Sarah Mitchell
Writer · tester · mom of two
I'm a mom of two — Mia is 6 and Theo is 9 — and a freelance writer who's spent years evaluating kids' books, toys, and subscription boxes. Friends and family started asking me which boxes were worth the money, and toysreviews.net is what came out of those conversations.
I write about products parents are curious about but aren't sure are worth the money — the kind of category where a lot of marketing copy looks the same and the kid-engagement reality varies wildly. I test every box on this site at my own kitchen table, with my own kids, before I publish.
Why this site exists
A friend texted me last fall asking which science subscription box to get her 7-year-old for the holidays. I couldn't give her a straight answer because I hadn't actually tested any of them — I'd just read other people's reviews. So I bought five of them and tested them at my own kitchen table for the next four months.
What I noticed during those four months is that most of the existing reviews online are written by people who haven't opened the box. Affiliate roundups, unboxing videos with no follow-up, and "best-of" lists assembled from product page copy. None of those tell you whether the box still gets opened in month three. That's the gap I'm trying to fill.
How I review
Every box on this site gets four months of testing minimum, with both of my kids, before it's ranked. I time parent prep with a stopwatch, weigh the materials on a kitchen scale to see how much of the box is reagents versus packaging, and log how often each kid asks for the next experiment without being prompted. The full methodology is on the main review page.
Most subscriptions reviewed here were purchased at retail with my own money. A small number were provided by brands; that's noted in the article when applicable. Either way, the evaluation doesn't change. My financial relationship with brands is documented on the affiliate disclosure page.
What I won't do
- I won't take payment for a positive review.
- I won't let a brand approve copy or rank.
- I won't recommend a box I haven't actually tested for at least four months.
- I won't include a box in a "best of" list because the brand pays better commissions.
Get in touch
Questions, corrections, or a box you'd like me to look at? The fastest way to reach me is the contact form. I usually reply within 2–3 days.
— Sarah