Calgary’s Child Magazine’s Annual Summer Fun and Travel Wish List
- Details
- Written by Melissa Thomson
In Calgary, summer is not only a season, it’s a major celebration! The duration of the season in this city is so short that we need to appreciate, celebrate and frolic in the warm summer sun with everything we’ve got! Whether you are planning a trip to your lakeside cottage, headin’ out on the highway for an exciting family camping trip to the Rockies or beyond, or getting rowdy with the kids in your own backyard, here are our top picks to ensure your summer starts off with a sunny disposition. Oh, and we haven’t forgotten about you, jet-setters! If perhaps the Caribbean or the Islands of Hawaii is your family’s vacation destination, we’ve got you covered, too
Beat the Heat
IceHuggy®: This flip-fold-fasten sleeve stretches to wrap around your frozen ice treats! IceHuggy® keeps your summer treats freezing so they won’t melt all over you, allowing your fingers to stay warm and your ice treats cold. Now you can easily grab-and-go without a melted mess or cleanup! For more information, visit www.icehuggy.com.
Gotta-Have-It Gear
i1015 Case by PELICAN™: Great for rugged sports. This water-resistant, crush-proof, dust-proof case protects your smartphone. It features a clear lid that allows you to check playlists and messages, and has an external headphone jack, so you can listen to the player when the case is closed, ensuring the device is always protected. For more information, visit www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=i1015.
Oyaco - YummiGo Booster Seat: This versatile baby booster has ample storage for toys, travel essentials and snacks and converts into an elegant carrying case, so from airport to restaurant and back again, feeding time will look a lot less like feeding time at the zoo! For more information, visit www.oyaco.com.
Paperclip™ ROBOT - BubCap™ Home Button Cover: Use of smartphones and tablets for child education & entertainment has become more popular. The problem for many parents is that kids love to hit the home button. With a few random touches, kids can delete calendar appointments or send accidental communication to important contacts. BubCaps answer the demand from parents who are having trouble keeping kids in apps away from the device’s other stored information. They are rigid enough to stop a child from pressing through, but flexible enough for an adult to activate the home button with a firm press. For more information, visit www.papercliprobot.com.
Swiss Army - Victorinox Slim Duo: These high performance, portable data storage devices not only provide up to 2 X 64 GB of detachable storage for your important files and images, the Slim Duo also includes all the standard pocket knife functions as a blade, nail file, scissors and key ring. For more information, visit www.swissarmy.com.
Handy Totes
g.u.s, Great Useful Stuff - Kangaroom Mesh Beach and Travel Tote: 100 per cent waterproof and washable, this tote is a versatile, spacious carry-all. Its flexible neoprene handle allows for easy carrying. Various-sized pockets accommodate bulky items and smaller accessories, while large meshing allows you to see what you’re grabbing and lets water or sand flow right through! For more information, visit www.greatusefulstuff.com.
Optari - Sol Totes: From beach or pool tote, diaper bag, lunch tote and more, there are dozens of uses! Sol totes are durable, waterproof and easily cleanable. Once you've chosen your favorite bag, don't forget to make it your own with the Fobbz and Mini Fobbz charms collections. For more information, visit www.optari.com.
Kid Chic
koo [choo] loo BABY - Marshmallow Sunglasses: Super stylish sunglasses for babies/kids made to look just like designer shades! These are real sunglasses, sure to turn your little one into the hippest kid in town. The shades are shatterproof, impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses that offer 100 per cent protection against UVA and UVB rays. For more information, visit www.koochooloobaby.com.
pediped® - Maggie Yellow Flex: Your little girl will stand out in this bright and colorful sandal perfect for summer activities! The Maggie features fun star and heart cut-outs and a buckle detail. Features an all-natural leather upper and lining, an all-natural rubber sole and Memory Foam Technology™ in the sole for ultimate comfort. For more information, visit www.pediped.com.
