Subscription Boxes to Delight all Summer Long
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Joey School
Joey School is an at-home preschool program, created by Ms. Melanie and Ms. Kt, designed to empower parents and caregivers to be the teachers.
“We offer subscription ‘Joey Boxes,’ which arrive monthly, full of everything caregivers need to create fun and engaging learning experiences,” the founders explained. “Each box provides four weeks of preschool; three days of instruction each week.”
Other options include one-time boxes and summer “Koala Kits.” Each box contains a new children’s book, sensory activities, fine/gross motor activities, literacy, phonics, math, science, art, music, and games.
“We keep the activities fun and moving, and create a format to encourage the kids to talk just as much or even more than their teacher,” they shared. “We believe that in preschool, learning doesn’t come from sitting and listening alone, but also comes from interacting and exploring.”
Melanie and Kt shared that they are mothers, but they are also teachers and friends. The two started a preschool in Melanie’s home with one class.
“Even though our little preschool has grown, we strive to create a sense of community and family in our school,” they explained. “It was difficult closing our doors temporarily in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We didn’t have a chance to talk with our students about it or say goodbye face to face.”
They shared that their response was to work on supporting their students while they were learning from their homes, adapting curriculum for the parents to begin where they left off.
Word began to spread, and Kt and Melanie began to receive more inquiries about the program.
“As a result, Joey School was created, and our boxes are now being delivered to families all over the United States,” they shared. “We have learned that outside of a pandemic, many families want an at-home preschool option … additionally, some families want to supplement their child’s education at home.”
For more information or to sign up, visit joeyschool.com or email hello@joeyschool.com.
Pipsticks
Launched in 2014, Pipsticks offers a monthly sticker subscription and other stationary items, including planners, sticker books and more—founded on the idea that “little things can make a big difference.”
“As the head honcho of Pipsticks, I know my stickers,” founder Maureen Vázquez, AKA Mo, said. “Growing up, I walked with my parents to our neighborhood gift store once a week where they let me choose one square of stickers. This square was cut from the many rolls hanging on the wall, packaged in a glassine bag and carefully carried home to join my collection in The Sticker Book. I lived for it.”
Mo shared that she left her career in design and brand management to have four kids—which led her to indulge in stickers “for her kids.”
“This soft spot for cool stickers and my need to find reliable and creative distractions for my crew led to the creation of Pipsticks,” she explained. “We search far and wide to make sure that you’ve always got a sweet and totally cool stash of stickers.”
Mo has since collaborated with thousands of sticker-lovers from all over the world, touching on the fact that “little things that are cool and serve a purpose” can “rock your world and save your day”—even if that purpose is unadulterated fun.
Pipsticks offers several different subscription choices, with a Classic and Petite Pack available for both kids and adults.
“I’m obsessed with the idea that little things can make a big difference,” Mo shared. “I pretty much look for any opportunity to add more color, more sparkles, more giant rainbow Slinkies, more fun into everything I can.”
For more information, visit pipsticks.com or follow on Instagram @lovepipsticks.
Literati
Each month, Literati delivers five age-appropriate books, a collectible art poster, personalized stickers and surprise extras, like puzzles and postcards, to subscribers.
The company boasts that selections are “expertly curated:” “Every book in your child’s box is hand-picked by experts and guaranteed to spark their curiosity, intellect and spirit of discovery,” according to the website.
Different subscriptions are available, including Neo for ages 0 to 3, Sprout for 3 to 5, Nova for 5 to 7, through Titan for readers ages 13 and up. There is also an adult version of the program.
“Some of our books are award-winning bestsellers, and others are Literati-edition titles that you can’t purchase elsewhere,” the website explains. “Enjoy the books in your home for up to a week. At the end of that week, keep only the books you love and send the rest back to us with the prepaid return label you received.”
Each month offers a new theme, ranging from odysseys into space, tales of ancient lands and lifelong friendships.
Literati also partners with organizations that nurture young readers to increase access to children’s books, including donating more than 250,000 books to underfunded public schools, women and children’s care centers, and nonprofits.
To sign up, visit literati.com.
We Craft Box
Betsy Wild founded We Craft Box after wishing that she had a box of prepared crafts for her two boys that she, her husband or their grandma could do with them—with no need for shopping, planning or being creative, envisioning each project would be prepared with materials and directions.
Wild, who has a BFA from Art Center College of Design, worked as a creative director for 10 years: “Art is her passion, and such an important part of childhood,” according to the We Craft Box website.
Each box includes all materials for two to three crafts (excluding scissors and water) with a “new and exciting” theme. There is a story included about the art projects, designed to “get the creative juices flowing.”
The boxes include enough material to be shared between two children, with photo instructions to complete each craft. We Craft Box roughly targets children from ages 3 to 9, recommending that caregivers help the younger recipients with the crafts.
“We set you up with the pieces and you let your creative imagination run wild,” the website shared.
Several options for sign ups include month-to-month, three months, six months or one year.
For more information or to sign up, visit wecraftbox.com.
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