I’m always on the lookout for exciting ways to keep my sister’s baby boy engaged. I firmly believe in limiting screen time for such young children, I often turn to books, toys, and interactive experiences to spark creativity. However, there’s a challenge: while reading books is wonderful, it doesn’t do much to develop her motor skills. The issue with activities is that doing the same thing over and over again can quickly become dull in toddler lingo. So, after looking for a lot of gifts for the baby, I decided to look on the internet. Thankfully I came across subscription activity boxes.
I started searching for different activity boxes and stumbled upon XploraBox. I was impressed by the name itself!
I ordered the box for 2-4 year old kid and to be honest, I thought it would have the same old boring activities, and it would be tough for the baby to engage. However, I am really impressed and more than me, my sister was impressed. She was the most doubtful about this box. But it has been a good investment according to both of us.
1st Game/Activity:
The theme of the box I received centered around exploring shapes and colors. The first item that the baby played with was related to fishing. I liked it as it had a rod made with stick and magnets. It made the baby go wow because he was able to play and catch shapes using that. It was good for exploring shapes and colors. Good for building concentration too.
2nd Game/Activity:
Another interesting thing was the memory match card game. It was really engaging. My sister and her baby loved it. He enjoys identifying and naming familiar objects, so this game provided a wonderful opportunity to expand her vision and dictionary skills. The only thing that I didn’t like about the game was that it didn’t have a ring to put them together. I mean the baby frequently misplaced the cards so it would have been better to get a ring to place them together.
3rd Game/Activity:
Another thing was related to painting. Hand a baby some colorful paints and a paintbrush, and you’ll witness pure joy on their little face! When I opened the package, I was delighted to see that the paints were neatly contained in a small package. That’s a brilliant idea because, you know, babies are naughty with their fingers and love exploring everything around them. It’s a bit tricky for their tiny fingers to open, which is actually a good thing, or else I can only imagine the mess that would have ensued in the house!
Now, here’s a little tip from my own experience: be prepared with extra brushes. My sister’s baby is a little naughty and he managed to break the brush even before the first stroke hit the paper. It’s not a big deal, though, because kids will be kids, right? Having a few spare brushes at hand can keep them going.
The kit also includes a set of crayons and a coloring book. These proved to be fantastic additions. Watching the baby switch between paints and crayons while exploring the coloring book was both entertaining and educational. My sister also made a joke that your nephew will become a famous painter. I loved it. So, if you’re looking to spark your baby’s creativity, I highly recommend giving them a canvas, some paints, and a world of imagination to explore!
My final thoughts:
In conclusion, the games and activities provided in this kit have truly been loved by my sister, myself and her baby. They increase knowledge in an enjoyable manner and that was my goal while giving the gift. All the games are made of good quality material. It’s a comprehensive package of fun and learning that has enriched our family experiences.
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I remember companies like Flintobox and Einstein box coming up initially with this idea. While this idea is good and copied from western countries, I find these things very expensive in Indian setup. There should be a low-cost product offering similar benefits and that can reach masses.
I once gifted chemical reaction related box from Einstein Box brand. However, I will think twice before buying these things regularly for a kid. There is much more to find and build (DIY) using household items. Just my opinion.
You make a valid point, and it’s an opinion shared by many. Companies like Flintobox and Einstein Box did indeed introduce an intriguing concept, but you are right, cost is a big factor. But when I look at the enjoyment that my sister’s baby had with the product, I think it was worth it. I believe there is immense potential for low cost alternatives that offer similar educational benefits and can reach a wider audience.
Personalized gifting, like the chemical reaction-related box you mentioned, can be a great idea occasionally because of the expensiveness. I also like your point on how exploration and learning can happen through DIY projects using everyday household items. May be I will try to come up with something like that. At the end of the day, we want to make kids creative.
There are many things that can be built using scrap household items. Kids do not see the price tag and they love things you build with them using scrap items they already find in the house. Good idea to start a low cost business based on this.
I understand your point, but this is something that would require time and effort too. For people like my sister who are working, such boxes despite being expensive, are a good gift. So I think it is better gift. But I also understand your point that kids can engage with items found around the house. So may be I will come up with something that be build inside the house and also keep the kids engage.