activities at home

parent tips

To the grownups working, homeschooling, and parenting – we salute you. Keeping kids entertained and engaged is not easy. Father of two and educator, Matthew Jervis sought solutions for this struggle and wrote a book to provide fellow parents with tips, tricks, and activities for keeping kids busy at home.

How to Keep Your Kids Busy and Get Work Done

Parent tips

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To the grownups working, homeschooling, and parenting – we salute you. Keeping kids entertained and engaged is not easy. Father of two and educator, Matthew Jervis sought solutions for this struggle and wrote a book to provide fellow parents with tips, tricks, and activities for keeping kids busy at home.

travel

new years

Awesome New Year’s Traditions From Around the World

Holiday

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outdoor activities

kiwico news

summer

Announcing Camp KiwiCo: Our At-Home Summer Camp!

KiwiCo news

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Christmas

Hanukkah

atlas crate

food

cooking for kids

It’s the most creative time of the year! All over the world, friends and family gather to make wonderful things for the holidays. Whether it’s painting ornaments to hang on the tree, twining wreaths to decorate the house, baking cookies for holiday swaps, beading necklaces for Kwanzaa, or dipping Hanukkah candles, handcrafting treasures together is the best kind of celebration. To celebrate the season, we explored the globe in search of delightful and creative hand-made traditions to share with you. Here are a few of our favorites:

9 Creative Holiday Traditions from Around the World

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It’s the most creative time of the year! All over the world, friends and family gather to make wonderful things for the holidays. Whether it’s painting ornaments to hang on the tree, twining wreaths to decorate the house, baking cookies for holiday swaps, beading necklaces for Kwanzaa, or dipping Hanukkah candles,  handcrafting treasures together is the best kind of celebration.

Halloween

pumpkin

arts & crafts

fall

Halloween is one of the most creative times of the year, especially when it comes to pumpkins! To celebrate this spooky season, we had our very own pumpkin palooza here at KiwiCo’s Mountain View office, complete with a pumpkin-decorating contest. To fully inspire the team, we provided a big array of pumpkins — from perfectly-shaped Cinderellas to nubby knuckleheads to white Casper and Baby Boo pumpkins! Then we provided a cache of art supplies and came up with prizes! The result: a stunning array of imaginative, funny pumpkins — and lots of fun! Here are some tips along with decorating ideas from our team.

8 Creative Pumpkin Decorating Ideas from the KiwiCo Pros

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Halloween is one of the most creative times of the year, especially when it comes to pumpkins! To celebrate this spooky season, we had our very own pumpkin palooza here at KiwiCo’s Mountain View office, complete with a pumpkin-decorating contest. To fully inspire the team, we provided a big array of pumpkins — from perfectly-shaped Cinderellas to nubby knuckleheads to white Casper and Baby Boo pumpkins!  Then we provided a cache of art supplies and came up with prizes! The result: a stunning array of imaginative, funny pumpkins — and lots of fun! Here are some tips along with decorating ideas from our team.

winter

All over the world, people have turned bad weather into great sculpture–from the igloos of Alaska to the Ice Palace in Finland and the mega-snowman in Bethel Maine. If you’ve got snow, chances are you got snowmen!&nbsp; In fact, snow is a great medium; a brilliant, white, three- dimensional canvas with infinite sculpting possibilities. And it’s free! With just a few tools and some physical exertion, you can create a winter wonderland full of creatures, buildings, planets and more–from simple to spectacular.

6 Awesome Techniques for Building Cool Snowmen

Outdoor Activities

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All over the world, people have turned bad weather into great sculpture–from the igloos of Alaska to the Ice Palace in Finland and the mega-snowman in Bethel Maine. If you’ve got snow, chances are you got snowmen!&nbsp; In fact, snow is a great medium; a brilliant, white, three- dimensional canvas with infinite sculpting possibilities. And it’s free! With just a few tools and some physical exertion, you can create a winter wonderland full of creatures, buildings, planets and more–from simple to spectacular.

behind the design

kiwico store

KiwiCo product designer, Marisa, took on the challenge of cracking shells in the name of science. She quickly learned that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/eggsperiments-project-kit/2979" target="_self">designing a product</a>&nbsp;based around eggs leads to a lot of uneggspected outcomes!The <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/eggsperiments-project-kit/2979" target="_self">Eggsperiments</a> crate is available in the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store</a>, and includes materials and instructions for 5 hands-on egg activities like making a bouncy egg and growing a crystal eggshell!

Behind the design

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KiwiCo product designer, Marisa, took on the challenge of cracking shells in the name of science. She quickly learned that&nbsp;designing a product&nbsp;based around eggs leads to a lot of uneggspected outcomes!

