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Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review + Coupon – August 2019

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Closed Box

Tadpole Crate by KiwiCo
5 overall rating
1 Ratings | 0 Reviews

Tadpole Crate, previously called “Cricket Crate,” is the toddler subscription box offering from KiwiCo, designed for hands-on learning and fun every month!

KiwiCo offers boxes for different age groups:

There is something for every age with this company.

This review is of the $19.95 a month Tadpole Crate for kids ages 0-36 months.

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.)

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Opened Box

About this Toddler Subscription Box

The Subscription Box: Tadpole Crate

The Cost: $19.95 a month + free shipping

ACTIVE DEAL: Save 40% off your first box! No coupon needed - just use this link.

The Products: 2-3 fun and developmentally appropriate projects, a magazine, online resources and a board book for you and your toddler!

Ships to: The U.S. for free, Canada for $5.95 per month, worldwide from $6.95-$7.95.

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review August 2019

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - All Items Unboxed

My family was excited to review this Tadpole Crate! KiwiCo's teaching methodology perfectly aligns with how my kids learn today. My son is in pre-school and goes to a school focused on hands-on and project-based learning. His big sister, my 3rd-grader, was happy to assist her little brother with the projects. 

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Wonder Magazine FrontTadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Wonder Magazine Back

This month’s theme is “Kitchen Play” where kids explore mealtime routines through pretend play projects that are fun and age-appropriate.

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Wonder Magazine 1

Tadpole Crate includes Wonder Magazine which is full of information, tips and fun activities related to the month’s theme. 

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Wonder Magazine 2Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Wonder Magazine 3

The magazine highlights the activities and includes information on how to engage your children along with additional learning resources. 

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Wonder Magazine 4Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Wonder Magazine 5

Wonder Magazine also offers additional activities to try at home. These DIY activities sometimes require supplies not included in the box. It’s a great way to continue the fun after the projects are complete.

This Tadpole Crate includes two fun and engaging projects: DIY Dough and Play Stove Set. DIY Dough builds development skills such as arm and shoulder movements, hand-eye coordination, vision and smell, and early measurement. Play Stove Set developmental skills are pretend play, tactile play, real versus make-believe, and language. Included are detailed instructions and everything needed for both projects.

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - DIY Dough Materials

Here are the materials for the DIY Dough project. It includes dough powder, dough liquid, a mixing bag, and an optional Food Shapes printable available to download from the KiwiCo website. 

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Play Stove Set Materials

Here are the materials for the Play Stove Set project. It includes the play stove wrap, skillet, spoon, crate, scented dough, and cookie-cutter.

Let’s get started with DIY Dough!

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - DIY Dough Instructions

In this activity, kids get to mix ingredients from the crate to make floral-scented playdough. 

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - DIY Dough 1

The first step in this project is to empty the dough powder into the mixing bag. This step was a little messy. Next, we added the dough liquid to the bag and sealed it shut. 

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - DIY Dough 2

We squished the dough ingredients around in the bag until it was mixed well and no white dough powder was visible. We then removed the dough from the bag - kneading it until it was smooth. My son loved this part!

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - DIY Dough 3

With the dough complete, its time for pretend play! I know that if we run out of dough, the Wonder Magazine has a simple no-cook playdough recipe to make more. 

Let’s move on to Play Stove Set!

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Play Stove Set Instructions

In this activity, children get to play pretend using the play stove and scented dough.

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Play Stove Set 1

In this game, you reuse the crate (the box) to create a pretend stove by covering it with the play stove wrap. The kids can use the skillet, spoon, dough, and cookie cutters to create a culinary masterpiece!

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Play Stove Set 2Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Play Stove Set 3Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Play Stove Set 4

My son loved creating the playdough stars. When he put the stars in the skillet, he made sizzling sounds. When he removed the stars, he pretended they were hot. He also made spaghetti and “fried snakes.” 

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Book 1

Tadpole Crate includes a board book every month that goes along with the theme of the box. In “Olive's Birthday Surprise”, Olive is on the search for berries to make the perfect berry salad for grandma's birthday.

Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Book 2Tadpole Crate “Kitchen Play” Review - Book 3

My son made super sad faces when, at every stop, Olive was unable to find berries. He proclaimed "Noooooo, no more berries!" I love how engaged he was with this story. 

Verdict: This Tadpole Crate by KiwiCo was fun! We enjoyed making the playdough and kneading it until it was smooth. My son loves to pretend play so I knew he would love the play stove set. He got a kick out of creating dishes and asking mommy to taste them! We did find the activities in this Kitchen Play crate to be a little less involved than other boxes, so we spent less time than usual playing with this box. I wish more cookie cutters and different color playdough were included. He enjoyed making the dough and cutting it in shapes the most.

I’m also finding that my son has already mastered all the developmental skills reinforced with these activities so, over the next few months, we will be transitioning primarily to the Koala crate for ages 3+.

Like other KiwiCo boxes, I found the materials in the Tadpole Crate to be high quality and sturdy. The project instructions were clear, age-appropriate and easy to follow. Best of all, my son had fun while reinforcing developmental skills. The cost of this box is only $19.95. I think it's well worth the price for enriching, creative, and convenient activities for kids.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? From KiwiCo: 

Crates are assigned each month based on availability and your crate history – not all subscribers receive the same theme each month.

ACTIVE DEAL: Save 40% off your first box! No coupon needed - just use this link.

Check out all of our KiwiCo reviews and the best subscription boxes for toddlers!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

What do you think of Tadpole Crate?

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"Tadpole Crate delivers information, inspiration, and products that support your child's healthy development and lifelong learning." Each box contains an age-specific product, a board book, Wonder magazine, and online resources. Currently this box is only available in a 3-month package for newborns ... read more.
Shatae Hutchinson
Shatae Hutchinson
Hi, I’m Shatae; pronounced shhh-tay! I work in IT Healthcare, I’m married to my high school sweetheart and we have 2 cool kids. I am obsessed with black culture, lifestyle, travel and art made by and featuring women of color. I also love trendy plus-size fashion and accessories, eclectic and bohemian home décor and all things self-care, mental health and fitness. My favorite box is Izzy & Liv’s Brown Sugar Box; a monthly box offering tees, accessories and lifestyle products designed for black women. I also subscribe to TheSelfCareBox, FabFitFun, CauseBox and Merkaela. Being a wife and full-time working mom, subscription boxes are one of the few things that are just for me! They are fun, convenient, reasonably priced and full of surprises.

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6 comments

Victoria

Your son is too cute. I spoke with KiwiCo the other day and the Tadpole subscription is being phased out; they are running current Tadpole subscriptions until the boxes run out, which they’re expecting to be at the end of this year. The new subscription option for this age group will be the Panda box, which is more expensive, includes higher quality items, and will ship every two months.

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Shatae Hutchinson

Thanks Victoria! And, you’re correct. I will mention that in my next reviews. I have two more boxes. Another great MSA reviewer will be taking over for the Panda Box.

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Ash

What a handsome little man ❤️

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Shatae Hutchinson

Thank you Ash! 🙂

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noreysol

Your little boy is adorable!

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Shatae Hutchinson

Ahhh, thanks! 🙂

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