In light of the current circumstances across the globe, many parents are facing the prospect of homeschooling this coming school year. But, making the decision to homeschool is no easy task! A big challenge lies ahead -- getting organized, selecting a homeschool curriculum, and getting ready for excitement, fun, and learning.
What is the main motivation for parents to homeschool?
Many parents, both before and during the pandemic, are making the enthusiastic and confident shift to homeschooling. There are many reasons parents choose homeschooling, like giving kids a hands-on higher-quality education that involves the whole family.
In "Understanding Parental Motivation to Home School: A Qualitative Case Study," author Nolen Ben Olsen writes, the eight "factors that led them to make the initial decision to home school are peer socialization, religion, special needs of the child, parents' negative experiences as schoolchildren, child safety concerns, environmental issues, recruitment, and the pure freedom to choose homeschooling for your family."
If homeschooling is right for you or you're already well into your career as a homeschooling parent, how can you minimize your struggles and maximize your successes? We think a big part of that equation is making sure your homeschool classroom is well-prepared.
What are the benefits of a homeschool subscription box?
One easy way to create fun and engaging lessons for your kiddos is by using educational subscription boxes. Curated by educators and experienced homeschool moms and dads, these monthly subscription boxes bring prepped-and-planned STEM projects, literary-themed crafts, and tasks that foster empathy and emotional growth.
From science kits to art projects to outdoor gear for kids, we've rounded up some of the best subscription boxes that offer a fun way to bring educational activities into your homeschool experience. Parents and students across the country and around the world can benefit from these grade-A subscription boxes!
What are the best homeschool subscription boxes?
DIY Kids STEM & Crafts Kit – Award Winning Kids Science and Art Box
Why You'll Love It: Green Kid Crafts is all about sending mentally stimulating STEAM activities and crafts that help kids between the ages of 2-10 explore the world of science through art and creativity. Placing an emphasis on being sustainable and earth-friendly, each box is packed with themed activities and hands-on projects, along with the carbon-neutral materials and supplies needed to complete them.
Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. within 1-4 days of processing your order
Creation Crate: 12 Electronic Projects Annually
Why You'll Love It: Bring the world of electronics and coding to life for your tweens and teens with Creation Crate. Designed as a progressive curriculum that helps to reinforce the fundamentals and challenges kids to go further, each new box builds upon previously learned skills. They'll learn all about STEM fields while gaining valuable programming skills through an Online Classroom, video tutorials and lessons, and bonus design challenges!
Shipping: Ships worldwide from Canada within 3-5 business days from ordering, then every 30 days thereafter
Bitsbox
Why You'll Love It: Instead of banning all screen time from your homeschool space, let the kids learn the ins and outs of what's behind the screens with Bitsbox. Exploring the creative side of technology, this monthly box subscription guides 6- to 12-year-olds through the process of creating and building apps from the ground up. Choose from 2 box sizes that deliver thought-provoking coding projects, colorful guides and fun extras.
Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. within 1 business day of ordering
DIY Kids Crafts Kit – Award Winning Kids Art and Craft Box
What’s Included: Lucky Llamas, Happy Songbirds and A Monster Party: these are just some of the fun themes and stories brought by We Craft Box. This unique monthly subscription box provides excellent value with stress-free crafting designed for kids ages 3-9. Each box leaves the prep work to the pros, bringing 2-3 complete craft kits, including all the supplies, tools, and step-by-step instructions to let little imaginations run wild!
Shipping: Ships to select countries from the U.S. on the 1st of the month
Little Learners Busy Box
Why You'll Love It: Enjoy a discount when you use a special coupon code on your first Little Learners Busy Box, a monthly subscription that can save your sanity by sending a mix of 5 or more pre-prepped busy boxes that cater to toddlers and younger children. Every box is designed for you to mix and match to make even more fun and educational activities, and all are packed in reusable containers for easy storage.
Shipping: Ships to select countries from the U.S. between the 5th-8th of the next month
The Preschool Box
Why You'll Love It: Available for one, two, or three kids, give your littles the encouragement they need to learn their colors, shapes, numbers and phonics with The Preschool Box. Whether you're looking to homeschool because of the current situation, or you think it's the best path for your family to take, give your kids a head start with interactive preschool activities, new books, stickers, and an instructional parent guide in this subscription service.
Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. except for select countries on the 6th of every month
Little Dreamers Club Crafts Subscription Box - MONTHLY Subscription Box
Why You'll Love It: Little Dreamers Club is a monthly subscription that combines reading, crafting and imaginative learning for preschoolers and older kids. They'll get the encouragement they need to approach learning activities with confidence when they unbox a themed assortment of craft projects and high-quality art supplies, a top-rated book, a badge, activity pages, fun facts and ideas for continued learning!
Shipping: Only ships within the U.S. immediately after ordering, with renewals shipping on the 5th of every month
My First Reading Club
What’s Included: If field trips to the local library have been momentarily paused, start building up your personal collection by joining My First Reading Club. On a mission to cultivate a passion for reading, literacy experts set out to share amazing stories with kids of all ages. Choose a box to match their age and skill level, then get a monthly delivery of board books, hardcover children's books, or chapter books.
Shipping: Only ships in the U.S. within 2 business days of ordering, with renewals shipping on the 1st of every month
Sensory TheraPLAY Box!
What’s Included: From soft and squishy to bumpy and textured toys, the Sensory TheraPLAY Box was created to help kids with tactile stimulation! A great tool for teaching and calming toddlers, young kids, and those with specific sensory processing needs, stimulate their mind with everything from putty and play foam to fidget toys, spiky gloves, and games that involve plenty of hands-on play.
Shipping: Ships to select countries from the U.S. during the 1st week of each month
Beautiful Discovery Box
What’s Included: Learn to look at nature through a new, inquisitive lens with Beautiful Discovery. Each progressive box sets out to help older kids and teens explore and decode all the patterns found in nature, including stripes, spirals, fractals and more! The mysteries of the natural world will unravel through standalone lessons that include everything from STEM activities and coding projects to eco-games, origami, and arts and crafts.
Shipping: Ships worldwide from the U.S. on the 4th of the month
