(I want to make clear that yes, I know that in the grand scheme of things, canceling a trip is not a big deal. But, it’s still disappointing.)

We are all a bit bummed, so we decided to make a virtual trip instead. And where else would we start but with the food? Because eating our way through a country is one of the best ways to get a feel for its culture.

Seriously, a lot of times whenever we go on a trip, trying local food is 90% of what we do, and bring back with us if we can.

Spain is one of the largest countries in Europe and has several different regions known for different things. Some for wine and grapes, some for beaches, others for ham so soft and tender it practically melts in your mouth.

To make our virtual food trip both authentic, and simple enough to actually make, we decided to use our Spain box from Raddish Kids. I talk about a lot in this post, but basically it’s an awesome themed box that arrives monthly full of delicious recipes, culinary quizzes, a high-quality cooking tool to be used for one of the month’s recipes, (like a spatula, tongs, masher, whisk, measuring cups, etc.) and some extras to help you learn more about the theme. I love that it helps me have fun while cooking with my kids.

Inside our Spain box the recipes were for Tapas, Spanish Paella and Churros. Tapas are small plates, like appetizers, meant to be finger foods. These were such a hit in our house we’ll definitely be making them again:

Dates wrapped in Bacon, Roasted potatoes and Pan con tomate (bread with tomato) They were all sooo good, and my kids loved them.

While this paella isn’t the most authentic version (there aren’t shellfish, thank goodness) it is pretty close, and definitely kid friendly. Those people at Raddish really do know what they’re doing.

And for dessert we used our included piping bag and made churros with chocolate sauce. I loved that my daughter could help and learned how to use a piping bag to make these .

Oh. my. goodness. They’re delicious! Ours are even gluten free and they turned out perfectly. The combo of the cinnamon sugar, and the chocolate is simply divine.

While eating I quizzed the kids about the different regions in Spain and what they’re famous for, and they colored them in on the included map. (Valencia for oranges!) We also practiced some basic Spanish words and phrases that were included. Since B and K already know them all because they’ve had Spanish for years, they taught them to C who hasn’t. It was fun watching them practice together.

We love all of our Raddish Kids cooking boxes because they make cooking together so fun and easy. The recipes are always delicious, and often more simplified and kid friendly than some strictly “authentic” versions of food. (Like with the Paella not having shellfish or their French Nicoise salad that doesn’t have tuna or green beans. But, I like these versions better myself, so I’m not complaining!)

We especially adore the boxes dedicated to a specific country because we love eating foods from around the world. This box was especially appreciated since it helped us feel a little better about not being able to be there in person–and everyone gobbled everything up too!

The post Cooking with Kids: A Trip to Spain appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

You may have heard me mention this before, but instead of typical toys, I like buying educational activities for my kids to help them learn and grow–while having fun!

But, finding the time to curate all of those activities and gather materials (some of which come in very big packages that will sit forEVER in our craft drawers) and putting it all together is pretty time consuming.

I’ve also mentioned before that I’m not super into subscriptions because they can be pricey with 3 kids on a monthly basis. I am, however, a fan of getting them for Christmas or birthdays because it’s a present that keeps on giving and isn’t forgotten in a corner the next week.

That’s where the Kiwi Crate and their educational activities for kids comes in.

What is Kiwi Crate?

It is a collection of 8 different monthly “Crates” or boxes, sent to your home filled with educational activities for kids related to STEAM: science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Each month’s crate is different, and segmented by age group and/or interest.

I love this concept, because STEAM skills are so important for kids to learn today. They are the skills they need to succeed in the world of today–and tomorrow. Plus, it’s really cool to know how the world works!

Kiwi Crate’s dedication to educational activities for kids is evident in every line that they create.

For example, my son LOVES technology, building things, robotics and engineering so last year we got him the Tinker Crate because it is hands-on STEM projects for kids 9-16.

Each month features everything you need to complete a specific project, plus extra projects you can also complete, and loads of online resources too.

What types of crates are there?

Panda Crate for ages 0-24 months: This one is for the littlest learners. Each crate is designed to help babies learn by doing. Playing, exploring, and interacting with their care givers. This crate also grows with your child, with materials and activities specifically selected for your child’s age when you register. There’s a “magazine” for parents about the current developmental stage, activity cards to help facilitate play, and something for the child to use/play with.

Child development experts, educators and doctors, vet everything that goes into each crate so you can feel confident with everything you get!

I mean, how cute are these?!:

Koala Crate for ages 2-4: This one is for the preschoolers. The explorers, the adventurers, those discovering the world for the first time. Having a self-contained box is helpful at this age because like I said before, getting all the materials you need, and creating fun can be time consuming.

