons are illustrated, and we found our preschooler could easily follow along with them even though he could not read. We can also quite confidently say that we think this subscription will be an even bigger hit with older elementary-school kids who may be learning about plants in science class.

We loved that the boxes covered the basics of plant care, though we might have preferred to start with the second box, since our preschooler had a lot of questions about where the small plant in the first box had come from, since he hadn’t grown it from seeds himself. We also found the watering can to be adorable—though you can find it for less on Amazon.

For Eager Readers: Bookroo

Key Specs

Price: $20-$26 per box, plus shipping
Delivery Cadence: Monthly
Plans Available: 4
Ages Served: 0-12

Pros & Cons

Books come with special edition bindings
Includes two or three fun-to-read, well-illustrated books
Gift subscriptions available
Four age-specific book plans available

Why We Chose It

While not technically what you might think of when you think of “toys,” books can spark a child’s imagination just as well as any toy can—especially if you already know you have a lifelong book lover in the making. And if a book is going to take up prime real estate in your child’s bookshelf, it better look good on that shelf and be something they’ll actually read, which is why six months of a subscription with a toddler who turned 4 during testing led us to become such fans of Bookroo.

Bookaroo has four monthly plans available, curated based on your child’s age. The Board Book Club, aimed at babies from birth to age 3, contains three board books. The other three—the Picture Book Club, the Junior Chapter Book Club, and the Middle Grade Book Club—include two books a month of progressively longer page and word counts. The monthly cost ranges from $20 to $26, plus shipping. All the picture books we received were special, custom editions that were interesting to read and included vibrant illustrations that engaged our young reader.

Thoughtful curation

We were also pleased to find that none of the books we received were titles we already owned or had seen displayed prominently in bookstores, suggesting that the company puts care into curating the subscriptions, rather than just sending whatever titles are suggested by publishers.

Another big appeal of a Bookroo subscription—well, the three clubs for younger kids, anyway—is that if you subscribe for a year or longer, the custom book bindings will line up to create a rainbow. (The Middle Grade Book Club does not come with the same special edition cover art and additional illustrations inside.) Each box also comes with stickers, plus original art that your child can frame in their room.

Bookaroo also offers gift subscriptions and mini-club subscriptions—though, in case you or the recipient decide to get a longer-term subscription afterwards, be aware that these mini clubs might repeat titles that are part of a full subscription. But once you’re a subscriber, you won’t have to worry about missing out on titles in previous Bookroo boxes, thanks to the Past Boxes shop.

Our 11 Baby and Toddler Book Subscription Picks for Families That Love To Read

For Picky Readers: Literati

Key Specs

Price: $10 per month plus the cost of the books you keep
Delivery Cadence: Monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly
Plans Available: 4 book clubs
Ages Served: 0-14

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It

If you’re having a difficult time trying to get your child to read for fun, you may not be willing to commit to just any old monthly subscription full of books your kid may or may not ever even get around to opening. That’s where a subscription to Literati can come in handy: Each delivery is curated to appeal to your child’s interests, and you can return—and not pay for—any books you don’t like.

We tested this subscription with a 4-year-old for five months. Not only do we think it’s a great option for picky or reluctant readers, this was also our favorite kid book subscription for kids who already have varied tastes in books. Plus, when you sign up for a subscription, you’ll be saving yourself countless trips to the library and bookstore, while still slowly creating a collection of beloved books at the same time.

We liked that Literati offers books appropriate for newborns all the way through teens, and boxes ship monthly. To get started, you share basics about your kid's reading level, age, and interests. After that, the company will enroll you into one of its many “clubs” that it thinks best matches your and your child’s needs. After you receive your box of books and read them with your child, you keep what you like and return the rest. Returns are always free and the books you choose to return, along with monthly feedback, help the Literati team make sure each box is more tailored than the last. You can also take a daily quiz and rate books in the Literati app—and the company will use this information to help better tailor your boxes to your family’s interests.

In our experience

We really felt Literati did a great job with the customization process. Possibly a little too good, even. By the end of the subscription, it was difficult to decide what to send back, which was a concern, considering that five books can add up to over $60 per month (in addition to the $10 monthly membership fee).

