Tinker Crate Subscription Box Review + Coupon – April 2017

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)

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 vortices! I do this box with my eleven-year-old son.

Here's a peek at the table of contents from this month's TinkerZine, plus a look at some of the pages inside. 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 an air cannon! 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. Sometimes Tinker Crate includes some supplies for the smaller projects in TinkerZine, too.

My son's first step was to build the target hanger. This was simple assembly, wedging the beams into the side stands, then hanging the targets onto the notches.

The second step was to create the bottom of the air cannon. He cut a balloon and slipped it over the cylinder, and then he taped it down.

The third step was to complete the cannon. He used a series of brackets (secured in place with double-sided sticky foam) that you can twist the eye in and out of.

Removing the eye is not necessary, but the cannon came with three different eye widths, so you can interchange them for more or less targeted / powerful air blasts.

This is the game in action! You aim the cannon at the targets, pull back, and fire! So fun! He actually made two cannons with the supplies he was sent so he and his brother can play together.

(We are remodeling the craft room, please excuse the horrid looking window!)

Verdict: We love Tinker Crate! This month's project was really fun to do, and both of my sons have enjoyed playing with the finished product. It's an awesome game, and the younger one (age nine) spent half the day playing with this thing. 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?