5 of the best subscription boxes to keep your kids learning all summer

During the summer, it can be challenging to find ways to keep your kids entertained and learning without having to add more to your already busy schedule. As a mom of three with one on the way, I'm always on the hunt for educational and exciting activities for my kids that involve minimal prep work. Don't get me wrong—I love a good Pinterest craft. But they usually require supplies I don't have on hand and extra time for preparation and setup.

As a former preschool teacher with an education in early childhood development, making sure my kids are engaged in their learning activities is a top priority. So in a day and age when anything and everything is delivered straight to your door, why not take advantage of the fantastic subscription boxes designed for kids? If you don't want to commit to a reoccurring subscription, most offer one-time purchases of their boxes as well!

Here are five subscription boxes for learning activities that are kid-approved.

For STEM: KiwiCo's Young Chemist 3-Pack

KiwiCo's subscription boxes are tailored to all ages—they have kits for babies as young as a few months to high school and beyond. If committing to a monthly subscription isn't for you, KiwiCo even offers the option to shop each kit individually. They offer kits for every subject, but they shine when it comes to their science and STEM activities. My kids (ages 4 & 5) LOVED their Young Chemist 3-Pack set.

These kits come with everything you need, including an instruction manual walking you through how to conduct each experiment step-by-step. It also outlines what the experiment is about and why the reactions occur, and encourages your young scientist to make predictions about the experiments before conducting them.

These kits are interactive, fun, and educational. They hit every mark, and given that they supply you with all you need, setup is a breeze!

For art: We Craft Box

My kids love arts and crafts. As a former preschool teacher, you would think this would be something I would excel in, but alas, it is one of my greatest struggles. When I was teaching, trying to find the right supplies while simultaneously coming up with something creative to do ended up just taking more time away from kids. We Craft Box takes care of all of that and more!

Each of their boxes comes with a themed story, a craft revolving around that theme, easy-to-follow instructions, and of course, all the materials needed. Each month you get a new theme with a new craft. They also have a "one-time order" shop where you can shop the boxes individually without the commitment of a subscription. We Craft Box recommends their boxes for kids aged 3-9, but younger kids can still partake with adult supervision!

For geography: KiwiCo Atlas Crate

KiwiCo's Atlas Crate lets you explore the globe through hands-on projects and crafts. The Atlas Crate covers three different countries and will help your little explorer learn more through creativity and games. Each kit comes with instructions, educational facts, and all the supplies you need!

The age recommendation for this box is six and up, but younger ones can partake with assistance from an adult.

For reading + language: BookRoo

BookRoo is changing the game when it comes to introducing our children to new stories. After teaching for several years, I know some amazing books for kids based on their age, but after a few recommendations, I'm out and looking to Google for more ideas. Well, not anymore! BookRoo is the "world's largest platform dedicated entirely to children's books."

BookRoo offers books for children from ages 0 to 12, and you receive two new books each month based on your child's age. Again, if the commitment of a subscription isn't for you, head to their "Explore" page where you can shop based on interest, author, language, race, linguistic styles, topics, highly reviewed, and so much more! As a bonus, BookRoo is offering 15% off right now with code TIMETOREAD.

For math: KiwiCo Robots and Coding Kit

KiwiCo does it again! Since KiwiCo's primary focus is STEM, it's no wonder they have some fantastic kits to get the wheels spinning in your little engineer's brain. Their Robots and Coding kit is part of Kiwi Camp, which features free printables, videos, and interviews to pair with these kits. This kit will introduce your child to the world of coding and programming through puzzles, games, and even building their own robot! The kit comes with everything you need, from illustrated instructions to supplies.

The age recommendation for this box is five and up, but younger ones can partake with assistance from an adult.