craft time with kiwi crate

This post is sponsored by Kiwi Crate. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

I like to think I know a great deal about children. As someone who has made a career in teaching children learn and grow, one would think they do, right? Right. What’s actually true is that children change on a day to day basis — but one thing remains true — children need structured activities during the summer. Big time. I’m babysitting two little boys this summer, aged, 6 and 3, and I try to plan one thing every day for us to do. Whether it’s small, like walking to the park, or big, like going to the zoo, having some sort of activity tends to keep the masses tame and happy.

Let me preface this by saying I am not a crafty person — I tend to look at crafty people in disgust mainly because I wish I could be like them. I love crafts, but I get overwhelmed when I try to tackle them. Which is why when I got the opportunity to try out a Kiwi Crate this week, I practically jumped through my computer screen to snatch it up.

Never heard of a Kiwi Crate? Neither had I before two weeks ago — but now I’m hooked. A Kiwi Crate is a craft box, designed for specific age groups that is delivered, with all the supplies and directions right in the box. It couldn’t be easier. I knew this would be a perfect activity for the boys I babysit for, and I was totally right.

The box  came with two crafts, both surrounding the theme of “bugs”.The age group for this particular box was ages 3-7. There was one sponge painting craft, which was perfect for the 3 year old, and another hands on craft, which I thought would be perfect for the 6 year old. On the direction packets, there was a little gage as to how messy the craft was, how involved an adult would have to be, and what kind of fine motor skill was being used. I think that is ingenious!

The crafts were very easy to do — we got right to work yesterday afternoon.

And we crafted away! Both crafts turned out really cute, especially the firefly. I was so impressed by the directions and how easy it was for a 6 year old to complete independently.

 
The younger one wasn’t too interested in sponge painting bugs, but just getting messy with the paint, which I didn’t mind. Thank goodness the paint was washable! We had fun painting hands and making handprints.

I am a real fan of these craft boxes, and I could see myself ordering them on my own if I had young children or if I were a full time nanny. The only gripe I have is that there are only enough materials for one child to complete one craft. So, if you have multiple children, it could get quite expensive trying to get a craft for each child. In theory it’s great, but the second we started working, the “but I want hiiiiis craft” mantra came out for the hour it held their attention.

The boys loved it, and I’m pretty sure their mother is holding me to a much higher standard than she should — I’m not crafty, Melanie. (I know she is reading this)

I’m interested in finding out about more of the different options to see if the boys would like to do any of the other ones sometime this summer!

Question: Are you a crafty person?

Tagged as: clever girls, crafts, kiwi crate, review