You’ll pay your membership each month, and then you’ll be charged for the books you don’t return. This means that the total amount you will pay per month may change month to month, though the price of keeping all five books you get sent (after a five-percent “keep all five” discount) is usually around $60.

The company does claim that its books are always better-priced than comparable booksellers, though when we compared the prices on Amazon, we found that the amount you’ll actually save may not be all that much—sometimes as little as 5 cents. Still, we liked how well the company tailors its options to our young readers, saving us lots of research time, and we found that the company really did get better at choosing books for our family over time, as it got to know us.

For Little Chefs: Raddish

Key Specs

Price: $24-$28 per month
Delivery Cadence: Monthly
Plans Available: 3 clubs
Ages Served: 4-14+

Pros & Cons

Teaches culinary skills
Free shipping
Many recipes include ingredient substitutions for dietary restrictions
Free access to the Raddish+ digital recipe library
Boxes do not repeat
First month free with 12-month membership

Why We Chose It

Sure, you can get your child a play kitchen and play food, but what if you also started teaching them how to actually cook? Raddish, a subscription aimed at kids from 4 and 14+, makes this easier by providing (almost) everything but the ingredients themselves. We love that every box has a theme, so your child will learn about food and cooking plus history, science, math, geography, and other cultures. And you can get all this for $28 per month, or as low as $24 per month if you prepay for 12 months at a time. (Prepaying annually will also get you one month of the subscription, plus an apron for your child, for free.)

The Cooking Club is great for kids who love cooking and baking, while the Baking Club is a better option for little ones who already have a particular interest in baking. Finally, the Global Eats Club has major appeal for families with an interest in international cuisines. You can also opt to upgrade to a Sibling Bundle for an extra $5 per month. Gift subscriptions are also available through the checkout. We love that recipes in the Cooking and Global Eats Clubs include ingredient substitutions to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, and those who need to avoid dairy and/or gluten. Also, nuts are always optional ingredients when they’re included in these recipes, which isn’t often.

Good to know

Raddish could be a great option for parents of kids who have food allergies, because you provide your own ingredients, rather than relying on a facility that may package many types of food on the same equipment. But do note that there are no modifications currently provided for the Baking Club’s recipes, which occasionally call for nuts.

Each month’s box includes illustrated Recipe Guides and Skill Lessons to accompany three fun recipes, some kitchen tools, and other fun extras—like kitchen projects, apron patches, bonus recipes, and more. For example, the October 2023 boxes featured recipes for carmelized onion dip, pulled pork sliders, Spanish paella, churros con chocolate, candy bar blondies, spooky sandwich cookies, and more. You’ll be emailed shopping lists of ingredients when each box ships, so that you can stock up on groceries before delivery day.

We especially like that every subscription also includes free access to Raddish+, a digital library of past and current recipes and cooking skill tutorials. This perk comes in extra-handy for not missing out on past recipes, considering that Raddish’s boxes do not repeat—and also means that this subscription is especially great for encouraging your child to try new foods and flavors. Raddish also has a store for one-time purchases—including Cook-Along Kits (with recipe guides, tools, and video cooking classes), aprons, upcoming holiday collections, and even the company’s Create-A-Cookbook ($20), which is great for storing up to six months’ worth of your child’s favorite recipe cards.

Perhaps the biggest “drawback,” if you can call it that, with Raddish is that it requires more adult supervision and help if your child is on the younger side. But it’s also an opportunity for some fun bonding time—plus, cooking and eating meals as a family comes with many benefits anyway. (Please do refer to the site’s Kitchen Safety page for additional tips and guidance before getting started with your kiddo, though.)

For Activity Kits: Little Learners Busy Box

Key Specs

Price: $16+ per kit + shipping
Delivery Cadence: Monthly
Plans Available: 2 boxes
Ages Served: 2-4

Pros & Cons

Subscribe or buy individual boxes
Holiday and special interest boxes available
Activities are reusable
Big Box is enough for 2 to 3 kids to share
Resealable zip-top bags keep things organized for storage

Why We Chose It

Whether your child gets a kick out of preschool activities or you’re just looking for ways to keep toddlers occupied while you get some work done, Little Learners Busy Box may be a good fit for your family. This Cratejoy subscription, developed by a home educator who formerly directed an educational co-op, includes everything you need to create enriching, fun, and educational activities for kids aged 2 to 4—just grab and go.

