13 Best Subscription Boxes for Kids

We're fans of anything that can get kids excited about science, engineering, technology and math — but finding fun and educational activities for kids of any age can be tricky. So let STEM Discovery Boxes' monthly deliveries do it for you.

Each jam-packed box is delivered right to your doorstep with everything they'll need to complete three STEM-based activities — right down to the batteries, glue and tape. Designed specifically for children ages 7 to 12, the time commitment for each project can range from 20 minutes up to an hour.

RELATED: The Best STEM Toys for Kids, According to Engineers

For busy parents who don't have time to research and shop for the best books for kids, a book subscription service is an excellent idea. "My children regularly receive new, age-appropriate picks and I don't even have to give it a second thought," says Rachel Rothman, the Good Housekeeping Institute's chief technologist and a mom of three.

With My First Reading Club, you can input your kids' ages into the system, then let its editors do the work for you. Each delivery comes with three hardcover books and one activity book (except for the baby category, which typically contains three board books). Just note that while you can specify your child's age, you can't note their subject interests or their reading level.

Inclusion is the hallmark of the Brave + Kind Bookshop in Decatur, Georgia, where the inventory focuses on books that put children of different regions, races and backgrounds front and center.

Sign up for the store's Book of the Month Club service and your child will receive one new hardcover book every month (with three-, six- and 12-month plans available, costing between $40 and $60). Selections are based on age, with board books for ages 0 to 3, picture books for ages 4 to 7, chapter books for ages 5 to 8, realistic fiction or fantasy books for ages 9 to 12 and YA picks for the 14+ cohort. There are even plans for grown-ups if you want to get in on the action, too!

Take note that Brave + Kind's selections are often new releases — so if your kid has already read most of what's in the local library, these picks will be a breath of fresh air.

Kiwi Co. offers nine different subscription lines targeted to kids of all ages, but the brand's Yummy Crate is one of our favorites, designed to help elementary- and middle school-aged kids gain kitchen confidence and food-science skills.

Each box comes with two or three colorful recipe cards around a theme (the "Rise and Shine" delivery pictured here teaches kids how to make pancakes, for example). "The recipes are fun and easy to follow," says GH contributing writer Karen Cicero who has tested Yummy Crates out with her daughter. Also included is at least one special cooking tool (like a spatula), some hands-on STEAM-based project ideas and the brand's Yummy Zine, which features fun facts and food history.

Not included? Any actual food. Once your child is ready to cook, you'll have to head to the grocery store with the included shopping list. That said, the ingredients are pretty straightforward so may already have much of what you'll need already (think family-friendly American fare, like hamburgers, pasta, soup and brownies).

Stickers are a cheap thrill — not to mention great for crafting! Pipsticks Sticker Club offers two monthly subscription options designed specifically for kids, including a "Classic Pack" for $18/month (15 sheets of stickers, a collectible puffy sticker, a scratch n’ sniff sticker, a postcard and an activity book packed in a reusable pouch) and a "Petite Pack" for $12/month (7 sheets of stickers plus all of the above). Bonus: Shipping is free!

"My two daughters loved their Pipsticks subscription so much, I frequently gift a subscription to my friends' kids," says Lexie Sachs, an executive director in the GH Institute. "It includes a wide variety of sticker types, so there's a fun element of surprise."

Stitch Fix is one of the most popular clothing subscription box companies out there, and if you've tried the adult version then you know how the process works: Pay a $20 styling fee, answer questions about your kids' preferences and sizes, then receive a box of 10 selections hand-picked by Stitch Fix stylists. You only pay for what you keep and your $20 can be applied to your total (plus, if you keep everything, you get 25% off).

While it's possible to set up automatic deliveries, there's actually no subscription required; you can just request at new box whenever your kid starts to outgrow their wardrobe. And even though the clothes are from quality labels like Under Armour and Lucky Brand, each item typically stays in the $10 to $35 range, so it won't break the bank. Plus, we love that based on what you keep, Stitch Fix will offer you similar styles and brands in the future.

"When I had a 10-year-old boy this was a money-saver," one Stitch Fix user told us. "Instead of just saying 'yes' to anything in order to get out of a clothing store faster, he could take his time and try things on in his room. He was much more honest about what he'd actually wear and it was easy to return the rest."