Behind the Design: Eggsperiments

maker crate

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Maker Crate — our newest line for teens and beyond. Maker Crate will provide you with all the tools and instruction to tap into your creativity, learn new techniques, and make something beautiful… and useful.

Introducing Maker Crate: Projects to Inspire Artists and Creatives

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We are thrilled to announce the launch of Maker Crate — our newest line for teens and beyond. Maker Crate will provide you with all the tools and instruction to tap into your creativity, learn new techniques, and make something beautiful… and useful.

the science behind

nature

February 2nd is Groundhog Day!&nbsp;Groundhogs&nbsp;(also called woodchucks) are a member of the squirrel family (they are not hogs at all!)&nbsp; As the tradition goes, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, spring is still 6 weeks off;&nbsp; if the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow, it means warmer weather is on its way. 
Have you ever wondered what causes shadows? Or how a shadow might change shape depending on the time of day or time of year? Look around you now;&nbsp; If you are in a lighted space, chances are you will see a shadow because shadows are all around us. 
Simply speaking, a shadow is the absence of light. Light is a form of energy that travels in a straight line until it hits an object. If the object blocks the light from passing through it, that creates an area of darkness–a shadow–on the other side.

How Shadows are Formed: The Science of Shadows

The science behind

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February 2nd is Groundhog Day!&nbsp;Groundhogs&nbsp;(also called woodchucks) are a member of the squirrel family (they are not hogs at all!)&nbsp; As the tradition goes, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, spring is still 6 weeks off;&nbsp; if the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow, it means warmer weather is on its way.

book list

Cold days and winter weekends are perfect for curling up and reading a good book! Reading helps develop good communication skills and the IMAGINATIONS of young minds! Plus, when children feel confident in their ability to read, they can start to take the initiative when it comes to learning new things. That’s why we offer upgrades to Deluxe on our subscription lines. When you upgrade your KiwiCo subscription to Deluxe, we include a unique book to extend the fun and learning of each month’s crate! Our Deluxe team reviews hundreds of books each season to select our favorites. Since our crates are designed to spark curiosity, innovation, and learning, we chose books that do the same.

Book list

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Cold days and winter weekends are perfect for curling up and reading a good book! Reading helps develop good communication skills and the IMAGINATIONS of young minds! Plus, when children feel confident in their ability to read, they can start to take the initiative when it comes to learning new things. That’s why we offer upgrades to Deluxe on our subscription lines. When you upgrade your KiwiCo subscription to Deluxe, we include a unique book to extend the fun and learning of each month’s crate! Our Deluxe team reviews hundreds of books each season to select our favorites. Since our crates are designed to spark curiosity, innovation, and learning, we chose books that do the same.

Winter 2020 Reading List for Kids

Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day crafts

art how to

<h4>5 Simple Tips for Creating Meaningful Messages for Friends and Family</h4>

How to Help Your Kids Write Awesome Valentine’s Day Cards

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5 Simple Tips for Creating Meaningful Messages for Friends and Family

As we know, summer is shaping up to be quite a bit different than we all imagined. When the team at KiwiCo realized that many of the summer plans we had made to fill our kids’ days were cancelled, the team rallied to put together an&nbsp;in-depth&nbsp;at-home summer camp–filled with awesome activities and projects to spark innovation, creativity, and joy.&nbsp;

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As we know, summer is shaping up to be quite a bit different than we all imagined. When the team at KiwiCo realized that many of the summer plans we had made to fill our kids’ days were cancelled, the team rallied to put together an&nbsp;in-depth&nbsp;at-home summer camp–filled with awesome activities and projects to spark innovation, creativity, and joy.&nbsp;

Peek Inside Camp KiwiCo!

camp kiwico

Come join us this summer at<a href="http://www.kiwico.com/camp"> Camp KiwiCo!</a> We’re creating four different sessions of hands-on activities, videos and content, each geared for different age groups. The camp is brought to you by our awesome creative team who is super excited to bring KiwiCo’s expertise and enthusiasm to your kids!

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Come join us this summer at Camp KiwiCo! We’re creating four different sessions of hands-on activities, videos and content, each geared for different age groups. The camp is brought to you by  our awesome creative team who is super excited to bring KiwiCo’s expertise and enthusiasm to your kids!

Meet the Amazing Guides for Camp KiwiCo!

STEM

ask an expert

Rachel Ignotofsky is a New York Times–bestselling author and illustrator. Her book, Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed the World, is a KiwiCo favorite. A gloriously illustrated celebration of female trailblazers, Women in Science highlights the contributions of fifty notable women to the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with examples from both the ancient and modern worlds. The result is a fun and accessible book that appeals to kids and adults alike!
We sat down with Rachel to ask her about how she came to write this book. In the interview below, she shares more about her process and the importance of telling these women’s stories.

