Summer Fun and Games – Entertainment Guide!

Summer is in full swing. What are your family plans? Are you staying home and filling your days exploring outside or playing games? Or is your family traveling somewhere new and exciting? No matter what your summer plans are you are sure to find something to get excited about in this guide to summer entertainment.

We received a variety of samples for this post. All opinions are our own. 

Getting Comfy for Reading Time

Give your tot a special place to call their own. This adorable soft toddler armchair by Candide Baby is made for children ages 9 months and up. It has a large built-in side pockets perfect for storing a few books and a front cup holder to store your little one’s sippy cup or bottle. This cute chair even comes with a soft blanket that stores on the back of the chair to give even more reasons to cuddle up with a good book this summer.

Encourage your own reading time this summer, too. Start by getting cozy with a Bedgear Pillow. Their pillows are incredibly comfy, and not like any pillow I’ve ever felt before. This one is their BG-X All Position Pillow perfect for those that toss and turn through the night moving from back to side to belly sleeping. The gussets and grooves allow airflow to keep your head a comfortable temperature. It is a perfect pillow for snuggling up on a couch with your favorite book or taking an afternoon nap! Find the perfect pillow for your sleeping style at Bedgear.

 

Adding some new books to your collection always makes reading time even more exciting than normal. Here are a few I have added recently to our collection:

If your kids love vehicles like mine do than these two books are right up their alley! Two rescue adventures await you as you read about Yellow Copter and Red Truck. Both books are filled with the best, brightly-colored illustrations that your kids will love. Plus, the rhyming, sing-song, text makes these books great read aloud for toddlers. My kids can’t get enough. Find a copy for yourself here and here.

 

Rory is just like most kids. When life at home with dad gets a little too boring he announces he is running away to have an adventure all on his own. As he encounters obstacles on his journey, he handles everything on his own. Or at least he thinks he is on his own. Rory never realizes his dad is never far behind him. This sweet story is such a cute depiction of a fathers love. Find it here.

 

Try Something New

Do you have a little scientist at home? Get your kids excited about nature with the help of Insect Lore. Watch insects like butterflies, praying mantis, ants, and even lady bugs grow right in front of your eyes! My kids have never had so much fun as watching our caterpillars change into butterflies. They loved reading more about them in books that we checked out from the library, and it was absolutely hilarious to hear my 2.5 year-old telling everyone she knows about her caterpillars making chrysalis and turing into butterflies. Those are some big words from such a tiny person! Learning has never been so much fun! Check out kits from Insect Lore here.

 

Keeping kids busy and learning all summer can be very hard. Luckily, Lakeshore Learning makes easier than ever. With resources for all ages you are sure to find something that will get your kids excited about learning this summer. So much learning happens when kids play hands on, my kids can’t stop playing with their Giant Roller Ramps. Winner of Goddard School Toy Test- Little builders can design and construct their very own giant roller ramps with lots of high-action thrills built right in. We are also keeping our reading going in between preschool sessions with the Road To Reading Activity Center. My kids are learning like crazy and having fun along the way, just the way moms like it! Keep your kids busy this summer with fun from Lakeshore Learning.

 

Enjoy Playtime

Summer is the perfect time to head outside for a nice family bike ride. Perfect for helping your child develop coordination and balance, Yvolution‘s Y Velo’s Loopa 2-in-1 Balance Bike and Scooter will provide hours of entertainment. Aimed for children 3 years old and older, this balance bike will help your child learn how to run and cruise on their bike. Not to mention, this bike is perfect for growing children. Not only are the handle bars and seat adjustable, but it easily converts into a kid empowered scooter. What more could any little kid dream of on a summer day? Be sure to head outside and have some summer fun with Yvolution‘s balance bikes and scooters.

 

Take you kids on a journey back to your own youth and share the games you loved as a kid. Winning Moves Games carries all those classic games we all love including Clue, Guess Who?, Trouble, PayDay the Classic Edition, Rack-O, Candy Land, Jenga, Pit, and many more classics! I love sharing these games with my kids as they are ones I can still enjoy, even as an adult. The kids won’t even realize when you’re sneaking in learning during the summer by challenging color recognition, sorting card by number order, collecting like sets, or recognizing different physical traits are just a few examples of the skill practices they can learn as you play some of these different games throughout the summer. Visit Winning Moves to see all their games.

 

Encourage exercise and fun this summer with scooters! Globber Scooter has high quality scooters to fit your child’s need. Their MY TOO comes as a fixed or folding scooter made for ages 5+ and up to 110 lbs. Featuring a rigid steel frame for support and an adjustable handlebar to grow with your child and support them through their stages. The foot rest has a revolutionary high density EVA non-slip foam to keep them safe. For beginner scooters, pick the Globber 3 Wheel Scooter Multicolor which is safe for children ages 3+. It has a long rear brake cover for efficient, easy braking. Adjust the handlebar for a perfect fit. Visit Globber to learn more about their scooters.

