You probably know by now that KiwiCo has a subscription line for just about every age, but did you know they also offer fun one-time boxes in their shop? They have interactive toys, educational kits that are similar to their monthly boxes, and even some fun holiday-themed boxes. As a mom, I am always intrigued by these boxes, but before I buy, I like to know exactly what I'm getting. This series will provide you with a review of some of these unique one-time boxes and hopefully help you make an informed decision about your own purchases. If there's a box you'd like to see reviewed from their shop, drop a line in the comments and we'll see what we can do!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
This is a review of KiwiCo's Levitating Lantern (recommended for ages 9+) for $27.95.
First Impressions
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The cover on the box listed everything that was inside of the box. It looked like a neat project!
What's Inside the Levitating Lantern Crate?
Everything inside of our box was labeled and neatly organized.
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This booklet contained the instructions for our project along with some extra information about our lantern.
The Pieces
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The main pieces of our lantern were wooden pieces that featured cutouts and were marked with templates making the pieces easy to put together. There were also some strips of adhesive. The lantern screens came in three different colors.
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The rest of the materials were organized in smaller packages. There was a bag of sticky foam shapes, a bag with o-rings and cables, and a bag with our electronic components which included a button, battery pack, and LED light strip.
Building the Lantern
Part A: Wire the Lantern
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My daughter got started by sorting through all of the materials. Then she attached the battery pack to the marked wooden piece and the LED strip to the top of that. Then she attached the button to the hole.
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Next, it was time to match up our red and black wires and test out the button.
Part B: Make it Levitate
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First, she attached an arm to the electric base, securing it with o-rings before using sticky foam to hold the wires in place.
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Next, she added some foam feet to the base before securing the second arm to it.
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She then added the clear cords to each of the four holes in the base. Once she figured out how she wanted her lantern to look, she stuck the other end through the piece with the light on it. I did have to help her hold it, since the arms kept slipping back through.
Part C: Finish the Lantern
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Now it was time to add our paper to the wooden lantern pieces. This was as easy as peeling off the adhesive and sticking the papers on. Each panel then just slid into the slots and was secured by a larger o-ring.
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Finally, she placed the top on the lantern and turned it on by pushing the red button underneath.
The Final Product
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How cool did the lantern turn out? From far away it looks like it's levitating. This will make a great little nightlight, or since it's portable, I have a feeling this will end up being a toy they use for play camping!
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $27.95 + free shipping
This kit was so well-organized, and the directions were easy to follow. The materials seemed to be of quality and now we have a new little lantern to use for whenever! That being said, I think I might have liked to see one more little thing in this box to make it really feel worth the value!
Key Takeaways
This was a really cool project that my daughter enjoyed making. Even though she is a bit younger at age 7, she was easily able to follow the directions to build this. I love how easy it is to operate, too!
To Wrap Up:
Is this box still available? Yes, as of now the Levitating Lantern is still available!
Have you tried any of the boxes from the KiwiCo shop? Let us know in the comments below!
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