Tinker Crate Subscription Box Review + Coupon– September 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 projects based around a central theme. Unlike Kiwi Crate, however, these projects are less crafty and more based on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning and enrichment.

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (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)

LIMITED TIME DEAL: Save 40% off your first box with code MSA40

OR

Save 30% off your first box with code MSA30!

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 and Canada, including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and APO addresses. Free within the United States, $6.95 to Canada

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 about living lights! Intriguing! I do this box with my ten-year-old son.

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 sewable circuits! My son and I are almost always thrilled with Tinker Crate's project selections!

Here's a peek inside the instructions this month. They may look a little intimidating, 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 scissors and a ruler. Sometimes Tinker Crate includes some supplies for the smaller projects in TinkerZine, too.

This is our completed project! It's a pillow with two interchangeable snap-on panels. One is a jellyfish, and one is an anglerfish, and they both light up! Although I think we wound up with the light in the wrong place on the anglerfish somehow. No matter, it's still super cool! To make this, my son had to put a battery on a little plastic card that eventually went into the pillow and sew a circuit to the snaps. He had to install LED lights the same way on two other cards, one for the jellyfish and one for the anglerfish, and sew circuits with conductive thread to those snaps. When you snap the panels to the pillow, they light up! Awesome!

Verdict: We love Tinker Crate! This month's project was really cool! My ten-year-old was once again proud of his creation, and I've noticed that my eight-year-old is always super impressed and wants to play with them. It's very cool that this box is getting both boys inspired to explore engineering. Tinker Crate always picks out fun projects, sends quality materials, and provides loads of educational content. It's a huge value for $20!

What do you think of Tinker Crate?