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Subscriptions
So many ways to spend your money. Here are some of the good ones…
I love buying stuff for my kids. I especially love buying educational resources for my kids. Here are a few subscriptions that I have found worth the money through the years.
Kindle Unlimited
WHAT IS IT? - ebook subscription service
I have loved using Kindle Unlimited for years. I have had a subscription on and off along with a Scribd subscription. The great thing is, I often can re-subscribe with a coupon code offered on Amazon & get a few more months for less than the regular monthly price!! I highly recommend giving Kindle Unlimited a try if you enjoy reading ebooks and would like a resource for more kids books.
This monthly subscription is completely separate from Amazon Prime.
PROS - tons of book options for kids and adults, available on e-readers, includes some magazine subscriptions, unlimited reading
CONS - audiobooks not included
KiwiCrates - KiwiCo.com
WHAT IS IT? - STEAM kits for kids, delivered monthly with all the necessary supplies included.
We tried this for about a year with my first kid during kindergarten! And I just recently re-subscribed for my upcoming first grader. Every month, a little green box appeared in the mailbox, and my kindergartener delightedly asked if we could do his Kiwi Crate “today.” KiwiCo.com has nine different product lines, for ages 0-100. These STEAM boxes include Engineering, Design, Art, Cooking, and other skills. The one I have personal experience with is the “Kiwi Crate” line (for ages 5-8). This line includes a different science concept each month along with art activities. It includes everything you need to do each project.
PROS - easy way to get science and art projects in, includes all needed supplies, you can pause it when you need to take a break (i.e., in the summer)
CONS - pricey
Scribd
WHAT IS IT? - eBook and audiobook subscription
I have just recently decided to try out this subscription. OH MY GOSH. It is awesome. I love the selection of books that it offers. I have found resources to use with my kids as well as educational and just-for-fun books to read myself. They also include audiobooks - which I have enjoyed as well. This subscription is a little more expensive than Kindle Unlimited at $12/month. But, it has been a fun change to try out a different selection, and I have really enjoyed the audiobook option. It also seems to have a more “well-known” book list than Kindle Unlimited.
PROS - lots of “mainstream” books available, audiobooks included
CONS - does not work on ebook readers without the Scribd app (i.e., only works on Kindle Fire with the Scribd app)