What are we going to do today? We’re in the dog days of winter, and finding our usual resources for fun to be tapped out. Activity kits are available throughout the suburbs to pick up and take home. In the summer of 2020, Nicole rounded up this amazing list of crafts, cooking, art projects, and more. We’ve recently added a new list of local park districts and libraries that are offering activity kits for families. Try a new game or activity, with all the stress of prep work taken out of it.
Activity Kits in Chicago’s Western Suburbs + Subscription Boxes
Call ahead or order online to be sure that the kit you want is available — things are changing quickly these days, so it always pays to make sure!
Just Added: Libraries and Park Districts Offering Activity Kits
Craft Bag Pickup (Bellwood Public Library)
Stop into the library on Tuesdays from 11:00am – 5:00pm to pick up a free craft bag.
Take and Make, Craft Kits to Go (Brookfield Public Library)
Pick up supplies in advance, then make it on your own or join the Facebook live sessions to follow along.
Teenie Weenie At-Home Activity Box (Carol Stream Park District)
These activities kits, which are designed for kids 2-5 years old, is a great way to enjoy new crafts, activities, treats and sensory play. Themes change each month!
Activity Bags (Darien Park District)
Register for a week’s worth of activities and crafts for the whole family to enjoy. Each month is a different theme, so circle back for more fun!
Discovery Bag (Downers Grove Public Library)
Stop into the library on Mondays and Saturdays. 50 activity bags will be available for families. For children in older grades, their popular Maker Mondays 2 Go kits will also be available those days.
Grab Bags (Indian Prairie Public Library)
Stop in to get a to-go kit for extra family fun! While supplies last.
Grab and Go Craft Kits (Maywood Public Library)
In the month of January, the library will have three different craft kits available for families to pick up. Call ahead to confirm availability.
Nature Discovery Kits (Knoch Knolls Nature Center, Naperville)
Sign up each month for a nature-themed activity box filled with new activities for the whole family to enjoy together.
Rec-Tivity Boxes (Oakbrook Terrace Park District)
Oakbrook Terrace Park District has designed these themed kits to beat the boredom blues this winter.
Farm Fun Subscription Bag (Spring Valley Nature Center, Schaumburg)
Each month, you’ll find a different theme about your favorite farm topics. Crafts, activities, and videos will be the perfect activity for winter afternoons.
Boredom Buster Bags (Warrenville Park District)
Join the Warrenville Park District for these weekly activity kits. Activities, games, and even snacks will keep the fun going all week long! Register for one or all!
Rec-To-Go Kits (Wheaton Park District)
Register for a kit filled with activities, scavenger hunts, tools, and more! Lincoln Marsh is offering Nature-To-Go Kits as well.
Local Art and Craft Activity Kits
Nicole assembled this list of art and craft kits to beat boredom in the summer of 2020. Make sure to clink the links or call for the most up-to-date offerings by these local companies.
Adorn512 (Downers Grove)
DIY jewelry and bookmark kits for pick up or shipped to you.
Blue Ballon Shoppe (Glen Ellyn)
Take home wooden sign kits. The DIY wooden kits start at $20 for a kid’s 9″ x 9″ or 8″ x 14. They provide directions, tips, and even videos for your painting session.
Color Me Mine (Burr Ridge and Naperville)
Pick up a to-go kit to paint pottery with your child in the comfort of your own home.
Compassion Factory (Brookfield)
Custom-made art kits can be picked up, based on what your child most likes to create artistically! Be sure to call to discuss options/availability.
Creative Art Studio (Naperville)
Several DIY kits to choose from creating your own soap, candles, mosaics, and painting. Fun for adults and kids!
MAKEart Kits (Downers Grove)
Art kits are available for porch pick up.
Pinot Palette (Glen Ellyn and Naperville)
Painting kits to make your own canvas or wooden artwork. Can be geared towards adults or kids with directions and stencils when needed. They also offer virtual classes.
The Henn House (Burr Ridge)
Have a family painting party with the most awesome DIY kits: think wood signs and Scrabble wall art! Pick up and delivery.
Whim A Studio Space (Wheaton)
Take home pottery kits with painting brushes and products included. You can pick your pottery item to paint. My kids decorated a small salad plate each for something special. Drop back off your supplies and the owner cures your pottery.
Local Cooking Activity Kits
Nicole assembled this list of cooking kits to beat boredom in the summer of 2020. Make sure to clink the links or call for the most up-to-date offerings by these local companies.