Women in Science: An Interview with Rachel Ignotofsky

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Rachel Ignotofsky is a New York Times–bestselling author and illustrator. Her book, Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed the World, is a KiwiCo favorite. A gloriously illustrated celebration of female trailblazers, Women in Science highlights the contributions of fifty notable women to the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with examples from both the ancient and modern worlds. The result is a fun and accessible book that appeals to kids and adults alike!

Once every four years, we add an extra day to the month of February. A year when this occurs is called a Leap Year (and the day is called a Leap Day) because it makes the dates on the calendar leap ahead by two days of the week instead of one. For example, if your birthday lands on a Friday one year, it would normally land on a Saturday the next year. But if a Leap Day happens, the next year, your next birthday would leap over Saturday and land on Sunday. (The technical term for inserting extra time in calendars is known as intercalation.)

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Once every four years, we add an extra day to the month of February.  A year when this occurs is called a Leap Year (and the day is called a Leap Day) because it makes the dates on the calendar leap ahead by two days of the week instead of one. For example, if your birthday lands on a Friday one year, it would normally land on a Saturday the next year. But if a Leap Day happens, the next year, your next birthday would leap over Saturday and land on Sunday. (The technical term for inserting extra time in calendars is known as intercalation.)

The Science Behind: Leap Year

chemistry

It’s almost Halloween and time for spooky things that glow in the dark! Have you ever visited a dark room in a haunted house where your tee shirt and teeth radiated a greenish or purplish hue? That eery gleam is caused by a special type of light – called ultraviolet light (also known as “black light”) – that can make certain things glow in the dark!

The Science Behind: Things that Glow in the Dark

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It’s almost Halloween and time for spooky things that glow in the dark!  Have you ever visited a dark room in a haunted house where your tee shirt and teeth radiated a greenish or purplish  hue? That eery gleam is caused by a special type of light – called ultraviolet light (also known as “black light”) – that can make certain things glow in the dark!

Are you scrambling to find a holiday gift for the kids in your life — a gift that inspires fun&nbsp;and&nbsp;learning? That will please the kid (most importantly!) but also their parent too?

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Are you scrambling to find a holiday gift for the kids in your life — a gift that inspires fun&nbsp;and&nbsp;learning? That will please the kid (most importantly!) but also their parent too?

Tis the Season for KiwiCo!

child development

indoor project

The Benefits of Reading for Kids that You May Not Know About

Child Development

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The seasons are changing and bringing new colors to our world. Celebrate with your child with nature art! We talked with the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Foraged-Art/Peter-Cole/9781681882598">Foraged Art</a>, Peter Cole, to find out ways to make masterpieces with materials supplied by Mother Nature.<figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; display: block; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: " museo="" sans",="" arial,="" helvetica,="" verdana,="" sans-serif;="" font-size:="" 16px;="" font-style:="" normal;="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-weight:="" 400;="" letter-spacing:="" orphans:="" 2;="" text-align:="" start;="" text-indent:="" 0px;="" text-transform:="" none;="" white-space:="" widows:="" word-spacing:="" -webkit-text-stroke-width:="" background-color:="" rgb(255,="" 255,="" 255);="" text-decoration-thickness:="" initial;="" text-decoration-style:="" text-decoration-color:="" initial;"=""></figure>

Nature Art for Kids: Crafts with Flowers, Leaves, and Rocks

Arts & Crafts

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The seasons are changing and bringing new colors to our world. Celebrate with your child with nature art! We talked with the author of&nbsp;Foraged Art, Peter Cole, to find out ways to make masterpieces with materials supplied by Mother Nature.

Now, more than ever, is a great time to discover (or rediscover) the joy of reading. Whether you and your kids are looking for ways to fill extra hours at home, find some balance vs. screen time, or simply escape for a little while to an alternate reality (aren’t we all!) – a good book can deliver on all those things. Great reading requires great books. To help provide recommendations for our Summer Reading List, we asked our KiwiCo Editorial Team for their favorite books by age. Our editors review hundreds of books each season to handpick selections to pair with our monthly crates, which we send as part of our Deluxe subscription. (PSA: you can upgrade your subscription – for any line except Maker and Eureka – and get a book delivered every month selected to complement that month’s crate theme!). Since our crates are designed to spark curiosity, learning and innovation, we love books that do the same.<figure style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; display: block; position: relative; outline: 0px !important; clear: both; caret-color: rgb(116, 133, 144); color: rgb(116, 133, 144); font-family: proximaNovaRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img data-image="oup2w145pt3r" src="https://csicdn.kiwico.com/v3/assets/blt5d966d0d1776691c/blt7340e7af4bca37a3/606dcd4f3d85432b0f81dc3c/Screen-Shot-2020-05-14-at-3.04.42-PM-1024x688.png" data-sys-asset-uid="blt7340e7af4bca37a3" alt="Screen-Shot-2020-05-14-at-3.04.42-PM-1024x688.png" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; outline: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; height: auto !important;"></figure>