Snapping Turtle Kids - Palm Beach Swimsuit Collection: Perfect for a splash at The Breakers or a stroll down Worth Avenue. Your little lady wouldn’t be caught on ‘the island’ in anything but her best and brightest swimwear - in this case, a pink-and-green frock, fit for an afternoon at Mar-a-Lago. For more information, visit www.snappingturtlekids.com.
ToeBuds by ToeBlooms™ - Trooper: This camo pair of ToeBuds is a perfect addition to any little trooper’s outfit. Casual and fun, the neutral colors paired with the leather button are sure to toughen up any outfit, and keep those little socks on, too! For more information, visit www.toeblooms.com/category-toebuds.
Winky™ Kids Cut Belts: These are true egalitarian belts: one size fits all! Cut the plastic to make them any length you want. Recyclable, waterproof, hypoallergenic and easy to travel with (you don’t have to take them off when walking through metal detectors), you might just find yourself wanting one in every color. For more information, visit www.winkydesigns.com.
Rainy-Day Boredom Busters
green toys™ Salad Set: Watch healthy-eating habits sprout! Toss up lettuce and veggies, and top with a dash of dressing or salt & pepper. The set includes a serving bowl, salad plate, 2 serving utensils, 3 lettuce leaves, 3 sets of cucumbers, 2 tomatoes, 2 red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and fold-your-own oil & vinegar and salt & pepper. For more information, visit www.greentoys.com.
green toys™ Tool Set: No job is too big for the world's most environmentally-friendly tool kit! This awesome 15-piece set includes a tool box, Phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, hammer, saw, wrench, pliers, two 2-hole connectors, 2 nails, 2 bolts and 2 nuts. For more information, visit www.greentoys.com.
School Zone Publishing Company® - Fuzzy Farmyard Friends Cards: These cards are designed to provide a variety of sensory stimulation. They crinkle, are soft, rough, shiny, fuzzy or smooth; can be stroked, tugged and turned. The characters on the cards have friendly faces, some with moving eyes, to fascinate and engage your baby. Includes a take-anywhere carrying case. For more information, visit www.schoolzone.com.
Safety First
Baby Alert International - Toddler Alert Pool/Driveway Monitor: A must-have for toddler safety! It is a passive monitor (no need to remember to turn it on and off) that only takes five minutes to set up, and provides that extra set of eyes needed to monitor the activities of your on-the-go toddler. Avoid swimming pool and driveway accidents! Quickly attaches to any door or entryway. For more information, visit www.babyalert.info.
Safety Turtle®: An ingenious combination of wireless signal-outfitted wristband and a wireless base station receiver that sounds an alarm the instant a child falls or ventures into water. The base station can be positioned anywhere between pool/waterside and 200 feet away. For more information, visit www.safetyturtle.com.
Toddle Lock: A baby gate for ladders designed to protect toddlers and give parents peace of mind! Toddle lock is made of the same material as playground slides. Non-slip feet applications help kids climb up and over. Take it anywhere: playdates, Grandparent's house, family reunions, pool parties or use in your own backyard. For more information, visit www.toddlelock.com.
Surf’s Up!
Girltrunks® Women’s Swimwear by Debbie Kuhn®: Girltrunks® are perfect for moms-on-the-go, and no need to worry about unwanted exposure while chasing around the kids! They are great for water activities, and resemble a tank top and shorts, but in quick-drying swimsuit material. For more information, visit www.mygirltrunks.com.
green toys™ Sand Play Set: Build a castle. Dig for buried treasure. No matter how ambitious the project, the world's most eco-groovy sand play set always leaves a light footprint. The Sand Play Set is made from advanced environmentally-friendly materials. For more information, visit www.greentoys.com.
SwimZip™ - South Seas Turtle Zipper Rash Guard: These shirts are the perfect item for blocking the sun's harmful rays! SwimZips are UV 50+, which block 99 per cent of UVA/UVB rays and are chlorine-resistant. You’ll love the full-length zipper down the front, which is uniquely designed to provide easy-on, easy-off when kids are ready to head out in the sun! For more information, visit www.swimzip.com.
Whether spending your summer vacation near or far, may the sun be with you all season long!
Melissa is the Copy Editor for Calgary’s Child Magazine.
