12 of the best subscription boxes for children

Subscription boxes have become the hottest trend in online shopping - and not only were they perfect way to keep the children entertained during lockdown and as treats for friends and family far away - they are the only gifts that keep on giving. Offering excitement, inspiration and quality with many which can be tailored to the child's interests and life stage so make the perfect personalised treat. A surprise box in the post every month for 3, 6, 12 or mores - we mean, whats not to love?

With subscriptions boxes for babies including sensory boxes and toy clubs to luxe art boxes or inspiring cooking kits for keeping boredom at bay. There's such a huge choice on the market that selecting the perfect one can be little overwhelming. So, we've selected our favourites so you can treat those little ones near and far.

12 of the best subscription boxes for babies & children

For babies first year...

The Baby's First Year Subscription by The Little Sensory Box is a quarterly series of four baby development play boxes, carefully curated to provide all the toys and resources needed to stimulate a baby's senses from 0-12 months and beyond.

Each box is bursting with age-appropriate kit and comes complete with a downloadable play and development guide tailored to baby’s next development milestones. With open-ended pieces that complement one another - in terms of both quality and play potential - these boxes last well beyond that glorious first year.

• The Babies First Year Subscription Package is a quarterly based subscription, you will be charged £43.97 per quarter - or can pay in full year upfront
• Ideal for newborn to 12mths
• Order at: thelittlesensorybox

For budding artists...

LoLA, otherwise known as Lots of Lovely Art, is an educational art box for children of all ages. In each LoLA box, children learn about art history and art techniques through projects inspired by individual artists. Every month a new art theme includes clear, simple instructions to start children off, and give them the confidence to be independently creative.

Each beautifully presented box also contains process based art ideas to stimulate the imagination. LoLA also suggests trips and recommended books relating to the featured artists.

• One-off Art Boxes, from £27 and subscription boxes from £21.60 for 3 months
• Ideal for ages 3+ (LoLA for Little Ones Boxes ages 3+ and LOLA Boxes 6 years +)
• Order at: lotsoflovelyart

For putting the fun into learning...

Set up by a primary school teacher to inspire a life-long love of history in kids, Mysteries In Time is an educational subscription box for 7–11 year olds. Each parcel is a special 'Time Machine' bursting with activities themed around topics like Ancient Egypt, the Vikings or Aztecs.

Each box contains an illustrated adventure book, an accompanying history booklet and extras like a craft project with all materials included, stickers, puzzles, bookmarks, colouring in and a surprise gift, all linked to that month's topic.

A great idea for anyone who wants to encourage their child to learn without them even knowing it – and a previous Junior Design Award winner for best kids’ subscription box too.

• Classic box £8.95, bumper box £15.95, both include free UK postage. Buy as a one-off or select a monthly, quarterly or bi-annual plan.
• Ideal for 7-11 year olds
• Order at: mysteriesintime

For developing a positive and healthy relationship with food...

Junior Design Award winning Not Just Nibbles Gift Subscription Box is a healthy, allergen-free, planet-friendly, plant-based cooking kits that take children on a monthly food focused tour of the world.

Each month they will visit a new country in search of different flavours and cultures to spark their curiosity about the world. With all of the dry ingredients included and a beautifully illustrated recipe card, plus stickers, badges, booklets and hours of extra food fun, they have everything they need to start their culinary journey.

• Boxes from £14.99 per month and one-off boxes from £19.99
• Ideal for ages 6+
• Order at: notjustnibbles

For playful pre-schoolers...

The Toy Box Club is a toy subscription service for pre-schoolers offering an eco-friendly, clutter-busting approach to giving your children an ever-changing array of toys to play with. Delivering a selection of age appropriate toys and books to your home every month - then each month the previous delivery is collected and replaced by a new set of toys.

Thee boxes filled with 6-8 toys help not only to reduce the amount of toys you buy and that will inevitably grow out of or tire of but, also means less overstuffed toy boxes at home. Also, if your child really became attached to a particular toy, parents have the option of buying it. Visit the website for Covid-19 update.

• Boxes from £35 per month (there is also a refundable disport and yearly fee to be paid)
• Ideal for 0-4 years old
• Order at: toyboxclub

For crafty kids...

ToucanBox send you lovely hands-on craft boxes that let your child make then play. Each one champions STEAM and is put together by educational experts and inspired by Montessori learning to help develop key skills - but the projects are lots of fun too. The boxes contain one, two or four makes, depending on which size you select, with materials and instructions, plus collectible stickers.

