Think Outside Junior is a monthly subscription box that focuses on the What & Why questions of nature — making it fun for kids to get outside and explore.
Designed for kids ages 4 to 7, Think Outside Junior boxes are developed alongside teachers to help get kids excited about the outdoors while learning new things. Each subscription starts with an Intro kit, followed by 24 months of themed packages to help little explorers answer some of nature’s biggest questions. The first box (starter box) will feature a collection of items to get them started on their outdoor exploration journey including a canvas satchel, walkie-talkie set, explorer pass, bingo game, activity book, and more. Future shipments will explore a different question related to the outdoors, such as: What’s a mammal? or Why do stars only shine at night?. Materials will include:
Disclosure: Box was received for review. Post may contain affiliate links.
- 16-page booklet with education, activities, and stories
- Toys & gear to practice new skills
- Postcard with fun facts & more activities
- A new outdoor bingo card
- Flashcards
- Activity checklist for the month
- Outdoor badge to add to your explorer pass
Subscriptions are $39.95 for the intro box, then $29.95 month going forward. Discounts are available on multi-month plans and shipping is free within the US. — For a limited time, you can save $15 on your first month with coupon code “SPRING15“!
(Note: The original Think Outside box is also available and is designed for kids ages 7-16+. See my intro box review here.)
Let’s see what’s in the Think Outside Junior “Shadows” shipment!
Everything was shipped in a small brown box with yellow outdoors-themed graphics.
A peek inside!
Activity Booklet
A full color, 16-page booklet included lots of fun facts about shadows — along with activities, challenges, and more. It also provided a list of all the items we’d find in this shipment and tips for using them.
Mini Flashlight with USB
This flashlight may be small (roughly 3 inches long), but it is MIGHTY. — I was shocked at how bright it shines! The main light in front has two modes — steady and flashing, while a separate rectangular light on the side is steady only and can be used as a mini lantern. It also has a built-in clip for attaching to your pocket/bag, as well as an included USB cord for easy charging. My daughters were excited to try this out and snatched it from the box right away. 😉
Shadow Shape Card
Also included was a sheet of sturdy plastic printed with black silhouettes of various animals/camping symbols. You could place each image in front of your flashlight to project it on a wall or sheet. The bottom section was left blank for you to add your own drawings/images.
Large Sidewalk Chalk & Plastic Holder
Now that Spring has arrived, it’s time to get ready for more outside play. A package of 3 large sidewalk chalk sticks was provided, along with a plastic chalk holder. This month’s booklet featured an activity that showed you how to be your own sundial by tracing your shadow with chalk at various times throughout the day.
Flash Cards and Explorer Badge
Each box will include new theme-based flash cards that can be clipped onto the metal ring from the starter box. The cards are made of thin plastic to withstand the weather and include fun facts about the outdoors/nature. This month’s cards featured a “shadow vs. shade” card and one highlighting groundhogs. A “shadow” explorer badge was also provided to place inside your explorer pass (included in the starter box as well).
Outdoor Bingo Cards
It’s a scavenger hunt and bingo game in one! The laminated bingo boards above are printed with images (and text on the reverse side) of common items/creatures you may find outdoors. Each time you encounter an “item”, you can cross it out using the dry erase crayons provided in the starter box. The first one to get 4 in a row is the winner! — We were excited to see a snail included on the boards this month, since we happen to have one as a pet (aptly named “Snaily”). 😉
Fun Fact Postcard
A 2-sided card included the contents of this month’s shipment, a shadow tracing activity, shadow animals to practice, and a postcard to mail to friends.
Activity Checklist
The final item was a checklist of ideas for fun things you can do before your next box arrives. Ideas include: Go on a spring nature hike, make mud faces on trees, decorate a flower pot, make wind chimes, and more. The reverse side featured a “Calendar of Fun” to fill in with fun family activities.
The “Shadow” themed Think Outside Junior box included useful outdoor (and indoor!) items and plenty of ideas on how to use them. As always, all of the activities were perfect for the intended age range and fun to do as a family. 🙂 — Remember, for a limited time you can save $15 on your first month with coupon code “SPRING15“!
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