My kids love craft kits and I’m a fan of not wasting resources, so I was happy to review a Green Kid Crafts kit. Green Kid Crafts is a subscription craft kit service – you sign up for a 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscription, and for $19.50 every month you get a Discovery Box delivered to your door. The box includes materials for three craft activities, a Discover More guide with ideas for more crafts you can make using materials found around the house, and related reading and fun facts about that month’s theme. It’s a great solution for busy parents who don’t have a lot of time to research activities or put together materials, but who would still enjoy a little hands-on crafting with their kids. The crafts could also be done independently by craft-loving children who are a bit older than mine.
We received the November Food Adventures Box. I was a little surprised at how small the box was when it arrived, but it was packed. I’m guessing the box is small as part of the company’s commitment to being green, because they could have easily made a larger box look full with the same amount of content. I loved that even the directions for the crafts had a coloring page on one side, or could be turned into a mini matching game – zero waste!.
The three craft activities in our kit were growing sprouts and basil, making a felt fishing set (they cleverly used velcro instead of potentially dangerous magnets), and putting together a small mosaic coaster. six-year-old Emma took care of the plants, four-year-old Johnny made the fishing kit, and I have a video of three-year-old Lily making the mosaic:
I actually turned down an opportunity to review a similar kit a few months ago because I was worried about it causing fights with my kids over who got to do what, and I didn’t have the energy to deal with that at the time. I’m happy to say that we were able to share this kit without any issues, thanks to some careful planning. Here are my tips for helping kids share craft kits:
- Explain before opening the kit that, if kids fight over the contents, the kit will go in time out. If a fight does start, avoid playing referee. Give the kids a chance to resolve the issue, and if that doesn’t work, put the kit away for another time. One child dominating the experience is not a way to resolve the issue – for me, this is a reason for the kit to go in time out.
- Decide who will do what before the kit is opened (or, if that isn’t possible), before the parts are handed out.
- Let the kids pick how they will divide up the kit. My kids did this very differently from how I would have done it – but it was a fair solution that they were all happy with. If I had divided it my way, I doubt they would have been as happy.
You can also avoid the sharing issue altogether by buying sibling kits for an additional $10 per month.
Does this look like something that would interest you? From now until 10/07/16, you can get 15% off your entire order at Green Kid Crafts with the code FALL16. Every purchase you make with Green Kid Crafts supports sustainable business, and a portion of each sale is donated to environmental organizations. You can also follow Green Kid Crafts on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
What is your favorite green kid craft?
Disclosure: I received this kit in exchange for this review. This post also contains affiliate links, and I may receive a commission if a purchase is made.
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
I am very curious to try one of these kit services now! Looks fun and EZ!
They are a lot of fun!
That’s a great idea for parents who don’t have time!
I have that kit too and you remind me to get my kids to try it out! I like your idea of getting kids to share nicely too! I did notice that there is just one craft per box so I was thinking that only one kid can do the box or that they’d each have to pick one item in the box. I like your idea better!
Love your idea of putting the activity in time-out. And it’s true that kids often come up with great solutions on their own, as long as they are given the space to work things out. Two thumbs up for clever parenting, MaryAnne!
Thanks, Elisa!
What a nice product! I like your idea of having the kids decide their roles in the project. It seems like when kids come up with their own solutions, they’re more likely to abide by them. And like you said, they can often surprise us with new ways to divvy up the tasks in ways we wouldn’t have even thought.
I also haven’t heard of this company, but their philosophy is compelling. I’ve been thinking a service like this might be a good gift to suggest to grandmas. I also like your “sharing the kit” guidelines–though I only have one guy, we sometimes need to put activities in time out, too!
I do think it would be a great grandma gift!
This company sounds great and I love the commitment to zero waste. I hadn’t heard of them before reading your review – will have to check them out.
I’m ashamed to say I haven’t used any green craft kits. Hopefully before the end of the year that will change. I have a granddaughter who loves crafts so we usually have that on our list when she visits. Thank you for explaining them–I’m off to look at them myself.
That sounds like such a great kit. Teaching about being green AND making (and growing) cool things!
It was very nicely put together.
Hmmm….. I don’t know what our favorite is.
I’m always hesitant on craft kits too for the same reason, all of my kids want to do it, so I don’t tend to get them. That, and my kids rarely want to do the crafts as it is intended……..