Finding activities that are fun and educational for the kids can sometimes be a challenge. I find this to especially be an issue on rainy days or during the long, monotonous winters. I wonder how teachers used to do it when they were in one room school houses and it was normal to teach multiple ages. I find it a challenge with just my three!
I have been very impressed by a monthly activity kit produced by Ivy Kids. The company, Ivy Kids LLC, was started by a mom of two who is a certified early childhood teacher. Two others moms with the same educational background have since joined Ivy Kids.
I was sent the July and August kits by Ivy Kids to review. The boxes appear simple on the exterior, but there are so many goodies waiting inside! The kits are personalized for your child and these monthly educational subscriptions are geared for kids ages 3-8. I requested this kit to be personalized for Caleb, who is three. 
Each kit contains a classic children’s book and activities based on the book. July’s kit is based on Robert Kalan’s Jump, Frog, Jump! Color images of the items included/finished projects are attached inside the lid as an easy reference.
Look at this huge assortment! There are over 10 activities in each monthly box and many of the activities are reusable. 🙂 This one had a personalized door hanger for Caleb and several hands-on activities. 
Caleb loves play dough so he was eager to jump into building a habitat for frogs. We read All About Frogs and then he went to town constructing what he thought the froggies would like for their habitat with a blue paper plate, bag of sand, and the assortment of play dough. 
Another cute activity in July’s kit was Five Green and Speckled Frogs. This activity came with the lyrics and these adorable rubber finger puppets that can be used over and over again.
Each kit has been designed with math, science and literacy in mind. Caleb was able to wiggle the little frogs and animate them jumping into the pond while learning basic subtraction.
Here is another activity, Feed the Frog. Caleb and I were to construct this frog. The tongues and plastic bugs to feed the frog were also included. A glue stick was provided to glue the frog parts to the cup, but for some reason I could not get the glue from the stick to hold the pieces together, no matter how long I held and applied pressure.
I had to dig out my hot glue gun to make the pieces stay on the cup. The cup was smooth and with being curved, it can be a tricky surface to apply to. When done, it was fun to play with the frog. Caleb could practice adding and subtracting the bugs to his frog’s lunch and also work on hand and eye coordination with using the tongues. 
The August kit is based on Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh. 
Mouse Paint has a lot of color recognition projects. There was plastic color paddles included. Laminated sheets were also included. Caleb would match the paddles to the image of the same color on the sheets. Instructions were provided on how to use the paddles to simulate what primary colors would make when combined too, like red and yellow make orange, etc.
Another activity was Make Your Own Mice. Printed instructions, Crayola Model Magic, and a black pipe cleaner were included for the child to make mice, like the animals featured in Mouse Paint. 
Once they have hardened, the child can then paint the mice. The paint supplies are also included in the kit. 
I think Ivy Kids kits are wonderful! They are neatly organized with closable plastic bags and with detailed instructions for each project. The supplies included are of great quality too. The only issue I have had so far was adhesive for Feed the Frog and it just needed a modification. Ivy Kits provide hours of fun! 🙂
What your child will love each month:
- Receiving a fun-filled box each month
- Reading a new book
- Activities based on interesting stories and characters
- Exploring new materials (such as pattern blocks, unifix cubes, color paddles)
- The hands-on play
- Fun and engaging games
- Creative projects
- Science experiments
- The personalized activity
- Quality time with you!
Ivy Kits are ordered on a subscription basis. They are $38.95 per month, a 3-month subscription is $36.95 per month, and 6-month subscription is $34.95 per month. An additional materials pack for a sibling can be ordered for $5/month.
Ivy Kids Kits are launching this summer and are currently starting to collect pre-orders. Shipping is free in the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, and even APO addresses. Gift subscriptions can also be ordered.
Order before June 22nd & receive:
$5 off a Monthly subscription,
$5 off a 3-Month subscription or
$10 off a 6-Month subscription
Enter coupon code “IVYLAUNCH” at checkout.
To learn more about Ivy Kids and Ivy Kits, please visit their website at ivy-kids.com.
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Ivy Kids on Google +
Disclosure: I was compensated with product and financially for this review. The thoughts and feelings expressed are 100% my own.