There’s a “magazine” that explains everything, with additional activities beyond the main one, and offers insights into your child’s development too. Each month’s theme is different, but is sure to be something hands on and fun!

Kiwi Crate for ages 5-8: This is the original. Designed to help kids learn and explore in a hands-on way. Each month is based on a theme and includes all the materials you need for a specific project. Past crates include the science of color and a treasure hunt. They include science activities, arts and crafts, and imaginative play.

Like the other crates, it also includes a magazine with information about the theme and more activities to do too.

Atlas Crate for ages 6-11: This one is new, and teaches kids to enjoy and explore other cultures! I am sooooo excited about this, because teaching my kids about other countries is really important to me.

Each crate is designed to give kids immersive, hands-on experiences that connect them with unfamiliar lands and people. Building a sense of global citizenship is a great by product.

When you register for the Atlas Crate, your journey begins with The World Crate, and you meet two “friends” Milo and Anya who help you learn about the world–even building a miniature globe of your own!

Doodle Crate for ages 9-16+ is for the artists and creators. These crates introduce fun crafting materials and interesting techniques. Kids learn to see how materials can transform and that they can use them in creative ways.

Each box contains everything you need to complete a project, plus extra ideas to continue your creativity with the materials.

Tinker Crate for ages 9-16+ is for kids who like to get creative in a scientific way. Kiwi believes, “STEM is a key to creative problem solving, a foundation for critical thinkers, and a pipeline to innovation.”

That’s what the Tinker Crate is all about. Each box contains a project that is simple enough to build, but requires creative thinking so they’re fun for different kinds of learners.

This is what we’ve found from the Tinker Crate. The projects are fun and unique. They caused my son to get better at following directions, building, and finding creative ways to do more.

Maker Crate for ages 14+ is for artists and designers. These projects are more like the older version of the Doodle Crate. Similarly, these boxes are designed for experimentation with materials and techniques in creating a craft project that is fun–and useful too.

Eureka Crate for ages 14+ is for kids that want to move beyond the Tinker Crate and engineer amazing projects. It’s all about hands-on lessons in creative applications of science and engineering principles so kids can solve a real-world problem. 

In addition, these projects are more involved and more difficult than the Tinker Crate ones, so make sure your child is closer to the age recommendation unless they have a lot of experience.

What are the Kiwi Crates Like?

My son LOVES getting his box every month. He loves opening it up and getting started building right away.

Each box contains everything needed for the project, plus the magazine with all the directions for creating the project. There are additional educational activities for the kids to play with too.

Their emails ah-maz-ing too. Each one has several links to so many other resources, extra projects, occasional virtual camps and more.

The projects are really interesting and the materials are high quality. Tinker crates and above have, projects that are useful, well made and can last a long time. With the other projects you’re likely to keep them for a few days and then recycle them.

My son is in the middle of creating a working lantern that he plans on using when we go camping.

How much does a Kiwi Crate cost?

Each crate is available for subscription lengths of monthly, 3 months, 6 months or 12 months. The longer you subscribe, the cheaper each box is. You can also pause or cancel any time, but, it will auto renew unless you cancel, so keep that in mind.

The price per crate varies by which line you choose. Most of the boxes start at $19.95 for one month and are between $15-25 for a 12 month subscription. The Panda is the least expensive and the Maker and Eureka are more because they’re the most involved and have higher quality materials.

The Cons

For younger children the projects require a lot of adult supervision and can include small pieces. However,the crates designed for older kids require less adult supervision. When you have multiple children, the cost can be a prohibitive factor, but having grandparents or other family contribute as a gift is a great idea.

Final thoughts on the Kiwi Crate

If you value creativity, hands-on activities over electronics, and fun as a form of entertainment and learning, you’ll love it. If your kids like something to look forward to, and have fun creating and playing with new projects, they’ll love it.

When it comes to educational activities for kids, Kiwi Crate definitely knows what they’re doing. Industry experts develop each box, and kid testers make sure they work, and that they’re high quality too.

While writing this Kiwi Crate review, I asked my son what his favorite thing about them is and he said, “It’s really fun to make things. I like how it gives me idea on how to expand on the basic project.”

I love that my son is learning valuable skills that he’s interested in too, and beginning to explore additional projects on his own.

Having lines designed for all ages and STEAM interests–both science and art is what sets Kiwi apart from other options. Plus, its easy to change lines if you need to. You can change your box if it isn’t quite right for your child at any time.

Get 30% off with code LEARN30 to get started creating today.

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The post Kiwi Crate Review: STEAM Activities for Kids appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.