STEAM & STEM Subscription Boxes Your Kids Will Love

Encourage your kids love of science, technology, engineering, and math with one of these STEM boxes full of projects, activities, and fun!

By Linda DiProperzio February 18, 2021

Educators all over the world agree: STEM (the abbreviation for science, technology, engineering, and math) and STEAM (adding art to STEM) is the future, teaching valuable skills children need to succeed in school and beyond. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to encourage your kids to get on the STEAM train right in your own home through a variety of monthly STEAM and STEM boxes your kids can get on a subscription basis. We’ve rounded up a few options to get you started. And check out our STEM toy and game roundup for even more STEM and STEAM fun at home!

STEAM & STEM Boxes for All Ages

Kiwi Co.
Ages: 2-14+
Cost: Starts at $16.95 per month

Kiwi is a one-stop shop, offering a variety of STEM subscription ages for different age groups, including Koala Crate (ages 2-4), Kiwi Crate (ages 5-8), Tinker Crate (ages 9-16) and Maker Crate (ages 14+). Each kit includes hands-on STEM activities, as well as lessons to explain the skills or principles being taught through each activity.

Green Kids Craft
Age: 2-10+
Cost: $29.95 per month

Does your child love nature and art? If so, this is the STEAM box for them. Parents can choose between two different subscriptions: Junior Boxes for kids ages 2-5 or Discovery Boxes for kids 5-10+. Founded by mother and environmental scientist Penny Bauder, each Green Kids Craft box includes 4-6 science and art projects, as well as a 12-page magazine to support each activity’s lessons. The company even plants a tree for every order placed, and eco-friendly practices are used as much possible to produce each box.

STEAM & STEM Boxes for Kids

Groovy Lab in a Box
Age: 4-8+
Cost: Starts at $29.95 per month

This company offers two options: The Young Creator Series (ages 4-7) and the STEMist Series for kids 8 and over. Every Groovy Lab in a Box aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards, a multi-state effort to create new science education standards. Each box comes with a Lab Notebook, where kids can learn more about that month’s lessons and document their findings. There is also access to the “Beyond…in a Box” online learning portal with videos and additional activities.

Little Passports
Age: 5-8+
Cost: $27.95 per month

Little Passports offers two subscription box options. Science Junior for ages 5-8 provides hands-on experiments, as well as adventure comics with additional games and activities, trading cards with fun facts, and stickers. Science Expeditions for 8 and older features a 16-page comic book with glossary and bonus activities, achievement badges for each monthly theme, and access to bonus online videos and science content.

Superpower Academy
Age: 5-10
Price: Starts at $33 per month

This innovative subscription program combines social emotional learning with STEM activities. Kids join the Superpower Academy, participating in “Secret Missions” each month that promote skills like dealing with frustration, refusing to give up, and expressing empathy.

Spangler Science Club
Age: 5-12
Price: $24.99 per month

Each kit features interactive experiments and hands-on activities created by American’s science teacher Steve Spangler. Kids will receive the materials and instructions to perform 3-5 experiments each month, with a focus on different themes. And since collaboration is encouraged, the projects are meant to be completed with another child, so it’s perfect for siblings or if you want to split the cost with a friend.

Bitsbox
Age: 6-12
Price: Starts at $16.95 per month

Kids learn to code each month through a series of fun and engaging app projects. Every box comes with a mix of coding projects, ranging from simple to more advanced, with users starting with the original code, but then changing it to make it their own. The apps run on any computer, tablet, or phone with a web browser.

Club SciKidz Labs
Age: 7 and older
Cost: Starts at $32.95 per month

After signing up for a subscription, your child will receive a Welcome Box that includes an exclusive lab notebook, activity manual, safety glasses, magnifying lens, pipettes and forceps, and an assortment of experiments and projects. Then each month, they will get a collection of science and technology activities and supplies based on a monthly theme. Some past themes have included Build an FM Radio, The Sounds of Music, Incredible Insects, Spooky Science, and The Science of Toys.

STEAM & STEM Boxes for Tweens & Teens

Beautiful Discovery
Age: 9 and older
Price: Starts at $35 per month

This subscription box is all about science and art activities that focus on decoding nature patterns in real pine cones, shells, crystals, leaves, and more. Each box includes science-oriented games, drag-and-drop block code, stories, and art activities.

Creation Crate
Age: 12 and older
Price: Starts at $29.99 per month

The projects sent out in this STEM box combine building hardware and programming software. Each kit includes a NO R3 micro-controller, as well as all of the necessary components to build the project. Kids also have access to an online course that includes instructions, video tutorials, exercises, troubleshooting support, and more.