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

For Babies and Toddlers: Lovevery

Key Specs

• Price: $80-$120 per kit
• Delivery Cadence: A new kit is delivered every two to three months, based on your child's age
• Plans Available: Kits available for newborns to 4-year-olds 

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It

If you’re starting fresh and planning to stock your playroom over time as your baby grows, Lovevery is the kit for you. Lovevery kits include everything you’ll need to stock your toy shelf in real time as your baby grows through toddlerhood and into young childhood. That means high-quality toys that are as attractive as they are durable, and that are designed to engage your child at each developmental stage. The kits include enough items that you truly won’t have to buy any other toys to give your baby or toddler a complete playroom. 

Lovevery kits ship every two months through the first year of life and every three months after that. Each kit contains around eight toys that your baby will love at the stage they're at and that are of high enough quality that you’ll be able to pass them down to any future siblings. While many toy subscription boxes boast that their toys are developmentally appropriate, Lovevery kits are curated by child development experts. The interest that even young babies and toddlers show in these toys speaks to the expertise that went into picking them. One of our testers noticed that with several toys her son played with. "he adored the Number Sense Nature Counters from the Problem Solver Play Kit, which he called a 'number game,' she noted. "He insisted we bring it with us on our trips to see family so he could work on his counting skills." 

Lovevery kits do have a higher price tag than some other toy subscription boxes, and they arrive every couple of months versus every month like many other subscriptions. 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 kit.

While the toys in these kits truly are engaging and very high quality, parents on a tighter budget can buy toys piecemeal in the Lovevery shop without investing in a subscription.

For Ages 4-7: KiwiCo

Key Specs

• Price: $24-$44 per crate 
• Delivery Cadence: Monthly or bi-monthly  
• Plans Available: Lines for kids 0-16 plus a variety of special interests 

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It  

KiwiCo is a popular toy subscription service that offers boxes or “crates” full of hands-on activities and toys that will keep kids between four and seven busy and happy as they explore new themes with art, science, and craft projects. It also has options for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, older kids, and teenagers. While all KiwiCo boxes are interesting and offer quality products, their boxes for kids aged four to seven stand out from the crowd. 

As kids grow out of toddlerhood and into more dexterity and a desire for more challenging projects and multi-use toys, KiwiCo steps up to offer just what they need. Each box contains STEAM-based projects, an instruction booklet, and a magazine that shares information about topics that kids in this age range are interested in. 

The projects included in the KiwiCo crates 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 box arrives. (Or until a sibling accidentally steps on it; ask me how I know). One of our testers got the arcade claw machine in her box, and her sons managed to do a lot of the setup on their own thanks to the detailed included guide. "They certainly didn't need my help once it was time to play," she said. "They both had a blast taking turns trying to win prizes from the claw machine. As of now, it hasn't broken or been destroyed and continues to provide entertainment."

KiwiCo boxes 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.

For STEM Toys: Mel Science

Key Specs

• Price: $30 per kit
• Delivery Cadence: Monthly
• Plans Available: Kits for kids 5-16 plus a variety of special interests 

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It

If you have a future scientist in your family, Mel Science kits feature everything you need to ensure they’re set up with all the science-based learning and fun they want. Mel Science offers kits for people from ages 5 to 99 that include materials and instructions for science experiments, crafts, and building projects.

Kits for younger kids are labeled as STEM kits, while those for older kids have more specific focuses such as medicine, space, physics, and chemistry. The STEM kits expose kids to various science, technology, math, and engineering concepts through developmentally appropriate projects and experiments that are as educational as they are entertaining. STEM kits start at $30 and are delivered monthly, though you can save a little bit of money when you prepay for several boxes at once. 

Subject-specific boxes vary in cost and are filled with items and activities that help kids dig into more specialized interests. For example, the medicine-focused boxes include a dentistry-focused box, a surgery box, and a therapy box. You can browse the special subject boxes online and see what activities and items are included. While you may find some of these more exciting than others, you cannot buy them individually; you must subscribe to the subject. 

Overall, Mel Science kits are an excellent option for kids with a special interest in STEM or parents who are STEM enthusiasts and want to try out new experiments and projects alongside their kids. 

For Budget-Friendly: Pipsticks

Key Specs

• Price: $12-$50 per month
• Delivery Cadence: Monthly
• Plans Available: Kids Sticker Club, Pro Sticker Club, and Stationery Club

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It 

Getting mail is exciting, and getting a Pipsticks shipment makes any day a great day for sticker-loving kids. Pipsticks is a sticker and stationery subscription that offers one of the lowest-cost monthly subscription boxes on the market: as low as $12 per month. These $12 petite packs include seven sheets of stickers, a holographic sticker pouch, a colorable postcard, an activity booklet, and access to a VIP Facebook group (which parents may or may not want their child to have).

Those who are open to spending a little bit more can choose the classic pack, which includes everything in the petite pack plus an additional eight sheets of stickers for $18 per month. The sticker sheets included in both the classic and petite packs go beyond your typical gold star; your kid can expect novelty options like scratch-and-sniff and puffy stickers. 

The Pipsticks website is easy to navigate and moving from one subscription level to another is simple. Pipsticks also has a shop where you can order single items. So if your child uses a sticker they love in the wrong place, they won’t have to live with regret—you can simply order a replacement. 

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. 

For Books: Literati

Key Specs

• Price: $10 per month plus the cost of the books you keep 
• Delivery Cadence: Monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly 
• Plans Available: Newborn-age 3, ages 3-5, ages 5-7, ages 7-9, ages 9-12, ages 13+

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It

A subscription to Literati is like having the librarian who loves your child curate a monthly shipment of books you know they’ll adore. When you sign up for a subscription, you’ll be saving yourself countless trips to the library and bookstore, but still be creating a library of beloved books. 

