As a parent, finding new and engaging ways to keep children entertained and learning can be a constant challenge — not to mention expensive — but that’s where a subscription service can come in. As a business, you can leverage the need for cost-effective games, activities, and child-friendly entertainment by creating a subscription that little ones and their parents will love.
Research by fulfilment and delivery service Whistl found that 38% of the UK population has used a subscription box service, but this is not just a market for adults. The global kids subscription box market is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate between 2023 and 2028, so now is the time to take advantage of the child-targeted subscription box boom.
In this blog, we discuss some of the best kid-friendly subscription ideas for your next venture. Read on to learn more.
How to Start a Kid-Friendly Subscription Business
The kids’ category is one area that’s driving growth in the subscription industry. From crafts to books, there are plenty of avenues that you can take to kickstart your subscription business, but it’s best to work on a niche that you’re familiar with or have a particular passion for.
However, the real trick is knowing how to appeal to both kids and parents alike. After all, while the kids may be using the subscription, it’s their parents who’ll be paying!
Before you launch, think about the following questions:
- Is my idea unique? You must research what’s already in the market to see what you’re up against. That doesn’t mean coming up with a completely new concept (although this will make you stand out) but being able to differentiate yourself from others in the market with a unique selling point (USP).
- How will I manage payments, reporting, and more? In the background, you must have a robust process for billing, reporting, and general management of your subscription service. There are plenty of tools that can make this easier and minimise errors. Be sure to shop around to find a system that works for your needs. Zuora is one of the most widely-used platforms, but there are many alternatives to Zuora which may offer better integrations and support.
- How can my idea grow? Subscriber numbers can go up and down — just look at the reports of Netflix’s subscriber losses — so it’s important to keep your users engaged. Although it’s not feasible to continually add new services and products, you should consider whether your product can be improved or whether there are add-on products or services you can offer.
5 Subscription Ideas That Kids Will Love
Receiving something in the post is pretty exciting, especially for kids. Subscription boxes can be a special monthly treat for kids of all ages that offer educational benefits as well as being fun!
Whether you focus on kids with a special interest or design a subscription that’s engaging for all kids, there are plenty of ideas to choose from. Here are 5 types of child-friendly subscriptions to consider:
1. Book Discovery Subscriptions
Reading is a part of many kids’ lives, and the excitement of getting a new book will only encourage kids to engage further. With a dedicated book subscription, you can send hand-picked books straight to your subscribers’ doorstep, tailored to their age, interests, and preferences.
Parents who struggle to know which books to buy their kids will appreciate the ease of this service, while older children will love discovering new and exciting works of fiction. Whether you’re looking to diversify children’s bookshelves or offer a money-saving service, a book subscription is the perfect solution. It’s easy, convenient, and brings a new level of joy to reading.
2. Craft Boxes
Creativity is such an important part of children’s development. With a craft subscription, you can provide them with new activities and projects every single month. From stickers to paints and endless art-based projects, the possibilities are absolutely limitless.
And why not add some seasonal flair? Think summer-themed projects, spooky Halloween crafts, or even a box where they can make their own Christmas decorations. Plus, the best part is that you’ll never run out of ideas. Every month brings a new box filled with all the materials and instructions needed to complete a fun project.
3. Cooking Kits
Kids love getting involved in cooking, so why not target these mini chefs? Cooking kits are the perfect activity for kids and their parents, with a tasty treat at the end! Provide the ingredients and instructions for kid-friendly recipes, saving parents the hassle of buying everything themselves.
Adult cooking subscriptions are very popular, and there’s no reason children shouldn’t be able to enjoy these too. Take HelloFresh, for example, which had 7.1 million customers worldwide as of 2022. There are plenty of ideas to explore. Perhaps you’ll focus on baking, or maybe you’d like to send out international recipes to get kids trying new foods. Whatever you choose, cooking kits are a great venture to pursue.
4. Kiddy Gardening Boxes
Gardening is a great way of encouraging kids to get outdoors and into nature. With packs of seeds, gardening tools, and nature guides, this subscription is the perfect way to kickstart your little ones’ love for gardening. There’s nothing quite like the joy of planting a seed and watching it grow into a thriving plant, and with a gardening subscription box, your kids can experience that excitement firsthand.
And for parents who love gardening, this subscription box is a win-win. You can set your kids up in their own designated area of the garden, where they can take ownership of their plants and feel a sense of pride in their growing garden. It’s a great way to encourage responsibility, creativity, and a lifelong love for nature.
5. Science Experiment Boxes
A science subscription box packed with exciting experiments, cool gadgets, and hands-on activities is perfect for science-loving kids. Not only will it spark their curiosity, but ignite their love for learning. Whether you focus on biology, chemistry, physics, or all of the above, these boxes will keep children well entertained at the weekend.
You could provide them with all the tools to make a mini baking soda rocket, for example, or let them create their own colour-changing potions! Either way, it’s a great way to make science fun, and the experiments will keep them entertained while teaching them how to collect information, make observations, and draw conclusions.
Starting a kid-friendly subscription business is a fun and rewarding way to generate an ongoing revenue stream. Get planning today and you could be the next big contender in the world of subscriptions boxes.