Choose from two monthly themed boxes: the Mini Box, which comes with three activities, and the Big Box, which comes with five. Whichever you choose, you’ll get individually bagged activities and helpful directions for encouraging little ones to play while also learning about counting, sorting, colors, shapes, and more. The themes of past boxes include dinosaurs, the zoo, and weather.

Reusable and shareable

We particularly love that activities included in these boxes can be used again and again, even after a new box arrives. Plus, the Big Box is suitable for up to three kids to share, making this an especially appealing option for families with multiple children in the targeted age range.

Little Learners Busy Box is also more affordable than many other toy subscription boxes we evaluated: Mini Boxes are about $16 monthly, while Big Boxes are $23 per month. You can also save up $2 to $3 per box by prepaying for three, six, or 12 months up-front. Shipping is extra.

Don’t worry if you prefer not to subscribe, don’t want to risk your subscription auto-renewing, or if your child has a special interest, though: You can also make one-time purchases from the Little Learners shop. One option at the time of updating this roundup is the Under the Sea Ocean Themed Box, which includes five ocean-themed activities like Fish Builders (a “school” of flat, interconnecting plastic fish) and Beachcomber (a small handful of three types of differently shaped shells, with flashcards that explain how to identify each type) for $20, plus shipping.

Something to be aware of is the amount of small pieces in these kits, which can easily become choking hazards. If your kiddo’s on the younger side, we recommend saving these activities for when you have time to supervise their play, or until they’re a little older. Perhaps our biggest criticism of the Little Learners Busy Box is that it’s only appropriate for kids in such a narrow age range. Luckily, however, both subscribing and canceling are simple, although you’ll need a Cratejoy account to cancel your subscription.

For Budget-Friendly: Pipsticks

Key Specs

Price: $12-$50 per month
Delivery Cadence: Monthly
Plans Available: 3 clubs
Ages Served: All ages

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It

Kids love stickers; they also love getting mail. And you love affordable ways to bring a little joy and creativity to their days. That’s why we recommend checking out the four subscription clubs at Pipsticks. This company’s subscription clubs send kids—and even adults!—themed collections of stickers, activities, and other fun extras every month, starting under $15.

The most “child-friendly” option, according to the company, is the Kids Sticker Club—$12 per month for the Petite Kids Club Box with seven sheets of Pipstickers, or $18 for a Classic Pack of 15 sheets. Both versions of the Kids Sticker Club also include a collectible puffy sticker, a scratch ‘n’ sniff sticker, an activity book, a reusable pouch, and a postcard. If you have older kids (say, 10 and up), you might choose the Petite or Classic Pro Sticker Club instead. For the same price as the kids’ options, you’ll get seven or 15 Pipsticker sheets, a sticker-lover zine, paper accessories, and a pouch. Past themes have included unicorns, birthdays, rainbows, and snacks and beverages.

For snail-mail fans

There’s also a Stationary Club Box, with (what else?) stationary, plus washi tape, pens and paper goodies for $70 per month. This could be great for encouraging kids to write letters, which—even now, in the age of Alexa—is an important life skill for young ones.

And if your family would be interested in all three boxes each month, you can get the Ultimate Pips Kit for $106 monthly. All four subscription options include five percent off à-la-carte purchases at the Pipsticks Online Store, which we love—if your child uses a sticker they love in the wrong place, they won’t have to live with regret. All clubs come with access to a VIP sticker-focused Facebook group, as well, which may not be a perk if you’re looking to keep your kiddo off social media.

If you don’t happen to have a fan of stickers in your house, Pipsticks gift cards (good for the Online Store only) and gift subscriptions of three, six, and 12 months are great options for a fun, affordable present. While this subscription box is likely not a fit for babies, toddlers, or very young children, many kids start collecting stickers in preschool and keep up the practice as they grow. And it’s easy to move from one subscription level to another using Pipsticks’ website.

For Arts and Crafts: We Craft Box

Key Specs

Price: $35 per kit
Delivery Cadence: Monthly
Plans Available: 1 subscription
Ages Served: 3-9

Pros & Cons

If you love getting crafty together with your family, but maybe aren’t so keen on always having to come up with the next project to keep your kids occupied, the We Craft Box might be just the ticket. Its themed boxes come with everything your kids will need to get crafting, except scissors.