For more STEM fun, scientist Steve Spangler can send his lab right to your home. Tell the kids to get their goggles ready to explore science projects that can help them understand the basic principles and ideas of physics, chemistry and biology. There are a dozen different kits available; we like that you can browse the full line on the website and even order them individually if you prefer to mix and match your selections — as few as one or as many as all 12!

Each box includes up to eight different experiments to try themed around a specific topic, including electricity, "bubblology" (a.k.a. studying bubbles), color, physics and more. Just note that most kits require adult assistance and supervision. Luckily, each box also includes guides aimed at helping parents understand the scientific concepts involved, too — just in case the kids ask questions!

Traveling long distances with small children isn't always an easy task — if you're saving the big trips until they're older, Little Global Citizens offers a great way for kids to explore the world from home.

Delivered on a bimonthly basis, each box is themed around a different country and includes activities, recipes, a storybook and craft projects. In addition to having fun, the educational goal is for your child to learn a few words of another language, as well as a bit of history and geography.

"The crafts are simple to complete independently but still complex enough to take some time to complete," said one GH tester whose child received LGC's Peru box. We also love that the brand offers an add-on option for "sibling" boxes, which contain a second set of all the crafts and activities for just a few extra dollars.

Editor's note: Only annual subscriptions are currently available, but boxes can also be purchased individually or in bundles.

Calling all new parents: Subscribe to Lovevery's "Play Kits" starting from birth, and every few months your little one will receive a new box filled with stage-based toys backed by expert research to engage their developing brains. Each kit also comes with a handy guide that walks you through the best ways to play and the science behind it all.

From 0 to 12 months, Lovevery sends deliveries on a bimonthly schedule at $80 per box, while 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds receive quarterly shipments at $120 per box. While that sounds pricey, each box contains six or more Montessori-inspired toys carefully designed by the team at Lovevery (this is not a collection of toys from other brands).

According to the parenting product experts in the GH Institute, Lovevery's toys and developmental guides are impressive — and worth it. "When my friends or family members are welcoming a new baby, a subscription to Lovevery is one of my favorite gift ideas, for both for the quality of the toys and solid developmental guidance," says Rothman.

Challenge your future computer scientist with fun new app ideas for them to build each month, thanks to this STEM-based subscription box — no coding experience required!

An ideal choice for kids who love gaming and programming, Bitsbox offers three different monthly subscription plans, but the company says its most popular is the Basic Bitsbox. The first shipment includes a binder to hold all of your child's coding idea cards, and each subsequent delivery features a range of coding projects from simple to advanced, so your child can work at their own speed. Plus, each box comes with a "Grownup Guide" so that you can join in on understanding the concepts and commands, too.

Just take note that the coding work is done online and requires a keyboard, so you'll need to hand over your laptop for your child to build on. But once they're finished with project, their app will work on any phone or iPad.

If you've got an adventurous eater, Raddish's Global Eats Club introduces kids to geography, culture and cooking. One of three subscriptions, or "clubs," offered by the brand, each kit includes illustrated recipe cards, a kitchen tool, a step-by-step guide and more. From dim sum to Swedish meatballs, your child will not only expand their taste buds, they'll also learn about new cultures and cuisines.

Note that there is adult supervision involved with this pick. All three of Raddish's plans (including a Baking Club and a Cooking Club) require a trip to the grocery store with the included shopping list to source the ingredients for the featured dishes. And while the brand says that its recipes are good for a wide age range, it does clarify that "young children will enjoy working alongside an adult in the kitchen, while older kids will work more independently."

An occupational therapist created this subscription box of toys for children with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, neurological impairments, emotional disturbances and anxiety issues — though children of nearly any ability should enjoy playing with these therapeutic and calming sensory toys.

Each box contains five or six sensory products, like slime, foam, dough, fidget toys, light-up toys and more. Order month-to-month or prepay for a three-, six- or 12-month subscription. Bargain hunters can also shop leftover boxes from previous months at a discount. While we haven't yet tested this box in the GH Institute, we're planning to and will update this review when we get our hands on it!

This woman-owned book company's goal is to help diversify the world of children's literature, where only about a third of protagonists are female. Aimed at children of all genders, its virtual shelves are lined with children's literature from LBGTQI+ and POC writers that feature stories of equality and empathy.

Little Feminist's book subscription offers options for a range of ages, from newborns to 9-year-olds. They'll get one or two books each month, plus activity ideas and discussion cards that help families navigate subjects with sensitivity. While the picks are not always new releases, the LF team works hard to surface under-the-radar books that most are unlikely to already have on their shelves.