Have you heard of Ivy Kids? I briefly mentioned them here, but today I’d like to share more.

As a bookworm and homeschool mom to three kids 8 and under, I rely heavily on high-quality read alouds and educational games and extension activities. As an educator, I know how important it is for children to read and reread fantastic books, and then to engage in related, hands-on activities. This is what I try to do in our homeschool and in the My Little Poppies {Virtual} Family Book Club.

But, let’s be honest here: Finding the perfect books and planning activities to go along with them can be time-consuming.

What if I told you I found a monthly subscription service that does it all for you? Enter Ivy Kids…

Bring Books to Life with Ivy Kids

*Disclosure: I received two months of Ivy Kids in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review and, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I only share products and resources that I would use with my own family and those that I believe others will enjoy.

The Scoop on Ivy Kids

Ivy Kids is an award-winning monthly educational subscription box for children ages 3-8. Ivy Kids is created by teachers who are also moms and these women test each box on their own children, so these little boxes are mom, educator, and kid-approved.

Each kit includes a classic picture book and a wealth of extension activities. I was impressed with the quality of the activities and the amount of lessons contained in one box. This is not a kit that you will finish in a day. You could easily spread these kits out over the course of an entire month.

The kits are jam-packed with tons of lessons, crafts, games, and activities. Each kit also includes a personalized activity with your child’s name, and my kids loved that added touch. The activities contained in the kit cover all academic areas, but your children will be having such a blast they won’t know they are learning! This kit provides a perfect way to incorporate play-based educational activities without all the work of planning.

What did the kids think?

Oh my goodness, my book-lovin’ littles LOVED these kits! We received two different kits. The first was based on the book Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss and the second kit was based on the book Pezzettino by Leo Lionni.

Here is what was included in the Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin kit:

• Book and bookmark (bookmark has read aloud tips)
• CD with instrument examples to accompany the story
• Personalized musical instrument ABC chart
• ABC Instrument Bingo
• Instrument race
• Instrument family race
• Instrument memory
• Decorate a maraca
• Recorder
• Make your own tambourine
• How do instruments work fact sheet and lesson plan
• Make your own panpipe
• Make your own kazoo and/or shaker
• Make your own strummer
• Turn your Ivy Kids box into an instrument

This morning, we have been enjoy the Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin kit from Ivy Kids. We read the book, listened to the CD included, and made our own maracas, tambourine, strummer, kazoo, shaker, and panpipe. Next up: FIVE games based on the book. As a homeschooler and game and book lover, I am so impressed with this kit! Review to come so stay tuned. . What does #homeschool look like for you today? Share here! . @ivykidskits

A video posted by MyLittlePoppies (@my_little_poppies) on Nov 10, 2016 at 7:59am PST

And here is what was included in the Pezzettino kit:

• Book and bookmark (bookmark has read aloud tips)
• My imaginative creature art and writing project
• Opposite island game
• Island race
• All my pieces
• Mosaic square frame art project
• Stikits creations
• Story retelling
• Make your own puzzle
• Can you build this STEM project
• How has more math activity
• What comes next (pattern activity)
• Colored ice cube exploration and art

As you can see, these kits are filled to the brim with oodles of activities! These kits can be used for an entire month and the activities can be enjoyed by multiple ages. We have read these two books over and over and have enjoyed playing and replaying the included games.

I am going to show you some highlights from the Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin kit, which was the kids’ favorite of the two:

Want to try Ivy Kids for yourself?

Ivy Kids offers the following membership options:

• $38.95/month
• $36.95 for a 3-month subscription
• $34.95 for a 6-month subscription
• (Sibling materials can be added on for $5/month per sibling.)

New subscribers can receive 20% off their first kit with the code IVY20.

Be sure to follow Ivy Kids on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and G+.

Love play-based learning?

So do we! Be sure to check out these related posts:

Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: What is your family’s favorite monthly subscription? Share here!

• About
• Latest Posts

Follow Cait

Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley

Cait is a school psychologist, mom to three amazing children, and an unexpected homeschooler. She loves nature, good books, board games, strong coffee, and dancing in her kitchen. You can read about all of these things and more at My Little Poppies.

Cait co-hosts The Homeschool Sisters Podcast and is co-founder of Raising Poppies, a community for parents of gifted and twice-exceptional children. Cait is also founder of the Family Book Club at My Little Poppies, a fantastic community of book-loving parents and the Gameschool Community at My Little Poppies, a vibrant community of gameschoolers.

Cait is a contributing writer for Simple Homeschool and GeekMom. Her work has also appeared on The Huffington Post, The Mighty, and Scary Mommy. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram
and G+.

Follow Cait

Latest posts by Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley (see all)

• A Self-Paced Online Course for Homeschoolers - July 6, 2017
• Super-Simple, Hands-On Flag Study - July 3, 2017
• The Kindness Elves Inspire Kindness at Home and Beyond - June 29, 2017