KiwiCo Panda Crate Review + Discount Code | Count With Me
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Our second KiwiCo crate came in for Evelyn! Within a matter of weeks, she mastered her last crate so we were anxiously awaiting crate number 2. And it did not disappoint! My favorite part is that we can continue to use these toys for alternative uses and learn how to use them in new ways. As I type this, she is using the stacking cups to scoop her rice in her sensory play tub. Well let’s just jump right into it! Here is why we love KiwiCo, what we received in this months Count With Me Panda Crate, and why the KiwiCo crates help develop healthy and successful child play.
Why KiwiCo?
While getting my education to become a teacher, I discovered the importance of learner-centered instruction. That is where I was introduced to the Montessori Method which is child-centered education. Both forms of education prioritize the learner, their interests, and their capabilities to support learning in a welcoming environment. This form of learning environment attempts to develop a wide range of skills for the learner, more than just their academic ability. So, with this teaching philosophy in mind, I knew I wanted something that supported Evelyn’s natural creativity and curiosity.
KiwiCo was created to do just that, all while helping parents learn how to provide their own enriching experiences. These crates are designed to be fun, easy, and a delightful way for families to spend quality time exploring and creating together. KiwiCo crates come in 8 age ranges, from 0 all the way up to 104 (fun for the whole family, I promise!). Depending on the age range, there may be multiple options for the main theme to be STEM, art, etc. Depending on the age range chosen, the crate could ship every month or every other month.
We ordered the Panda Crate (0-24 months) which ships every other month and is broken down even further into developmentally appropriate themes based on age. Evelyn’s age (17 months at the time) put her into the “Count With Me” crate category.
About the Crate
The Count With Me crate was designed to help babies and toddlers learn independent exploration and play skills. So, all of the toys, books, and items in the crate are specifically designed with that concept in mind. Independent play time is so, so crucial for a baby and toddler development because they are learning creativity, self-reliance, independence, imagination, and to learn from their own mistakes. Evelyn has always been a champ at independent play time and exploring on her own. The crate also explores fine motor skills and social-emotional development.
In the crate:
When you open the crate, the first thing you see are the educational resources for parents. There are activity cards for playing both with and without the toys. The cards with the toys explain each item, how to use it, and how it aids in development. The extra instructional cards help parents learn what their child is capable of, and what items around the house they can use to help develop those skills. These skills are so great for parents who might want additional resources on how to further connect and nurture their kids during play time! I just love that these crates not only provide resources for the children, but educational material for the parents to give them that extra confidence we need - First time mom anxiety here, am I right? Additionally, the ‘Count With Me’ crate explores building number sense, shape & size recognition, and volume. Early math for the win! The sooner we can introduce these concepts, the sooner we can boot that math anxiety.
Board Book
Evelyn’s favorite pastime is still reading a book! KiwiCo crates always include a book with a theme that’s the same as the box theme. They also include online resources, like a sing-along to listen to, along with a few more book suggestions for the parents & kids:
For the Parents: Why It’s Important To Talk Math With Kids
For the Parents: Help Your Child Develop Early Math Skills
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Doggies by Sandra Boynton
Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert
Stacking Cups
The Count With Me stacking cups were an awesome addition to the crate! They encourage independent play with their versatility since they can stack, nest, scoop, be filled, and dumped! You can use these cups to explore patterns and sequences. We started off by placing them in order by number, then stacking them by size, and now we fill them during sensory time to learn about volume. While you are introducing new concepts, such as volume, be sure to allow you child time for independent concentration and exploration before showing them how to use the objects. I thoroughly enjoyed these stacking cups! Since KiwiCo didn't specify how the objects were made, I would like to note that I just wish that these cups were made out of recycled plastics. They are nice and easy to clean though!
Counting Cards
The Count With Me counting cards are great for this age range because they have both the number on the front and shapes with textures on the back. I love the different visuals for counting that this crate provided. Evelyn also loves to explore tactile play, so these were perfect. Tactile play is so important for babies, which is why we try to promote new sensory play items. They learn by touching, grabbing, and sometimes chewing, which is why it is important to always be monitoring your child’s play time. Her favorite thing to do right now is to trace her fingers over numbers or letters, and these numbers are large enough to do that! Overall, I was quite impressed with these flashcards. They were large, thick, and have been so durable so far!
It is not recommended to eat the counting cards, but sometimes you just got to see what the card feels like right?! haha
Cylinder Blocks
This was my absolute favorite addition to the crate! I never would have thought of getting something like this for a baby until the crate. The blocks range in sizes, both in diameter and height, they are made out of solid beechwood, and topped with non-toxic water-based paints and varnish. Evelyn picked up on this puzzle very quickly, I can even mix up the blocks and she will put them in the correct spaces after a few tries.
Nesting Bags
I have actually been searching for some fun Montessori inspired nesting baskets, but the ones on Etsy can be pricy. I'm so thankful they were in this crate! Nesting baskets are perfect for exploring sorting and ordering objects, which is also an early math concept! These baskets are versatile because you can compare the baskets by size by stacking them into each other. You can sort other toys and items by size, placing them in front of the baskets and comparing the sizes. Or, you can compare the volume of the baskets by filling them and counting how many toys fit. I loved that these baskets are soft, safe, and easy to clean! Evelyn hasn't showed much interest in them unfortunately, but I'm sure she will eventually.
Shapes Puzzles
These Shape Puzzles were so neat and Evelyn is all about puzzles right now. They come with three different sizes so you can compare the shapes and sizes, mix up the puzzles for shape recognition, sort the shapes by color, and building hand-eye-coordination by putting the puzzles together. The puzzles are also painted with non-toxic water-based paint and varnish so it is safe for your exploring baby!
I hope you enjoyed our review and maybe learned a little about child development along the way! With gifting season right around the corner, a KiwiCo subscription would be a wonderful gift to a child at any age! KiwiCo also has a generous rewards program where you can earn points towards free products by following simple tasks. So if you have children, know anyone stuck at home with children, or know anyone expecting, I highly recommend KiwiCo as a gift!
If you decide to sign up or gift it, I can’t wait to see what you get! Leave me a comment or tag me on Instagram to tell me how you enjoyed it!
