Kodomo Challenge (Benesse)

What's in the box: Each month brings educational toys and activity materials themed around Shimajiro and matched to the child's age.

Kodomo Challenge is Benesse's long-running monthly learning program for young children in Japan, built around the tiger cub character Shimajiro. Courses are split by age: baby, puchi (1 to 2), pocket (2 to 3), and then hop, step and jump for the three kindergarten years. Each month brings materials matched to the child's age, usually educational toys along with activity pieces. The topics go beyond early letters and numbers to include English, nature and science, and art. Benesse says its toys are tested with children before release and are designed to be safe and durable. Developmental psychology experts, including Nobuko Uchida and Yoshiko Sawai, supervise the program. The terms are fairly friendly to families. There is no enrollment fee, shipping is included, and you pay after the first materials arrive. The site lists the puchi course from 2,460 yen a month when 12 months are paid up front. If you pay up front and quit early, you get a refund, but it is worked out at the higher month-by-month rate. Outside of campaigns there is a two month minimum, and you have to cancel by the 5th of the month before. The site and materials are in Japanese and aimed at families living in Japan. A new toy every month can also add up to a lot of clutter.