Each month, you’ll get the quality art materials and helpful video tutorials and written instructions for up to two crafters to complete four or five craft projects. Every box is accompanied by a unique story that ties the theme together and helps inspire your kids’ art. Past themes have included Owl’s Wild Wilderness, Rabbit’s Big Day, and Halloween Hijinx.

The 'A' in 'STEAM'

While kids will simply enjoy the crafts they get to make, you can be confident that the boxes are designed to engage kids' artistic talents and introduce progressive visual arts skills, techniques, and processes.

The We Craft Box website offers lots of images and descriptions of past projects and boxes, which makes it easy to see what sort of items you’ll be getting. You can also buy one-time purchases of past boxes at the Single Box Shop. Many of the crafts lean more on the prescriptive side and are less free-flowing—which can be a plus or a minus, depending on your personal preferences. The crafts are also designed to appeal to a fairly wide age range, from about 3 to about 9; though the company states that younger crafters will likely need help to complete the projects as intended.

These boxes cost slightly more than many other similar subscription boxes. Each box from the Month to Month plan is $35, although you can get up to $5 off each delivery with three-, six-, and 12-month prepay plans. And if you plan for siblings to craft together, deliveries from We Craft Box are likely a better value than ordering multiples of another company's craft boxes, considering that they include enough materials for two kids.

Key Specs

Price: $37-$57 per month
Delivery Cadence: Bimonthly
Plans Available: 3 plans
Ages Served: 0-4

Pros & Cons

Helps reduce clutter and keep toys out of the landfill
Takes the guesswork out of toy rotation
Can include multiple kids of different ages in one subscription
Curated toys are educational and developmentally appropriate
No downtime between deliveries

No one wants to send old toys to the dump to make room for new ones. Luckily, Tiny Earth Toys is here to help prevent unnecessary waste by letting subscribers rent open-ended, Montessori-inspired toys—primarily made of natural materials, and never requiring batteries or screens—for kids aged 0 to 4. Each toy is thoroughly cleaned with a natural, EPA-registered disinfectant-sanitizer and then inspected before shipping out, so you can be assured that you won’t receive anything that’s broken or dirty. You also don’t have to worry about toy clutter, filling your playroom with cheap toys that break, or continuously seeking out developmentally appropriate toys as your child grows. Win-win!

Toys for two

Also, a particularly intriguing benefit is that boxes can be split between differently aged siblings. For example, if you have a 6-month-old and a 2-year-old, you can choose the 10-toy subscription and indicate that you’d like five toys for each child.

Tiny Earth Toys offers three plans; just decide if you’d like each box to have five, eight, or 10 toys that have been curated to teach age-appropriate skills, problem solving, and creativity. Monthly costs range from $37 to $57, which is comparable to other toy subscriptions on this list—and it’s an even better deal when you consider that the average Tiny Earth Toys box comes with $250 to $460 worth of beautiful toys. Just a few examples include the Texture Sorting Set (for 18+ months), the Oval Xylophone (for 12 to 18 months), and the Classic Tea Set (for 24 to 36 months).

Then, after 60 days of playtime, you’ll receive a curated shipment of new toys. At this point, if any of the toys were a particular hit with your kiddo, you’ve got the option to keep renting them—or to purchase them at a 15% discount. All you have to do is box up and ship back the toys from the last box using the prepaid shipping label. We love that the company handles exchanges this way, rather than having subscribers return their old toys before receiving new ones. You can also set up a recurring prepayment plan for every four, six, or 12 months; the cost for this ranges from $145 every four months for a five-toy box, all the way up to $615 annually for a 10-toy box.

If you’re not sure about a subscription yet—or if you’d like to supplement your subscription—we appreciate that the Tiny Earth Toys store lets members and non-members alike make one-time purchases of gently-loved toys, toy storage baskets, and play space additions. Parents will also likely appreciate the company’s on-demand parenting classes, made in partnership with NurturedNest, starting at $29 for courses like the Play + Connection Class. Gift subscriptions for one, four, six, or 12 months are also available.