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 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’ll pay around $10 a month for the service and you’ll be charged for the books you don’t return. Books are never priced higher than comparable booksellers, so you don’t have to worry about being overcharged. 

A Literati subscription is a great way to build a library for your budding reader. But as they grow, you may find that you don’t feel the need to purchase as many books, since your older child may be less interested in reading the same books over and over—as is typical of toddler and preschoolers. That’s not to say this service isn’t valuable, but it likely has a shelf life (pun intended) of several months to a couple years. 

For Activity Kits: Little Learners Busy Box

Key Specs

• Price: $20 per kit
• Delivery Cadence: A la carte boxes or monthly delivery
• Plans Available: Preschool kits plus seasonal and special interest options 

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It  

If your child gets a kick out of preschool, or you’re doing preschool at home, Little Learners Busy Box may be a good fit for your family since it includes everything you need to create enriching, fun, and educational activities for kids in this age group. The boxes provide activities for preschool kids that help them master basic skills like counting, sorting, colors, shapes, and more. The activities included in these boxes can be used again and again, and parents will enjoy seeing how engaged their little one becomes when a new box arrives. 

Little Learner Busy Boxes are more affordable than many other toy subscription boxes we reviewed, costing just $20 per month. Monthly delivery is the default, but you have other options; if you prefer not to subscribe or if your child has a special interest (like animals or under the sea) you can also order boxes a la carte. 

While these boxes are a hit with preschoolers, they are not suitable for older kids and the company does not offer any options for babies younger than 2. That does mean that you’ll have to cancel your subscription when your child gets older rather than transfer it to a new kit with the same company. Luckily, the Little Learners Busy Box website is easy to navigate and both subscribing and canceling are simple.

For Arts and Crafts: We Craft Box

Key Specs

• Price: $35 per kit
• Delivery Cadence: Monthly 
• Plans Available: Monthly kits plus special interest single-box options 

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It  

The We Craft Box allows families to get crafty together with monthly boxes that include everything needed to create four to five coordinated crafts. Boxes are built around an included story and come with high-quality materials, clear instructions, and tutorials for creating crafts. Each box contains enough supplies and materials for two crafters to enjoy the experience together. 

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. These boxes cost slightly more than many other similar subscription boxes. However, considering that they include enough crafts for two, they are likely a better value than ordering multiples of another company's craft boxes if you plan for siblings to craft together. 

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. Many of the crafts lean more prescriptive and 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. 

For Eco-Friendly: Tiny Earth Toys

Key Specs

• Price: $35-$65 per month
• Delivery Cadence: Every two months 
• Plans Available: Five toys, eight toys, or 10 toys at a time 

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It  

No one wants to send old toys to the dump; with Tiny Earth Toys, you don’t have to. The company allows you to rent and return high-quality educational toys so you don’t have to worry about creating unnecessary waste. It’s a great option for those who are focused on minimalism and making eco-friendliness a central tenet of their playroom. 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. 

When you purchase a membership to Tiny Earth Toys, you’ll receive a box of high-quality toys that are tailored to your child’s age. Then, after two months of playtime, you’ll receive a shipment of new toys that meet their new developmental stage. All you have to do is box up and ship back the toys from the last box.

This toy rotation program truly does keep toys out of landfills and makes it possible to feel good about restocking your playroom every couple of months. With Tiny Earth Toys you can select a membership that includes five, eight, or 10 toys. A particularly intriguing benefit is that toys within a box 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 single 10-toy subscription and indicate that you’d like five toys for each child. 

Memberships are billed for six months at a time and range in cost depending on how many toys you choose to include.

• Five toys per box: $210 every six months (three shipments)
• Eight toys: $288 every six months
• 10 toys: $390 every six months 

A six-month subscription includes three shipments and the value of each box if you were to buy the toys outright ranges from $250 to $460. While these subscription costs are higher than some other companies, they break down to $35 to $65 per month, which is comparable to other toy subscription boxes on this list. That said, you typically don’t keep any of the toys in the boxes (though you can opt to purchase and keep anything your child gets very attached to). You do have to make a trip to FedEx or another drop-off location to return the prior shipments of toys in the prepaid and provided box, which is another chore on your likely already long to-do list.

For Culturally Inclusive: Little Passports

Key Specs

• Price: $25-$30 per kit
• Delivery Cadence: Monthly 
• Plans Available: Ages 3 to 7+

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It 

Many parents want to show their kids the world; Little Passports gives you an easy way to teach kids about other countries and cultures before they’re ready or able to hop on a plane. Its fun stories, themed boxes, and reasonable pricing make it a great choice for parents who want a toy subscription box that is focused on travel, geography, and expanding kids’ minds about the world around them.   

The World Edition boxes from Little Passports follow the adventures of their signature characters, Sam and Sophia, as they travel across the globe. The first box includes a passport book, a world map, a small suitcase to keep their treasures in, plus all items that come in a typical country-based box, such as a coin from the featured country, a book about Sam and Sophia’s time in the country, an activity booklet, stickers, and a craft-based activity. Each monthly box after that is themed around a new country and includes the above items plus access to additional online content and some fun extras and surprises. 

Little Passports costs around $25 per month, but you can get a discount when you pay for a three or six-month subscription upfront. While the items in these boxes all stay on theme, many are single-use (such as the fillable activity booklets) and the crafts are not always durable enough to earn a permanent place on the toy shelf. Little Passports currently has a long list of countries that have a box, but the list is not exhaustive and parents looking to connect with a specific country or access materials that are culturally relevant to their specific family may not find what they are looking for.