KiwiCo Doodle Crate

What's in the box: A crate typically holds the materials and illustrated instructions for one themed art or craft project, with extra activities and videos available online.

Doodle Crate is KiwiCo's art and design subscription. KiwiCo is a well established US company that sells a range of hands-on project crates for different ages and interests. Each month a new crate arrives with one themed creative project. Past Doodle Crate themes have included printmaking, textile crafts and simple home decor items. The site says subscribers also get bonus content, such as activities and videos, along with the crate. KiwiCo designs its crates to build skills over time, so Doodle Crate fits families who want a steady supply of guided projects rather than open-ended supplies. Projects come with step-by-step instructions, which helps beginners finish something they can be proud of. Experienced young artists may find some kits too structured, and because you can't pick the project each month, a craft your child doesn't like is a real possibility. KiwiCo lists several other subscriptions, so if Doodle Crate isn't the right fit you can switch to a different crate. The homepage FAQ also mentions trying a single crate before committing, which is a sensible way to test interest. This is not a toddler or baby product. KiwiCo's Panda and Koala crates cover younger children.