Unfortunately, we’ve noticed a few downsides: First, Tiny Earth Toy’s toys are not targeted for kids who are over 4. Next, if you do choose to purchase a toy, you’ll still only get 15% off the retail price, no matter how long you’ve been renting it. Finally, although return Fedex shipping is free, you’ll either need to try to schedule a pickup at your home, or else head over to a local drop-off location—either way, that’s another chore on your (likely already long) to-do list every 60 days.

Still, though, it’s a great choice for those who are focused on toy minimalism and eco-friendliness in the playroom. We love that this toy rotation program truly does keep toys out of landfills, while also making it possible to feel good about restocking your playroom every couple of months.

For Culturally Inclusive: Little Passports

Key Specs

Pros & Cons

Focused on different countries and cultures
Siblings can share the Included games, toys, and activities
Boxes feel connected thanks to stories about consistent characters
Premium upgrades, individual kits, and bundles also available
Shipping is free in the contiguous U.S.

Many parents want to show their kids the world, but not all families are ready (or able) to actually visit culturally and historically important places for themselves. Little Passports, by the early learning experts at Begin Learning, gives you an easy way to teach kids about cultures and geography from the comfort of home. With free shipping to the lower 48 states and nine reasonably priced subscription options for kids from 3 to 9, Little Passports is a great choice for parents who want to expand kids’ minds around the world and cultures around them via toys and play. It’s also good for households with siblings, because each box can be shared by more than one child.

For kids 3 to 5 years of age, the Early Explorers subscription delivers developmentally appropriate activities, pop-up playsets, toys, and games themed on animals, art, and natural wonders of the world. You can also choose a Premium upgrade (an additional $10 per month) during checkout to receive a hardcover book that’s been curated to match the box’s theme. We love that there’s always a story that accompanies each box, and once your kid’s received all 24 boxes in the series, the subscription will automatically “graduate” to a more advanced subscription.

This is the World Edition subscription, which is recommended for kids from 6 to 10. Over the course of 24 boxes, your child will follow the adventures of the characters Sam and Sophia as they travel to new countries. In addition to themed crafting activities, each box includes a collectable souvenir (such as a coin from the featured country), a book about Sam and Sophia’s time in that country, an activity booklet, stickers, and access to additional online content and fun extras.

There are two other subscriptions related to geography, culture, and travel that are good for young school-aged kids: First, Craft Discovery (ages 5 to 8) is great for seasonal crafting and learning activities, like the Mexico-inspired Party Piñatas Kit. There’s also Kitchen Adventures (for ages 7+), which includes globally inspired recipes from the team at America’s Test Kitchen Kids—though you’ll need to procure all the ingredients yourself.

Your ticket to STEM, too

Little Passports offers three STEM subscriptions that send hands-on learning activities to kids ranging from 5 to 8 years (and up). There are also HOMER Early Learning Kits and the Begin Early Learning Program, both for kids ages 3 to 6.

A Little Passports subscription costs around $30 per month, but prepaying for six or 12 months at once can score you a discount of up to $5 on each kit. Its shop also allows for one-time purchases of board games, puzzles, craft kits, bundled kits, and more. Finally, gift subscriptions are available, if you’d like to give the gift of cultural exploration for six or 12 months.

Now for some things we like a little less: Little Passports’ list of countries is far from exhaustive, and every plan’s boxes are sent out in a specific order. If you have your eye on a certain country’s box, you may need to wait up to two years to receive it. Next, while the items in these boxes can be shared by siblings, there are many single-use items—such as the fillable activity booklets—and the crafts are not always durable enough to earn a permanent place on the toy shelf. But still, it’s easy to cancel at any time, and the company also offers a large digital library of free DIY learning materials and homeschool resources to go along with its paid kits. If you’re looking for an engaging subscription box that broadens your child’s world, Little Passports is a great option.

