Do You Have A Child Who Loves Building Things?

If so, this bconnectd email is for you!

Last Christmas, Papa surprised our son Riser with a yearlong subscription to Crunch Labs - a program that delivers a monthly box for kids to build toys or robots.

While the piece of paper under the tree was not a climatic gift at the moment, the Crunch Labs subscription has become one of Riser’s favorite gifts of all time!

We were familiar with Kiwi Co (a monthly subscription box but for building science and art projects) because we had done a 6-month trial in the past, but didn’t continue the subscription for several reasons I will share below.

If you are new to the “subscription kit” world, today we will compare the two products using our 7 year old (Riser’s) own words.

Who wins? Let’s find out.

Kiwi Co: Riser coined it “fun for a minute”

Kiwi Co has subscription kits for ages 0-100 (no really, 100!). With a variety of subjects from arts and crafts to science, Riser loved building a giant claw and mirror glasses that turned everything upside down!

Similar to other kits, everything is included to complete the task (screwdriver and rubber bands etc.) so you don’t need any outside supplies. Plus, the kit comes with a fun booklet of stories and activities.

While the Kiwi Co kit was entertaining at the moment, once it was completed, it found its way onto a shelf never to be played with again. The materials felt a little “cheap” and several of the activities were broken on the first day.

Crunch Labs: Riser coined it “fun for weeks”

Unlike Kiwi Co, this kit has a very specific target audience best described by their mission statement:

“Our goal is to show kids and kids at heart how to Think Like an Engineer. To us, thinking like an engineer isn’t about a profession or degree path, it’s a hands-on approach that helps you accomplish whatever you set your mind to.”

Crunch Labs has 2 subscriptions (one for ages 8-14 and one for 14+).

When asked why he loves Crunch Labs so much, Riser shared that the kits create “funner stuff” like flying saucers that shoot across the room and a car you build that drives back and forth on its own.

Like Kiwi Co, everything needed to complete the task is included, but instead of a booklet with games and a story, Crunch Labs kits come with an entertaining educational 15-30 minute video from Mark Rober (making science FUN).

Additionally, the materials are sturdy and all of his projects are still “in tact,” which is impressive because our kiddos are not very gentle on their toys at this age!

The cons? Crunch Labs has a slightly higher price than the Kiwi Co and Riser wishes he could get 2 or more kits delivered each month instead of just one (ha ha, sorry kid).

If you are not sure if your child will enjoy this type of subscription kit, you can order them individually (monthly) and test it out for a few months. And if you are looking for a more affordable kit, Kiwi Co often has a 6-month subscription sale. But from our experience, the “Annual” subscription for both kits is the most cost effective!

At our breakfast date the other morning, I asked Riser a few of the hard “sales” questions to help parents (and grandparents) like you determine which kit you should consider for your builder.

Here were his responses:

Which kit is the most fun?

“Crunch Labs definitely.”

Which kit is the most educational?

“I don’t like the stories in the book for the other one (Kiwi Co), but I like Mark Rober’s videos we watch and I feel like I learn how to build more stuff.”

Which one would you want to keep doing if we could only do one?

“Crunch Labs!”

Which kit is the most challenging?

“ummmm, I think the Boomerang Car (Crunch Labs). But it’s also my favorite!” 

(I can attest this to be true, this toy has been on my kitchen floor for weeks!!)

At the end of the day, both kits are wonderful for kids who want to build, create, learn, and grow. As a mom, I love that my child is excited and motivated to learn when these kits show up at the door.

If you and your family decide to order one of the kits (no affiliate link), we would love to hear how your child enjoys it - email us and share! We love connecting with other families like yours.

Crunch Labs: https://www.crunchlabs.com/

KiwiCo: https://www.kiwico.com/

Until next time, own what matters : )

Riser and Sarah Brown (+ Brian & Haven)

P.S. If you don’t have an emergency fund with 6 months of living expenses saved…OR a separate account set up to acquire assets…we recommend you don’t buy what we just reviewed. Instead, reply with the phrase “budgeting sucks” and we will get you access to a powerful app that allows you to put your cash flow on autopilot.

P.P.S. If you haven’t answered life’s most important question, anything else we talk about is irrelevant. So consider watching a few minutes or more of this: https://youtu.be/E7t9U1H0t1U

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