Gearing Up for Spring Break Part 2: Kids

Want to get the kids excited about travel?  Give them their own gear.  Not only does it give them a thrill and sense of responsibility, it makes things easier for us.  I love this DANTE BEATRIX PERCIVAL WHEELIE BAG.   How cute is this?  It's pthalate, lead, and pvc free and has the same charm as the cool Dante Beatrix lunch boxes.  There are organization compartments and those cheeky devil horn zipper pulls.  You can write your name on the label in the back and I suspect this would be a very hard bag to lose track of as it would really stand out.  The handle is adjustable for different heights (even adults) and they come in various ultra-cute designs.  Just looking at them warms my heart.  I think it's one of those things that you'd want to hang on to even after your child has grown up.  It could house various mementos from your trips, artwork, special clothes and other childhood treasures.  Find them HERE.

Like adults, kids need a day pack.  I like this Kelty Kids Grommet pack because it is heavy duty and will last forever.  It will double as a school pack and the straps stay put with weight.  It comes in several colors and patterns and has plenty of organizer pockets for snacks, books, a jacket, electronics and water bottles.  If your child travels light it would work fine as an overnight bag, and I think it's perfect for the plane and use as a day pack for longer trips.  Find it HERE.

For kids beyond toddler-hood (that you don't have to worry about choking hazards with), I like these Think-ets.  It's the perfect size to slip in your purse or pack and pull out when needed.  Having a few tricks up your sleeve can save the day and this should keep them busy for a while.  I love open ended imaginative play and that is what this is.  It's a small tin box filled with tiny trinkets including an arrowhead, a small tomato, an air plane and a star.  It can be used a number of ways--pull out various pieces and tell a stories based on various criteria, pick a piece and tell everything you know about it, make up questions, ad-libs, it's all about your imagination.  This would be great to have on the train, in the hotel and in restaurants. Wrap it up as a little present and pull it out at the right moment.

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Fun Green Things for Back To School

Dabbawalla Lunch Bags are eco friendly and fashionable.  A Dabbawalla is a person in India who delivers lunch boxes to office workers and was inspirational to one of Dabawalla's creators.  The bags are crafted from neoprene like eco-sponge which is Oeko-Tex certified.  It's machine washable and insulates your food along with being non toxic.

Some of the designs are great for adults as well as kids.  My son and I will be fighting over this British Invasion lunch bag which is big enough to hold anything you could want for lunch.  The bag stretches, so if you want to pack a lot, there is give.  Very well made and cool looking.

Nathan Kids Sport Bottles are not only attractive, but non toxic unlined stainless steel. No BPA or aluminum here. I love the wide mouth which makes for easy cleaning.  They are the perfect size for kids' lunch boxes and come in several cool designs.  Our favorite is the glow in the dark firefly bottle.  Nathan makes large and extra large bottles for bigger kids and adults, lots of colors and designs to choose from, ergonomic shape, comfortable spout and no leaking.

Banana Paper Spiral Note Books are unique in that not only are they sustainably made from banana leaf, but they are wide ruled as opposed to the typical college ruled notebooks. Great for younger kids as well as older kids.  They come in very cool designs--this mod looking cricket is textured and feels good to the touch.  Available at Red Apple School Supply.

Paper Mate Biodegradeable Pencils and Pens:  The pencils are made from recycled wood, and the pens are made from biodegradeable plant sugars.  You can try this fun experiment from Paper Mate: Plant the biodegradable pen or pencil in the backyard, check back each month and watch it biodegrade back into the earth!  Learn more at www.papermategreen.net/us/. 

Check out these fabulous Endangered Species Erasers from Kikkerland.  They are big and hefty and double as a cool ornament/toy for the desk and 2% of proceeds go toward helping endangered species through the Center For Biological Diversity.  

Instead of using plastic baggies, how about these reusable bags from Lunchskins?  I love the green apples!  Not only do you reduce landfill content and save money, but they are fun and cheery.  They're made from cotton, are washable, and have a place to write your child's name.  

   

I love Dante Beatrix lunch boxes.  The zipper pulls are little devil horns and on the back is a name tag sporting the shape of a devil head.  Within the tag it says, "eat your veggies."  These are modern, colorful, and cheeky.  They're also non-toxic coated canvas which is bpa, pthalate and pvc free.

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