Tinker Crate Subscription Box Review + Coupon – March 2016

Tinker Crate is a subscription for kids ages 9-14 from the makers of Kiwi Crate. Like Kiwi Crate, it comes with everything you need to complete multiple projects based around a central theme. Unlike Kiwi Crate, however, these projects are less craftsy and more based on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning and enrichment.

Tinker Crate kindly sent us this box for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

The Subscription Box: Tinker Crate

The Cost: $19.95 per month (free shipping)

COUPON: 50% off your first month with coupon code MSA50!

The Products: STEM-based crafts and DIY projects for kids, with supplemental learning kits, booklets, and activities. Projects are designed to enhance children’s critical thinking and problem solving skills through activities that are exciting and fun!

Ships to: Anywhere in the United States, including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and APO addresses

Check out all of our Tinker Crate reviews and the Kids Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your Wish List or Subscription List!

Every box comes with a copy of TinkerZine magazine, which includes articles about that month’s theme, as well as smaller projects and experiments. This month’s theme is all secret codes! I usually do this box with my ten-year-old son, but he was busy with a school project this month, so my eight-year-old son took the reins this time.

Here’s a peek at the table of contents from this month’s TinkerZine. In addition to the large project that Tinker Crate sends, the magazine has several articles plus smaller projects you and your child can undertake to gain a deeper knowledge of the scientific principles of that month’s topic.

This month’s big project is a combination vault! My little one flipped over this; he is really into codes and locks and other spy stuff.

These are the instructions for this month’s project. They are pretty detailed, but they are always very clear, complete, and easy-to-follow.

These were the materials Tinker Crate supplied for the project. With Tinker Crate, sometimes you have to supply a few things, but they are always items you have at home, like scissors or water. This month they included everything we needed for the project except tape and a marker. Sometimes Tinker Crate includes some supplies for the smaller projects in TinkerZine, too.

This is our completed vault, all closed up.

Here’s the vault with the correct combination lined up. Success! It opened!

Here’s the vault completely opened. My son can put anything he wants in the smaller tube on the right and lock it up!

Verdict: We love Tinker Crate! It was really fun to try it with my eight-year old this month. I had to help him a bit more than I usually have to help my ten-year-old, but they’re both bright boys, and it was not too difficult for him. The project itself was a hit for him, too. As always, I’m impressed with the quality of Tinker Crate’s supplies and printed materials. When you add in the educational value, you really get a lot for $20!

What do you think of Tinker Crate?