 

Take the fun with you, wherever you go this summer. This clever Turtle Toss bean bag toss collapses down and can be rolled and stored in a small carrying case without compromising quality. The toss is lightweight and easy to carry along with you to the beach, the park, along on your picnics or sports games. It can be carried right along with your folding chairs. The set includes 8 barrel shaped bean bags in 4 different colors so you can play with up to 4 players and create a variety of challenges. You can pick up your Turtle Toss on Amazon or on the SeaTurtle Sports website.

 

Keep learning this summer with games from Simply Fun. Their award winning educational board games allow children to build their core thinking, academic, and life skills essential for success in the 21^st Century while promoting fun and creating memories. We have been playing Dreaming Dragon non stop this summer. It may look like any other game but while my toddlers are playing I know they are developing dexterity and coordination, using spatial analysis in selecting objects to remove, manipulating to develop fine motor skills, and using tweezers to practice their pencil grip. Simply Fun has games for all ages and skills, learn more about them here.

 

Simplify Summer Travel

We have some pretty long road trips planned for this summer, I am constantly on the look out for new ways to keep them busy and having fun in the car. At home we absolutely adore Peaceable Kingdom games! Have you seen their new Dinosaur Escape game!? We CAN NOT stop playing it at our house! But, I was on the look out for car friendly games. I was thrilled to see their new Vinyl Cling Sticker Totes! Each set includes two background images and 30+ reusable vinyl stickers that you can use to create fun scenes or stories with! They even have a Take-Along Games edition, think tic-tac-toe. They are perfect for time in the car or on an airplane. Find these adorable sets, our favorite board games and more from Peaceable Kingdom.

 

Family road-trips are a must during the summer months. However, as any parent knows, traveling with kids can be quite the hassle. Thankfully, Radio Flyer’s Ultimate EZ Fold Wagon makes traveling with kids a breeze. Easily folded with one hand, the Utlimate EZ Fold Wagon is perfect for road-trips, camping, and trips to the beach. Whether you use Radio Flyer’s Ultimate EZ Fold Wagon to tote camping supplies, luggage, or children, you can take and store this wagon anywhere. My son can’t get enough of his EZ Fold Wagon. Not only do we enjoy its easy maneuverability on our daily walks, but it’s perfect for on-the-go situations. This wagon makes traveling easy and fun. With plenty of pockets for water bottles and snacks, we take our Radio Flyer Ultimate EZ Fold Wagon everywhere! Not to mention, it cleans like a dream – simply wipe away any mess or spills. Make traveling hassle free this summer with Radio Flyer‘s Ultimate EZ Fold Wagon.

 

I don’t know about you, but summer travels go MUCH smoother when keeping the kiddos entertained. One of my son’s favorite road trip past-times is doodling in his Gotcha Covered Notebooks. Personalized with your child in mind, Gotcha Covered Notebooks allows you to completely customize fun and unique notebooks. Choose from a variety of patterns and personalize each notebook with your name, size, binding color, and paper. Not only are Gotcha Covered Notebooks perfect for summer trips, but they make great gifts. Some of my personal favorite patterns include Anchors Away, Bicycle, and Color Block. Be sure to visit Gotcha Covered Notebooks for more fun colors and designs.

 

My kids love to color and read in the car. Chronicle Books has a ton of travel friendly games and options for your next trip! We just made a full days drive to my parents house and there were two stand out companions on the ride. The Lately Lily Book of Fun and Mosaic Animals. The Lately Lily Book of Fun is a coloring book that is full of fun prompts and games. Join Lily and Zebrah as they travel the world. So much fun! My son could not get enough of these magnetic mosaic animals. They remind me of Tangrams, they just have more pieces. They all fit on the tin and are magnetic, so a perfect companion in the car. Find more fun games and books at Chronicle Books.

 

Summertime is the perfect time for family vacations! I don’t know about your family, but with my kiddo, music and movies are a must while traveling. Designed to fit your little one’s ears perfectly, KidzSafe D.I.Y Headphones come in many different colors perfect for every little girl and boy. Best of all, KidzSafe headphones help prevent noise induced hearing loss with its volume-limiting technology. These Audiologist recommended earphones come with 4 colorful and interchangeable ear pads, 2 matching cords, and over 50 designer stickers; what a fun way to customize these headphones. Visit KidzSafe for more customizable products such as wireless speakers, speaker cases, and earbuds.

 

Just like most families we love to break out the dvd player for long travel days. Wether it is 12 hours in the car to Grandma’s house or a 5 hour plane ride for vacation, I have to keep as many tricks up my sleeves as possible. My go to DVDs are from NCircle Entertainment. My kids adore Sid The Science Kid, The Cat and The Hat, Dino Dan, and Octonauts. Especially Octonauts. I am happy to let them watch because I know they are learning while they do! These DVDs are perfect for your summer vacations, your kids will love learning while they ride along!