The gift that keeps on giving - 9 of the best subscription gifts for parents and children
It’s safe to say we’re living in a subscription society. From entertainment and food to travel, kids’ activities, apps and more. Heck, I even have my razors on a quarterly subscription.
If headspace is one of your most valuable currencies right now, subscriptions are a great gift option for grown ups and little ones. They’re easy to buy (all you really need is access to the internet, the means to pay for it and a printer) and they’re guaranteed to spark a little bit of joy every time the next gift lands on the doorstep via snail mail.
Subscription gifts for grown ups
Let’s be clear, these gifts aren't just for your family or friends - gifting them to yourself is a perfectly acceptable practice when you’ve been pretty amazing this year too.
Here’s a round up of some of the best subscription boxes for busy parents, to bring a little happiness or calm, or simply a chance to keep your personal interests alive.
1. Coffee or Chocolate? Hotel Chocolat
I’m not sure which of the many subscription options from Hotel Chocolat I’d choose - they’re both so deliciously tempting. Their Barista subscriptions promise a monthly delivery of their signature drinking chocolate or recyclable coffee pods, while their Chocolate subscriptions offer a monthly fix of your favourites or a sweet surprise delivery. Happiness delivered, indeed.
Price: From £23.50 per delivery for chocolate and from £13 per delivery for the Barista subscription.
2. Flowers: Bloom and Wild
Bloom and Wild are known for their beautiful letterbox flowers and great loyalty offers. Flowers are just perfect for the person who has everything. Plus, they’re proven to immediately boost happiness and mood. They aren’t the cheapest flower subscription in the market, but from experience, everything about them - from their quality, to packaging and service - is definitely happiness guaranteed.
Price: Starting at £65 for a three month subscription.
3. Men’s mental health: Mind Journal
Ok, ok, this is stretching the idea of a subscription gift just a little, but we couldn’t resist including this as a brilliant gift for the men in your family. Mind Journal is a beautiful journal that was designed to help men’s mental health and based on scientifically proven research. Once The Journal is complete, there are options for the recipient to continue their journaling habit with different products. But what I really enjoy is the prompts, inspiration and encouragement that you get alongside your purchase in the form of really engaging, really informative emails.
4. Magazines: Stylist Magazine
A firm favourite from my London days - I really missed Stylist magazine for it’s down to earth fashion, lifestyle and views. A subscription to Stylist is affordable - and when you can’t put a price on taking time out to focus on you and your individuality, it’s one of the best gifts you can give.
Not what the fellas are after? Try a subscription to Men’s Health or GQ Magazine instead.
Price: Stylist Magazine is £1 for the first 3 issues and £4 per quarter thereafter.
5. A box of calm: The Slow Down Collective
Anxiety and parenting go hand in hand, so for those who struggle to slow down, this subscription box is the ultimate gift of calm. Containing tools, prompts and resources to support a positive wellness journey, The Slow Down Collective sends a box once every three months with the most beautiful products and packaging. No quick fixes here, this is about learning to slow down and breathe.
Price: From £35 per quarter.
6. Strictly for grown ups: Craft Gin Club
Gin is officially the UK’s favourite spirit. If you know a gin lover, or like the odd tipple yourself, the Craft Gin Club subscription is a real luxury. Each month, they send a whole bottle of gin, plus hand picked mixers, gin cocktail ingredients and lots of lovely snacks. Finished off with a glossy magazine with mixology instructions and lots of fun stuff to read. It’s pricey, but worth it.
Price: £149 for a 3 month subscription.
Subscription gifts for children
Subscription gifts for kids are a great way to reduce overwhelm on Christmas day. Too much at once can really send them into overdrive can’t it? Here’s a few of our favourite subscriptions for little ones.
7. Toys and treats: PLAYin Choc
Nut free, dairy free, organic and eco friendly chocolate - what more do you want for your little treasures? Oh, a plastic-free toy in every box? Yep, they’ve got that too. I love the PLAYin Choc boxes for their tiny treats and gorgeous puzzles.
Price: From £15 per month.
8. For the littlest ones: Lovevery
The Lovevery Play Kits are suitable from birth and are personalised to your baby’s stage of development between the ages of 0 to 3. Designed by experts who link brain science and Montessori to the way you play, the kits are intended to help parents feel confident that their children are learning at the right pace while being able to experience greater connections with their parents through play.
Price: From £80 per 2 months.
9. Mini-master Chefs home: Little Cooks Co
Budding bakers can get a monthly box delivered to their door featuring yummy recipes to make with a willing parent. All recipe boxes from Little Cooks Co are vegetarian and delivered in compostable packaging. Boxes include ready-measured ingredients, cooking cards, stickers and fun extras. You can choose between a baking kit or a cooking kit depending on the interest and skill-level of your child.
Price: From £8.99 per box.
Access 100s of checklists on the Parent List App for free
Get ready for the ultimate parenting assistant! With just one click you can get started on parentlist.app for free. You'll unlock 100s of helpful checklists to make your life as a parent easier than ever before. From fun activity ideas to spark joy in little ones, snooze-inducing bedtime routines and simple ways to support the whole family’s health. Join our community for free today.