4 Brothers Baking (La Grange Park)
Colorful cookie kits with icing and sprinkles available for pick up, or custom cookies made especially for your child’s birthday.
Alcentro Trattoria (Bloomingdale)
Pizza kits available for curbside pick-up and soon delivery. These pizza kits are only $10! To order, call (224) 353-6047.
Barone’s (Glen Ellyn)
Order Barone’s Junior Pizza Maker Kit including pre-rolled dough, pizza sauce, cheese, pepperoni, and a junior pizza maker hat. So cute! Available for carry-out and delivery.
Brick’s Wood Fire Pizza (Wheaton)
Keep the kids busy at home making pizzas. Order online for pickup or delivery. Links to online instructions from Master Pizzaiolos coming soon.
Cakes by Design (Bartlett)
Cookie painting kits are a fun way to celebrate your birthday or just have fun. This local mom offers free local delivery, Bartlett only, or curbside pick up. The cost is $4 a cookie, including paint and brush.
Capri Express (Burr Ridge)
Kid-friendly DIY pizza kits that includes pizza crust, marinara sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni and a veggie. Order online for your mini chef!
Chickie’s (Hillside)
Order online to pick up or drive thru. Their DIY pizza kit includes pizza dough, mozzarella, homemade pizza sauce and pepperoni — yum!
D’s Treats (Bloomingdale)
D’s Treats is offering free delivery to surrounding suburbs or porch pick-up at their location. They have cookie decorating kits, cookie painting kits, two and three tier cake kits. My kids loved decorating the Easter Cookie Kits and the Frozen cookie kits!
DeEtta’s Bakery (Naperville)
DeEtta’s has cookie kits available for pick-up, as well as a full bakery of sweets and treats to choose from for curbside pick-up.
Delish Cakes (Bloomingdale)
Offering cupcake decorating, cake pop decorating kits, and cookie painting kits for pick-up or delivery to local customers.
Enzo’s (Countryside)
All the fixings in a tasty pizza kit to make two pizzas. Curbside pickup or no-contact delivery.
Kirsten’s Danish Bakery (Burr Ridge)
Cookie kits available for your child to decorate cookies, as well as custom-made birthday cakes, both for curbside pick up.
Kirschbaum’s Bakery (Western Springs)
Cute sugar cookie kits to decorate, and also cakes/sweets that can be ordered online for pickup.
Lezza’s Bakery (Elmhurst)
Lezza’a offers at-home cupcake kit that includes two chocolate cupcakes, two yellow cupcakes , two buttercream bags, and one pack of sprinkles for $12.99. They are also taking orders for superhero and spring cookie decorating kits. They offer curbside pick up, grab and go, and DoorDash.
Little Sicily Pizzeria & Bakery (Schaumburg)
Family-owned and operated pizzeria offering delivery and pick-up for their at home pizza kits. The kits are $10 including the dough, sauce, and cheese. Additional toppings are $2 each.
Nick’s Pizza & Pub (Elgin)
Nick’s pizza is offering kid’s pizza kits for $5 each with delivery and pick-up options. There are three locations in Chicago, Crystal Lake, and Elgin.
Papa Passero’s (Westmont)
Papa Passero’s is offering two kinds of kits for kids: a pizza-only kit with everything for an 8″ pizza ($5) or a full kit with the pizza supplies plus a hat, rolling pin, instructions, and apron in your choice of 12 colors ($14.99).
Pisa Pizza (Countryside)
Each pizza kit includes parchment paper, pizza crust, pizza sauce, and mozzarella cheese: the perfect birthday pizza. Call for delivery.
Rosati’s (Carol Stream)
Each kit comes with our authentic Rosati’s dough, cheese, pizza sauce, and cooking instructions! $8 per kit + $1.50 for each topping. Get yours today!
Rosati’s (Yorkville)
Rosati’s in Yorkville is offering $19.99 for all the supplies to make 2 (12”) pizzas. The kit includes everything you need to make 1 Cheese and 1 Pepperoni Pizza! Call and get one today! Call 630-553-5533
Smallcakes (Western Springs)
Cupcake decorating kits with all the frosting and sprinkles — available for curbside pickup or delivery.
Vanilla Sugar Bakery (Glen Ellyn)
Create your own cupcakes with at home decorating kits or order a full bakery assortment of cupcakes and birthday cakes. They offer curbside pick-up or delivery through Uber Eats.
