Regular readers will know that I only recently wrote about the fantastic experience we’ve had with some of the activity boxes for kids that are out there. There are all sorts available out there, including some focused on history, science or the outdoors, and they’ve really been a perfect fit as time-fillers while the kids have been being taught from home, and while we’ve been unable to get further afield due to Covid-19.
Willow & Wild is the latest one that we’ve tried, and while it’s not the only nature-centric subscription box that we’ve tried, it has a little twist to it that really makes it fit the spirit of the house: There are recipes in every box as well as activities. This is a massive perk, we’re a family who is always looking for new recipes and food types to try (as you’ve probably noticed around the blog).
It’s letter-box sized by design, but that doesn’t stop it from being stuffed with activities and ideas. We’ve been working our way through the August box (so, sadly, at time of writing you’re not going to be able to get this one), which had a whole bunch of activities in it. Also, we grabbed the sibling box, which comes with extra contents – so that more than one child can take part in it.
As a breakdown for the August month, it included the following: A nature newsletter, welcome package, Paper Fan Fish activity, Sea creature puppet instructions, Rock Pooling information, Nature Mandala instructions and idea card, purslane seeds, spinach seeds, mini spinach frittata recipe card and aubergine & chickpea balls recipe card. As well as all of this there were soil packs, sticks, paper and more – basically everything needed for the included activities.
I said before that the main reason we were pulled toward this book was the recipe cards, and that’s definitely no lie, but what really, really makes these perfect is that the cards actually correspond to the seeds within the pack. This means that if you hold onto the cards after you’ve finished the month then you’ll be able to use the plants that the children have grown in cooking – which is a great way to teach children about the accessibility of food as well as the processes that go into creating the food that we eat.
We all had a lot of fun making the sea creature puppets, and the nature news card is exactly the kind of thing which can be kept and referenced throughout the year. As another note, we got the sibling box – which is undoubtedly designed for two – however, there was more than enough resources provided for it to stretch to all three of the children, which is great.
As an aside, the frittatas were absolutely brilliant, we had them for a breakfast and even the kiddo who regularly refuses to eat egg dived into them (knowing what was in them, as he helped prepare it).
If you’re interested in finding out more about the Willow & Wild box then you should head over to their website where there is a variety of different options for signing up, including a discounted first month.
These boxes are great!! I will definitely try this when my baby girl is a bit older. :)) It’s also a great idea to gift as a birthday present.
Ohh as birthday gifts that would be quite fun!
We had one of these Willow and Wild boxes a couple of years ago, just in time for Hallowe’en. It was lots of fun, glad to see they’re still as good as ever!
They are still around! 🙂
I’ve never heard of these but they sound so great! I don’t have children but I do have a younger brother and I think he’d absolutely love this! Thanks for sharing!
Aww I hope he does!