summer days Kids at Play

Somehow half of the year has flown by and summer is upon us! As we get ready to face warmer, longer days, this list of activities from art and water play, to biking and healthy snacks should keep the little ones busy and engaged for the next few months.

Whoa Dough’s plant-based cookie dough bars are made with real ingredients and have the smooth texture of cookie dough! With an assortment of yummy cookie flavors, like chocolate chip, sugar sprinkle, peanut butter and brownie batter, what’s not to love They are dairy-free, gluten-free, nonG O, soy-free, egg-free, vegan and kosher – phew! – so snack time is a win across the board. www. amazon.com or www.walmart.com, $14.99

Seamlessly designed with high-quality components and child-specific geometry, woom bikes are lighter than conventional children’s bikes to give children the perfect introduction to riding a bike and spark a lifelong passion for cycling. The woom product line spans from toddler to teen si es, ensuring an appropriate and comfortable fit plus lots of fun colors and accessories at every age. www.woom.com, starting at $259

We are loving all of the art kits by children’s book author Eric Carle and the team of arts & crafts experts at Creativity for Kids. There’s a eady to Grown Garden, Craft lay ictures, Fun Felt lay and Story uppets. We tried the DIY “My Book Tote” kit; everything you need is included: fabric stickers to design the front and back of your bag and an adorable name tag. eady to tote books and take trips to the library! o glue, no mess, a ma or win. www.amazon. com, $19.99

Spend the summer working on life skills with these fun games by Solid oots based o The Berenstain Bears, which promote fun and a bit of friendly competition for mundane chores! The Messy Room Challenge has cards with prompts such as pick up anything that looks like an animal” or “pick up anything that starts with the letter . anners Mania helps little ones earn points and learn good restaurant manners for each positive behavior they complete at the table! They’ll put their napkin in their lap, thank the server, order their own food, and much more (3 sets worth) while earning a varying number of points for each. www.amazon.com, $9.99

These magnetic tiles are a life saver wherever you are – home, restaurants, airplanes, cars, etc. t home, kids (and adults!) can build elaborate structures and incorporate other toys, balls, etc. On the go, they are just small enough to bring along but not so small that the parts go missing easily. Conneti tiles are nonto ic and have a uni ue beveled design, plus lots of color choices, which allow them to be strong while creating beautiful clear refractions. a or fan of these! www.amazon.com, starting at $35.00

These are a great as a set or given out in goodie bags. Each 2 pencil is made from recycled newspapers, labeled with its own fruity scent, and comes in its own freshness tube with a fun and colorful cap. I was surprised that outside of the drawi function, the kids made up games with the characters on the caps. Double the fun! www.amazon.com, $8.99

If this is not already a staple in your home, put it at the top of your list. It’s easy to put together, easy to move around, and has a huge drawing space – chalkboard on one side, dry erase on the other. It’s height-ad ustable, has containers for paint (or markers , plus a ledge for more writing utensils and a magnet to hold paper. The erasing alone keeps my kids busy for long periods of time!

www.amazon.com, $89.99