Your can personally choose the first two crafts boxes from a selection and includes the monthly toucanBox magazine, colourful stickers and a surprise collectable. Themes include Dream Cather, Space Explorer, HoneyBee & Bamboo Hive, Mini Greenhouse and more.

• Boxes from £8.95 a month + P&P (£7.95 for 3 month subscription, £6.95 for 6 maths and £5.95 for 12 months)
• Ideal for 3-8 year olds
• Order at: toucanbox

For inspiring adventurous cooking...

Aspiring chefs or just young foodies will be a heaven with Foodini Club, a cooking and craft subscription service for kids who love to cook, featuring a new making & baking experience every month. Ideal for parents that would like to encourage children to be more adventurous in the kitchen.

Each pack includes two seasonal healthy recipes (1 sweet & 1 savoury), easy to follow instructions, shopping lists, pre-measured dry ingredients (allergy conscious ingredients possible) in biodegradable pouches, a craft activity and more.

• Boxes from £12.75 per month for 3 months (£12.50 per month for 6 months/£11.50 per month for 12 months)
• Ideal for 5-12 year olds
• Order at: foodiniclub

For little scientists...

Founded by Dr Bryan Hatton and Mia Hatton with a mission to help families play with science, Letterbox Lab has reinvented the traditional science and STEM kit to be more fun, more educational and more convenient. These letterbox-sized kits are designed as a 12-box series each experiment for children aged 6+

With everything you need to perform incredible experiments with your children it means no prep time or extra materials required, and with instructions so clear you can get started with ease. And, for children it’s the beginning of an adventure that will take them over the rainbow, across space and into the inner workings of the natural world.

• From £12 per month (£11.25 for 3 month subscription) including p&p
• Ideal for ages 6+ (The Explore box - for age 6-12+ or the Investigate box -for age 8-12+)
• Order at: letterboxlab

For brilliant bedtime stories...

Give the gift of reading with Bookabees. These monthly boxes contain books handpicked for your child and activities and stickers to keep them busy. Either let the experts choose the titles included or pick them yourself and then you have two months to read and return for free, to be enjoyed by another reader.

They are only sent out 5-7 times, depending on condition, before being sent to a charity shop. But if you can't be parted with any of your new stories, you can buy them for half off the cover price.

• 1 book per month £9.99, 3 books per month £19.99, 3 books per month £29.99 including p&p, and for FLEX subscribers returning the books is included too
• Suitable for 0-11 year olds
• Order at: bookabees

For those long days stuck indoors...

You can buy sunshine in a box! The Rainy Day Box is all about good old-fashioned fun, whatever the weather - powered by kids not batteries.

Each one contains a minimum of three activities with easy-to-follow picture instructions, a bonus recycling task, a prize chart, reward sticker, 'everlasting' glue tube and art brush.

They can be tailored to girls, boys or unisex. There are monthly subscription available, a 'build your own box' option with five items included or pre-prepared themed boxes in various prices.

• Letterbox club: six-month subscription £7.95 including p&p (12-month subscription £7.25).Seasonal activity boxes from £7.99
• Ideal for children over 3 years old
• Order now at rainydaybox

For budding Bake-Off Contestants...

A subscription box for kids who love to bake! Little Cooks Co. is a monthly letterbox size box of dry ingredients with step by step baking instructions and extra activities to bake a delicious refined sugar free treat. Each nutritionist designed recipe is easy to follow, with clear labelling, good quality organic ingredients - and, is a really great way to encourage children to learn about, make and enjoy food at home.

Arriving in eco-friendly packaging – all boxes are recyclable and the packaging is compostable – and for every recipe box sold, Little Cooks pays for a vulnerable school child in the UK to receive a healthy breakfast through their partnership with the charity Magic Breakfast.

• From £12.99 a month ( £12 per month for 3 months/ £10 per box for 6 months/£8.33 per month for 12 months)
• Ideal for 3-10 year olds
• Order at: littlecooksco

For book worms..

Parrot Street Book Club subscription boxes are designed to supercharge a love of reading with an exciting monthly delivery with a twist. Each letterbox-friendly parcel contains a brilliant chapter book to keep, plus a fun-filled activity pack inspired by that month’s book to encourage subscribers to think and talk about the books they’ve read.

Offering handpicked books that you may not easily discover for yourself and including a range of activities that the whole family can enjoy. What better way to keep the digital distractions at bay? Parrot Street also make a donation to Coram Beanstalk, a fantastic literacy charity that provides one-to-one support in schools to children who have fallen behind with their reading.

• From £39.95 for 3 months including p&p
• Ideal for 5 to 11 -year-olds
• Order at: parrotstreetbookclub