Engineering Summer Fun with Tinker Crate

This is a sponsored conversation about Tinker Crate and the value of a STEAM education

If you ever find yourself on my Instagram or Facebook pages, you will know that I'm a HUGE fan of subscription boxes for children. They provide great structure, and it's always great to be able to pull something out on a rainy day, or when it's too cold outside to really enjoy. Kiwi Crate is one of the subscription programs that we love, and they have crates for all age groups. The Cricket,Koala, Kiwi, Doodle and Tinker Crates are all available as subscriptions, or a la cart month by month purchases.  Before we move further into sharing the great crate we're featuring today, I'd like to share this GREAT deal for 40% off your first month's crate using code MAYSAVE40

Today, we broke open the hydraulic claw crate that came in the mail last week, and I let the ladybug loose with a bit of guidance from me. The type-A parent that I am, sat down at my desk, and let her tinker away at putting the claw together and seeing all of her hard work come to fruition. She had a blast connecting brads and zip ties together and seeing everything working together. It also came with a mini Tinkerzine magazine that helps to delve into hydraulics a bit deeper. 

She worked quietly for about 30 minutes before coming and showing me the entire contraption together. We discussed what hydraulics were, and why they're necessary for some machines to work. We also discussed other liquids that could be used in place of water, and if those liquids would be good or bad when used with other machines. 

She was very excited to test out her hydraulic claw on various items in the house and deemed it a bit too weak to pick up really big things. Good thing that the Tinker Crate offers extended instructions to build a larger hydraulic system for young and old tinkerers. Building a more complex claw was all that she needed to see. It was nice to have something meant just for her as well, since she's getting to the age of growing out of the Kiwi Crate subscription that her twin siblings are now moving into claiming. There's also encouragement to really tinker with the pieces to create a claw that isn't assembled like the one in the instructions. Playing around with the claw pieces, and formatting the claw is just what we need to create an S.T.E.A.M rich environment this summer and throughout our homeschool year. 

I do feel that the challenge of the crate was just right. The Tinker Crate is stated to be for children 9-16+. I'll see if Nathaniel is interested in guiding the ladybug as she creates a larger and stronger hydraulic claw using the crate box and all of the other syringes that were sent in the kit. 

Overall, it looks like someone will be moving up to a Tinker Crate from now on, and based on her affinity for putting things together in her spare time (she LOVES fixing my broken jewelry and other broken items around the house) I am very confident that she will be successful in learning a new skill each month.