Summer Kickoff: Outdoor Essentials
Summer is here! Whether it is heating up where you live or you’re still dealing with May Gray and June Gloom, now is the best time to start preparing for your new summer routines. Kids get bored fast, outings are chaotic, and excessively hot weather can force us to stay inside and enjoy the air conditioning. Prepare yourself with our summer essentials! Keep reading to learn more about our favorite kids and toddlers' must-haves, including some great ways to repurpose what you might already have!
Adjusting to New Summer Routines
With the predictability of the school year gone, it can be overwhelming for both parents and kids to figure out how the days and weeks will be structured. Here are a few tips:
| Create a visual calendar. | Chances are, your home’s calendar is the lifeblood of your family. Add new things to it for your kids to see, such as set times for playtime, screentime, outdoor activities, and water play. |
| Include healthy habits. |
Be sure to include reminders to wash their hands, take a bath, exercise, and eat a healthy snack. |
| Set limits. | It can be easy to fall into screentime, especially on very hot days. Be sure to include time limits on TV, games, and movies for your kids. |
| Set a goal. | Pick a family goal to include in your schedule, such as reading a certain number of books before the end of summer, completing a certain number of workbooks, learning a new skill, or visiting with certain family or friends. |
| Be flexible. | While structure is very important for kids, remember to be flexible, too! It is important for the kids to relax and unwind from the school year, so allow for sleep-in late mornings or lazy days for your kids to enjoy. |
Safe, Screen-Free Outdoor Fun
Watching TV and movies as a family can be fun and relaxing, but it is important to balance it out with other activities, as well. If you’re looking for some safe, screen-free outdoor activities, we’ve got you covered.
Here are a few ideas:
| Water fun. |
Hot day? Just add water! Turning on the sprinklers, grabbing the hose, pulling out a kiddie pool, or having a good ol’ fashioned water balloon fight are simple things that kids absolutely love. |
| Leveled-up water fun. | You can make water play more fun by adding sensory toys! Sensory fidget toys are a great way to keep kids engaged in whatever they are doing, whether that is studying at school, staying still in a restaurant, or playing outside. |
| Have a picnic. | Rather than sitting at the table for yet another meal, head outside! Grab a blanket, pack up a picnic with some airtight mealware, and enjoy the yard or your local park. |
| Scavenger hunts. | Create a list of some items for your kids to look for in the yard, house, local park, or neighborhood for a fun activity. Level it up with a treat at the end, such as a popsicle! |
Too hot outside? Here are some fun indoor activities, too:
- Baking
- Board games
- Arts and crafts
- Indoor-friendly bubbles
- Science experiments
- Reading Puzzles
Sensory Toys for Leveled-Up Water Fun
Sensory fidget toys aren’t just for anxious kids in the classroom, they are PERFECT for water play during the summer!
Add them to:
- Water sensory bins
- The bath
- Your beach bag
- Your next scavenger hunt
Our sensory fidget toys are battery-free and made of 100% silicone, making them extremely durable, waterproof, and super easy to clean. All you have to do is toss them in the dishwasher with your day’s load after a long day of play!
Our Spike sensory fidget balls, Spike Fij-Its, Rainbow scrubs, Fish scrubs, and Duck scrubs are all anti-microbial, durable, super sensory, and ready for summer fun and beyond.
Airtight Mealware for Picnic Fun
All parents need airtight, leak-proof mealware!
One solution the whole family will love is our Stainless Divided Lunchbox! Made in three different sizes, you can pack and prep lunch for the whole family. Easy enough for toddlers to click open but also big enough for Dad’s lunch, this mealware set is going to get some heavy use in your home!
This original Innobaby Stainless Steel Container is made of the highest quality, food-grade 304 stainless steel (18/10 stainless) in South Korea. They are nontoxic, BPA-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free, and lead-free.
The double wall design means food stays warm or cold longer than traditional snack containers or sandwich bags (2 times longer!) The removable plastic outer layer also doubles as a protective shell to keep little hands safe from extreme temperatures.
Mess-Free, Indoor-Friendly Bubbles
Our Spike Sensory Bubble Play Skin Happy Botanical Bubbles & Blower Set is going to be your summer BFF.
Stop standing out in the hot sun holding a huge jug of messy, drippy, sticky bubble solution and grab our indoor-friendly, mess-free bubble set instead!
Your kids, as young as small toddlers, will love how simple, easy, and mess-free this bubble blower is. Simply pour bubble solution into the tray, dip and twirl the blower, and start blowing bubbles! No backflow going into their mouth, no mess, and it gets Mom and Dad off of bubble duty.
These safer bubbles are made with botanical ingredients for cleaner bubble play. Made without harsh soaps and detergents, our plant-based solution is easy on sun-kissed skin and ideal for those with eczema.
For more summer tips and great essentials, visit us at Innobaby.com!