For little ones, we love beautifully illustrated board books for kids to chew on. Have a reluctant reader? We’ve found that elementary age kids LOVE nonfiction and graphic novels. Does your kid love hands-on activities? Keep your kids busy with crafty DIY workbooks all summer long. Below is a list of recommended books curated by our editors. We’ve organized the list by age group but some of the ages overlap. Each age group includes STEM and STEAM learning titles and all of them are seriously fun! When you upgrade your KiwiCo subscription to Deluxe, we’ll choose a unique title to extend the fun and learning of each month’s crate topic! Most importantly the age level of the book corresponds to your child’s literacy to help expand your child’s reading skills.

KiwiCo Editors’ Picks for Your Kids’ Summer Reading List

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Now, more than ever, is a great time to discover (or rediscover) the joy of reading. Whether you and your kids are looking for ways to fill extra hours at home, find some balance vs. screen time, or simply escape for a little while to an alternate reality (aren’t we all!) – a good book can deliver on all those things. Great reading requires great books. To help provide recommendations for our Summer Reading List, we asked our KiwiCo Editorial Team for their favorite books by age. Our editors review hundreds of books each season to handpick selections to pair with our monthly crates, which we send as part of our Deluxe subscription. (PSA: you can upgrade your subscription – for any line except Maker and Eureka – and get a book delivered every month selected to complement that month’s crate theme!). Since our crates are designed to spark curiosity, learning and innovation, we love books that do the same.

art project

We’re pairing creative challenges with tips from experts! Last week’s challenge was to make art with materials from nature, so we chatted with the author of Foraged Art. This week’s challenge is to draw an undiscovered dinosaur, so we collected tips from the illustrator of the Tiny T. Rex books! <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/tiny-t-rex-and-the-impossible-hug-dinosaur-books-dinosaur-books-for-kids-dinosaur-picture-books-read-aloud-family-books-books-for-young-children/9781452170336"> Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug</a> is a sweet story about a dinosaur who wants to comfort his friend but can’t (something many of us are familiar with in the age of quarantine). However, Tiny T. Rex is not stuck inside. His arms are just too short to hug his dino friend. After receiving advice and going on an adventure, Tiny finds a way to be there for his friend. Along the way, readers meet colorful dinosaurs drawn by illustrator Jay Fleck.

How to Draw a Dinosaur | Tips from the Illustrator of Tiny T. Rex

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We’re pairing creative challenges with tips from experts! Last week’s challenge was to make art with materials from nature, so we chatted with the author of Foraged Art. This week’s challenge is to draw an undiscovered dinosaur, so we collected tips from the illustrator of the Tiny T. Rex books!

outdoor project

Cheer up Your Neighbors with Sidewalk Chalk

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<h4>What do your kids want to do when they grow up?</h4>
When we interviewed kids to find out what they dreamed of becoming when they grew up, being an&nbsp;astronaut&nbsp;was high on nearly everyone’s list. (Honestly, a lot of us want to be astronauts too!) To help give kids a jumpstart on this dream we created the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kiwico.com/astronaut-starter-kit.html">Astronaut Starter Kit</a>&nbsp;(part of our new Professions series in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kiwico.com/store">KiwiCo Store</a>, which also include a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store/new-arrivals/vet-starter-kit.html">Vet Starter Kit,</a>&nbsp;for all the animal lovers out there.) The Astronaut Starter Kit is complete with hands-on projects and fun facts designed to spark wonder and “whoa, awesome!” reactions.

Blast off into Space with KiwiCos Awesome Astronaut Starter Kit

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What do your kids want to do when they grow up?

engineer week

engineering

<a href="http://www.discovere.org/our-programs/engineers-week">National Engineers Week</a>&nbsp;celebrates the awesome feats of engineers everywhere. Engineering is the branch of science and technology that deals with the design, construction, and use of engines, machines, and structures. On a deeper level,&nbsp;engineering thinking is a creative method of problem-solving in which you figure out the ways things relate to each other to understand and build more complex systems.

Every Week is Engineers Week at KiwiCo﻿!

Engineering

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National Engineers Week&nbsp;celebrates the awesome feats of engineers everywhere. Engineering is the branch of science and technology that deals with the design, construction, and use of engines, machines, and structures. On a deeper level,&nbsp;engineering thinking is a creative method of problem-solving in which you figure out the ways things relate to each other to understand and build more complex systems.

Leslie Jonath

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