T is for Tot is a monthly children's subscription box for ages 3-6. Each themed kit contains supplies and activities for play-based learning both project-based and open-ended. The box is curated by a mom and kindergarten teacher to prepare your little one for K with arts and crafts projects, simple STEM experiments, learning materials, a quality children's book, and more.
The Cost: $38.95 per month + free US shipping with annual subscription; $42.95 per month + free US shipping monthly.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Opening The Box
T is for Tot arrives in a white box with a sticker indicating the month's theme on the flap. The box is stuffed with possibilities on the month's theme, and on top is a trifold information card with descriptions and ideas for play.
Here's What's In the Ice Cream Scientist
Info Card
It's space month with T is for Tot! Here their informational fold-out card gives a description of various activities in the box—but as always, what's inside is just as suited to open-ended, child-led play. There are always tons of options how to use the materials. On the back of the card here is a sticker badge that coordinates with the theme of the box, and a QR code you can scan to buy a mystery kit before your next box arrives.
Secret Mission Introduction
This box is formatted as a mission to complete! Inside this Confidential packet are the first few materials needed to get started. Included are instructions for two of the activities, as well as directions to scratch-off and reveal a secret code, which will be used for a fun surprise when they've completed "mission" of doing all the box's activities.
Space Felt Mat
My kids are genuinely fascinated by outer space, and their dad has read enough science fiction space novels to be able to meet their questions with some knowledge. I learn a lot just by overhearing their curiosity! This felt mat is printed with simplified orbital paths for each planet. The included felt planets are printed with NASA images—so cool. It's so great to have this visual of general planet sizes and order, to have something physical to manipulate while we chat about space.
Planets On My Head Game
For this game, one player wears the adjustable headband, and places a card in the front slot without looking at it. Each card has four facts about that planet shown, which the rest of us read to the headband-wearer to try to get them to guess which planet is on their head. Or, for the extra knowledgeable planet people out there, they could use the other side of the cards, which don't have facts listed, and provide their own!
Moon Rock Experiment + Grow Food In Space
The moon rock experiment includes this "moon rock" and a pipette. The task is simple: squirt water on the moon rock and see what happens. The "rock" is a bath bomb of sorts—which, if your kid uses these regularly in the tub, this activity might not be so novel to them. That said, it's totally packed with glitter, which was a nice treat for the eyes! My youngest child is in her second year of preschool, but for early preschoolers this would be a great simple joy of an activity for fine motor skills.
Next is an experiment to see if beans will sprout in a bag. You do this by saturating the provided cotton balls in water, and adding them to the bag with the dried beans, making sure the beans are touching the cotton. Our beans and cotton balls settled to the bottom of the bag pretty quickly. It's day 2 for us and no sprouts yet, but the beans look wrinkly, so something is happening!
My First Book of Planets by Bruce Betts, PhD — Retail Value $4.95
I actually can't believe how cool this book is! It dedicates a page to each planet, plus other celestial bodies and activity in our solar system. Toward the end there is space to contribute your own illustrations or questions. My kids were fascinated by the photos alone, and we're working through the words a little bit at a time. I can already tell this will be one we revisit for many years.
Earth is the most special of them all, of course!
Color & Create Your Rocket + Astronaut Helmet
Start by coloring your rocket ship. Then attach the provided pipette bulb to the back of it, insert the provided paper straw, and blow through the straw to shoot it across the room. Such a cute, no-mess project.
Similarly, this space helmet mask can be colored and then attached to the provided popsicle stick to hold up as a mask.
Astronaut Playdough Cutter + Homemade Playdough
Every T is for Tot kit comes with homemade playdough and a 3D-printed tool to use with it. This month the cutter is a floating astronaut. We enjoy sticking a hand in and seeing what colors are hidden in the playdough tub. We always keep a toothpick handy to get the super-soft homemade playdough back out of the cutter (this is a satisfying activity in and of itself)!
Space Badge
Also included in the box is this astronaut badge with a clip to wear it. Tons of imaginative play jumped out of this one simple item.
Mission Reward
When all the activities are completed, the kids will return to the welcome note and scratch off the secret code (get ready, it's a silly one!). Then they'll visit the mission control panel backdrop and scratch off the red button. What is revealed is a QR code that takes you to a video recorded by an actual astronaut. In the video he asks for the secret code. What a cool, fun touch!
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $38.95 per month + free US shipping with annual subscription; $42.95 per month + free US shipping monthly.
Value Breakdown: The Back to Space T is for Tot box contains 9 activities, but that doesn't even count the lasting fun that can be had playing with the straw rocket and the badge. The book provides lasting learning, the bean experiment is a great way to learn about plant growth even in the winter, and the felt mat is neat keep revisiting. I always say this box is a tremendous value, and I stand by that!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No*, your first kit will be the Human Body box (see review here) and will ship within 1-2 business days after ordering. Expect the following kits to ship by the 10th of each month.
*If you want to buy this Back to Space kit as a gift or one-time purchase, it is currently available here in the T is for Tot shop for $48.
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