COMPANYPRICEDELIVERY CADENCE PLANS AVAILABLE AGES SERVEDLOVEVERYFOR BABIES AND TODDLERSKIWICOFOR AGES 4-7MEL SCIENCEFOR STEM TOYSHORTI MY FIRST PLANT FOR FUTURE GARDENERSBOOKROO FOR EAGER READERSLITERATIFOR PICKY READERSRADDISH FOR LITTLE CHEFSLITTLE LEARNERS BUSY BOXFOR ACTIVITY KITSPIPSTICKSFOR BUDGET-FRIENDLYWE CRAFT BOXFOR ARTS AND CRAFTSTINY EARTH TOYSFOR ECO-FRIENDLYLITTLE PASSPORTSFOR CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE

$80-$120 per kit	Every 2-3 months	1	0-5
$24-$44 per crate	Monthly or bimonthly	9	0-100
$30 per kit	Monthly	2	4-99+
$135	Monthly for 3 months	6 (1 for kids)	3+
$20-$26 per box, plus shipping	Monthly	4	0-12
$10 per month + cost of books	Monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly	4	0-14
$24-$28 per month	Monthly	3	4-14+
$16+ per kit, + shipping	Monthly	2	2-4
$12-$50 per month	Monthly	3	All ages
$35 per kit	Monthly	1	3-9
$37-$57 per month	Bimonthly	3	0-4
$25-$30 per month	Monthly	9	3-9+

When considering which toy subscription box is the best fit for your family, it’s important to think about the factors that are most important to you. Some of those might include:

Price: While toy subscription boxes range in price from around $20 to nearly $200, don’t forget about the cadence of billing and delivery. Some boxes that come less frequently—but are each more expensive—may cost the same as subscription boxes that are lower in cost individually but are delivered more often. Think about how much you are comfortable paying for a toy subscription over a six- or 12-month period and choose an option that fits within that budget.
Age range: Many (most, we’d be willing to venture) individual toy subscription plans are not appropriate for babies, toddlers, and kids of all ages. Reviewing the website of the toy subscription boxes you are considering will offer information about which ages they are best suited for. While some toy subscription boxes “grow” with your child, others are designed just for kids in a certain age range, such as infant to toddler, or ages 4 to 7.
Quantity of items: When a toy subscription box arrives, it could be a huge disappointment for your child (and you) if the delivery includes fewer toys than you were expecting. Toy subscription boxes range in the number of items they include, from three to five to many more. Most companies will note how many are in each box, so you can decide if it’s enough for your family.
Quality of items: Some subscriptions (like craft and art boxes) include items that are meant to be used once or just a few times, while others include items that are meant to last on your toy shelf for quite a while. Thinking about whether you want the items in your box to be “pass-down” quality (good enough to pass along to future siblings)—and whether that level of quality is even in the budget at the moment—can also help you choose which box is the best fit for you.
Delivery cadence: Not all toy subscription boxes come every month; some come bimonthly, quarterly, or even on-demand. Consider whether you want a box each month or less frequently as you shop for the toy subscription box that is best for your family.

Key Considerations

Is a Toy Subscription Service Right for Your Child?

Toy subscription services are great for introducing new toys and activities to kids without having to shop for or select them individually. Subscriptions can offer general toys and activities that kids of certain ages tend to like, and many can be tailored to your child’s specific interests.

If your child enjoys trying new things, getting packages in the mail, or has a passion that can be difficult to shop for, subscription boxes can be a particularly good option. Toy subscription boxes also make great gifts, since they include multiple months of packages, so many families and kids add these sorts of boxes to their birthday or holiday wish lists.

Which Toys Are Good for Child Brain Development?

“Children should have a variety of toys that range in interests and developmental opportunities,” says Scott C. Mazerall, Astra-certified play expert and owner of Maziply Toys. “Every child is different, so what is best for them may vary.” In general, open-ended toys that kids can engage with in a variety of ways—and that don’t have a “right” way to play with them—are good for brain development.1

“Toys can play a crucial role in children's development, providing them with a fun and engaging way to learn and grow,” Mazerall continues. “Developmental opportunities include cognitive, language, emotional, physical, and social skills.”

Methodology

We researched more than 20 companies that offer toy, activity, arts and crafts, and science subscription boxes in the United States to identify the best options for families with a range of priorities. We focused our research on the factors we know matter most to parents, such as pricing, the quality and quantity of the items included in each box, and what special interest each box focused on. We also tested some of the subscriptions that ranked highest ourselves with young children, and we’ll continue to test the others and update this roundup as more results come in.

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12 Toy Subscription Boxes We Recommend for Kids Based on Their Age and Interests