Local Gardening Activity Kits
Wheaton Nursery (Wheaton)
While we’re off season now, check back with Wheaton Nursery for their spring and summertime offerings. Little Gardeners’ spring kits are available for pick-up. You can pre-order and enjoy quality fun with the kids from your home. Kit includes pot, soil, annuals, and a sign for your lawn. Get creative & come up with your own positive message to help spread joy during this time.
Local Summer Camps To-Go
Keep these great camps in mind for the upcoming summer!
Camp On the Go (Bloomingdale)
An at-home day camp. Campers receive a bag filled with a craft, outdoor activity, active movement, recipe, science experiment and a surprise (virtual field trip or additional item). Each bag contains the supplies for 1 participant. Camp on the Go also includes curbside pick-up and/or delivery (for residents).
Naperville Public Library (Naperville)
The Naperville Public Library is creating family reading bundles for pick-up, based on your children’ interests. They also have a section of online printable kits for kids.
Stay Camp (Downers Grove)
The Downer’s Grove Park District offers three activity stay-camp kits. One for adventure, exploration, and museum. They are each geared towards a specific age group between the ages 2-12 years old.
Subscription Boxes and Kits Available for Shipping
Nicole assembled this list of subscription boxes to beat boredom in the summer of 2020. Make sure to clink the links or call for the most up-to-date offerings by these companies.
Baketivity
Pick your Baketivity subscription or individual kit for regular deliveries of tasty, kid-friendly treats. Kits come with pre-measured ingredients and simple, kid-friendly instructions. Kits start around $25.
Bitsbox
Teaches kids coding! Perfect for curious kids ages 6 to 12 years old. Cost is $16.95 per month.
Circuit Mess
Choose either the Wacky Robots or STEM Box to have DIY kits sent to your home, starting at $27.99 per box.
Cratejoy
Various different crates for all ages and stages, both for adults and children. They offer books, beauty, STEM, and other passions. Crates start at $18.50 per month.
Curious Chef
These kits come with kid size, appropriate tools to get them cooking in the kitchen with you!
Eat 2 Explore
Eat 2 Explore is a family meal kit creating cuisines with your children incorporating ethic cuisine from around the world. Monthly delivery start at $21.21
Food Stir
Food Stir offers “junk-free” baking kits and subscriptions starts at $20 a box.
Green Kid Crafts
Green Kid Crafts ships hands-on science and art kits each month for ages 2-10+. Cost is $17.95 per month.
Groovy Lab in a Box
This subscription box offers hands on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experiments for ages 8+. Cost is $26.95 per month.
Halow’s Harvest
This activity kit offers a subscription to monthly cooking kits to bring the whole family in the kitchen together.
Kidstir
Each subscription box focuses on seasonal ingredients and special occasions, teaching kids ages 4 to 14 essential kitchen skills along the way. Starting at $19.99 per box
Kiwi Co.
Projects for all ages and interests. These boxes Kiwi Co. offers several boxes filled with hands-on fun activities for every age and interest. Starting at $19.95 per month.
Little Passports
Little Passports boxes focus on ‘visiting’ different cultures around the world and within the US through papercraft projects, reading, and other activities. Cost is $14.95 per month.
Little Sous
Every month your themed box will come brimming with delicious recipes and activities for your family. Subscription boxes start at $19.99.
MEL Kids & MEL Chemistry
Sciences experiments delivered to your house for your family to explore together. Kids version is for ages 5-10 years old. and MEL Chemistry is for ages 9-14 years old.
OwlCrate & OwlCrate Jr
A popular book subscription that sends members a newly released YA book, and other book-related goodies. The OwlCrate Jr. box focuses on younger readers under 12. Cost starts at $25.99 per month.
Raddish Kids
Raddish membership includes a monthly cooking kit, digital bonus recipes and activities, and an online kids cooking club. Monthly kits start at $20.
Sweetology
These adorable baking kits can be purchased independently or with a subscription that starts at $29.99. These kits will inspire any cookie or cake decorator and some come with virtual instructional videos.
We Craft Box
Be creative, make memories, and enjoy time together. Boxes come with a themed story, coordinating crafts, ready-to-follow photo directions, and all material needed that can be shared between two children. Recommended for kids ages 3-9. Cost is $29.99 per month.
Young Chef’s Club
Every month, kids receive a themed box filled with kid-tested recipes, hands-on activities and experiments, and other creative items. For ages 5 and up. Starting at $19.99 per month.
Looking for more ways to keep your kids busy this summer? Check out our Summer Camp List for live and virtual events!
