“Outside the Box” from Cheeky Days Review
We just discovered a new subscription box and I am SO excited to tell you about it! It is “Outside the Box” by Cheeky Days and it is beyond amazing! Every month they partner with a different service/charity organization to deliver a box that is on a mission to help kiddos connect with their communities, give back, and become more aware. They are packed with a book, crafts, a wearable item, surprises and a structured opportunity to “make a difference”! We are in love with the fun they hold and the mission they uphold and can’t wait to tell you all about them! Here is part of the description of their boxes from their website:
What’s unique about Outside The Box? Well, it’s not simply about what’s in the box, it’s about moving beyond the box, creating a movement of small actions focusing on what unites us, and moves us from me to we. Just like soccer, music, swimming and dance we believe values like kindness, grit, perseverance, empathy and compassion can be learned and strengthened and in every box the focus is not on the stuff, but on the experience. We can’t wait to see your creativity and how your family will live Outside The Box. Join us on the journey!
Isn’t that a wonderful idea? As parents we want our children to connect with the community, get into action with service, and realize the positive impact that they can have. Outside the Box provides that opportunity on your doorstep every month in a way that is so easy and structured for busy parents.
Here is what is inside each box:
A children’s t-shirt or fun wearable item
A hand-selected children’s book
2 – 4 crafts or activities that reinforce the monthly theme
Community Cards that inspire intentional ways to share Outside The Box
Plus a spotlight on a different Non-Profit, Community Service or
Give-Back Company each month.
When our box arrived my little guy was so excited to start exploring inside. He pulled out each item and delightfully exclaimed what it was. I loved how he created a happy little pile around where he was sitting of all his new treasures.
The theme for this month’s box was “Room for Wild” and the organization that they teamed up with is 96 Elephants (96elephants.org) which is a part of the Wildlife Conservation Society. They are a organization that is out on a mission to help turn the trend of elephants being poached in Africa for their ivory and help give them a fighting chance to increase in numbers. Therefore, this whole box is focused on educating children on wildlife conservation and to help teach them how they can get involved and make a difference.
Included in this month’s box (strictly for the theme Room For Wild) was: an endangered animal mask (either bee, polar bear, or rhino) from Opposite of Far, butterfly seed paper with two toy insects, craft supplies for an #elfie craft (explained more below), the book “Disappearing Acts: A Search and Find Book of Endangered Animals” by Isabella Brunnell, and a parent gift of luxury soap from Koala and Rawr.
The Halloween elements included in this month’s box are: the book “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler with two accompanying crafts of finger puppets and paper sack treat brooms (supplies for each included).
The Crafts:
Below is a photo and a brief description of the crafts/activities.
- Paper Bag Brooms: They included simple instructions and all the supplies to create a cute broom with a treat inside to go with the story “Room on a Broom”. The info sheet encourages you to do this activity after reading the book and to discuss how there is always room for family, friends and animals.
- Finger Puppets: Included were some finger puppets for “Room on the Broom” that you could easily cut out and glue/tape to use for retelling the story.
- They included simple instructions for making an #elphie picture as well as a sheet with an elephant drawing that you could opt to color instead. They also included art supplies to decorate it. (Everything from the paper to the decorative elements.) Then they challenged your child to “connect” with the community by taking a photo with their elephant to email to the 96 Elephants organization or to post on Instagram with the hashtag #elphie to help increase elephant conservation awareness. Then, to spread the reach further, there is an envelope provided and your child is challenged to mail their #elphie to a friend or family member and encourage them to create their own #elphie.
- They included butterfly milkweed paper for you and your child to plant. The paper is recycled paper that recycles again back into the soil as the seeds imbedded in it grow. The seeds are for a variety of non-invasive milk weed that is easy to grow and that butterflies love. This activity is wonderful in many ways. It can open discussion about recycling and how wildflowers and wildlife are important to nature. Especially in relation to endangered species of butterflies and bees. They even included a little plastic bee and butterfly to for your child to role play with. So cute!
Basically, there is enough fun packed in this box to keep you busy all month until the next one arrives. In fact, on the inside of the box lid they include the “Challenge Card” with the month’s challenges listed (such as taking an #elphie and planting the butterfly paper) and a “Weekly Plan” card where they give a suggested guidance for how to utilize the box each week over the course of the month. Brilliant and helpful! They really put a lot of thought and time into making this box as user friendly as possible. I especially appreciate how everything is included for all of their crafts. It’s all there, it’s all simple and it’s all ready to go!
Also, it would be amiss of me if I didn’t give a moment to the wonderful mask and endangered animal book included. I love Opposite of Far masks and their choice to include on of an endangered animal was wonderful! On the back of the “Challenge” card “Outside The Box” included a brief description of each of the three animals they featured in their box through the masks.
Then the book, oh the book. It is absolutely beautiful! Each page spread has a gorgeous illustration of a different habitat along with a key of the endangered animals that you search for on that page. At the end of the book they include the index of the endangered animals you searched for along with a brief description of them. I love that they included some well known endangered animals along with some that I had personally never heard of before.
So by now you are probably wondering about the basics of Outside the Box aren’t you? Well, they offer their box either as: one time purchase of past boxes (if available), month to month ($49.99), 3 month subscription $49.99 per month + free shipping), or year plan ($47.50 per month + free shipping).
Finally, as always, I saved the best information for last:
- They have a “sibling add-on” option where you can add on a sibling box with extra craft supplies and an extra wearable item for siblings. ($16.99) Genius!
- A portion of each box purchased is donated to the nonprofit organization for that month.
- And I have a coupon code for you to save 10% off your first box! It is “BookNerdMommy”!
Think you want to give it a try? Click on the link below to head on over to their site and get a fantastic box headed to your doorstep every month!
Click here to go to Outside the Box by Cheeky Days and remember to use “BookNerdMommy” to save 10% off your first order!
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