When my son was a toddler, I had gotten one of the popular activity boxes for him to try. I was pretty disappointed with my purchase because I felt I could’ve done all of it at home without spending half as much.

As he got older, especially during the lockdown, I looked for ways to engage him constructively. We tried the activity boxes again and were pleasantly surprised. They were things to build, to learn, and to experiment. Most of it he could do without our direct supervision since he was already building Lego sets.

There are so many good options for activity boxes for kids now. I prefer to buy individual boxes instead of starting a subscription. That way I can be sure I’m getting things that would interest my son and not go to waste.

Here are some of them we tried and loved.

6 Awesome Activity Box for 4-year-olds and above

Skillmatics

This is an excellent activity box offering many different themes. My son loves vehicles, so we got him the Transport Off We Go box. The best part is that they’re reusable. The box comes with an erasable marker and a duster. Matching items, spot the differences, mazes, etc., make for an excellent quiet time activity. 

Genius Box

This is another great educational activity box. We learnt about the Earth with different activities within the box. The clay modelling to make the Earth is also a great way to develop motor skills. 

We absolutely loved the Explosive Science activity box. It is such a fun way to learn about how things react when you mix them together. It can get messy, but that’s part of the fun!

Smartivity

Smartivity has some awesome builds and is of excellent quality. Unless you throw them around harshly (like my son did), the finished pieces last a long time. We made the Kaleidoscope and Space Rocket. Both were fun to make and use. The boxes say for ages six and above, but my 5-year-old could make it on his own. I would say a 4-year-old with some adult supervision could try to make this well.

Witblox

The AI Starter Kit is an awesome introduction to electronic circuits and how things work. This would need some adult supervision because the parts are quite delicate and need explaining. We made it with him as a way to spend time together.

EzeeKonnect

My son loved their Electronics Learning Kit. It comes with various electronics modules and flashcards explaining these modules and how to connect them. Once he got the hang of it, he made his own circuits and explained how they could be used around the house. They also have a website and an app to help you with more ideas.

Pathfinders

The Hydraulic Machines set was a fun experiment. The parts are sturdy, and the instructions are easy enough. Some adult supervision is needed to cut connector pipes and explain the mechanism.

Have you tried any of them or have suggestions for some others? Let me know in the comments.

Note: Some of the links are part of an affiliate program, which means that if you click on a link and buy something, I might receive a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you.