Between holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and the general “just because” surprises that come with knowing people for a long time, there is always a need to have a few gift ideas in the back of your mind, especially when you have children in and/or around your life. In turn, below are 10 suggestions for relatively-inexpensive, child-friendly gifts.
Coaltree’s Marley Kachula Blanket
An outdoor brand that has raised over $1 million on Kickstarter for its technical outdoor products, Coalatree collaborated with reggae star Ziggy Marley on the limited-edition Marley Kachula Blanket. The Kachula blanket is super-versatile, sort of the “Swiss army knife” of blankets. It can be used as a blanket, travel pillow, a light sleeping bag, and even a poncho for emergency situations. For every limited-edition Marley Kachula blanket sold, one will be given to someone in need, meaning that good is done while you yourself have purchased a high-quality product.
Aimed to provide gorgeously designs that are also functional, Ruggable’s rugs worked for RVs, camping and temporary indoor areas alike. Ruggable is essentially a 2-piece rug system, where the top part comes off so that it can be easily washed in a washing machine. It is lightweight, non-slip, and available in a variety of sizes. In turn, you have an adaptable surface that manages to be simultaneously child-friendly, pet-accommodating and travel-ready.
Founded in Norway in 1932, Stokke began life as a manufacturer of high quality furniture. Its first product for children was launched in 1972 — the Tripp Trapp chair — and sold more than 10 million units, remaining a core product in the Stokke collection. Since 2006 Stokke has focused exclusively on designing premium children’s furniture and equipment within the highchair, stroller, baby carrier, home textiles and nursery segments. Bathing a baby can be a challenge for any parent, and the Stokke FlexiBath looks to provide a solution to that. The FlexiBath is foldable and suits children from birth to 4 years of age. Its space-saving design makes it easy to store and convenient to use at home or when traveling. Also interesting, child-friendly and currently-available from Stokke are the Scott, MyCarrier, Steps Bouncer and MyCarrier.
GODIVA’s Wonderful City Dreams Gift Box
If you are looking for a snack that ought to appear to people of all ages and backgrounds, it is worth looking into GODIVA’s wanderlust-worthy 18-piece Wonderful City Dreams Gift Box. Priced at $36, this limited-edition collection features both traditional and new pieces inspired by spectacular cities around the globe, specifically Shanghai, London, Brussels, New York and Tokyo. With exotic flavors including yuzu and violet, to cheesecake mousse and hazelnut praline ganache, each bite will bring you to the city of your dreams. The only drawback is that this item is only available for a limited time, through Labor Day 2018. In the case that you are reading this too late, GODIVA also has some other interesting new items in stores, including Chocolixirs — flavors include Strawberry, Oreo, Cold Brew and Caramel Crunch — and Dark Decadence Cones.
In short, ECOlunchbox’s Three-In-One is a three-piece nesting lunch box set. A bento-style container, the Three-In-One makes it easy to pack a variety of foods and keep them all separate. Furthermore, it is modular, so you can pull out the snack container and use it separately. The Three-In-One is also manages to be made of 100% food-grade stainless steel while leak-proof and free of BPAs. It has a 31-ounce capacity, so you can be as portion-conscious as you wish within your travels.
The inflatable kid-sized Roly-Poly Roller Wheel from ThumbsUp looks exactly how you think it would, only more colorful. The perfect size for children to climb through or roll around in, it is suitable for use both indoor and outdoor activity. It holds up to 80 pounds and has a 39-inch inner diameter. While you can take the Roller Wheel just about anywhere, be sure to keep it away from public roads and bodies of water.
While the simple act of eating and drinking can be frustrating for many children and adults with special needs, STAYnEAT — nicknamed “The Helping Plate” — is a dining aid which can aid those individuals. Aiming to help people with those difficulties live more independently than ever before, the STAYnEAT and STAYnEAT Jr. both feature a reversible 2-in-1 design, going from partitioned to non-partitioned with just a flip. It is slightly tilted to keep the high side dry, which makes it great for dipping and reducing soggy meals. Both products also include press-and-hold suction, a side scoop wall, and a “STAYnEAT Border,” ultimately keeping food on the plate, not off it.
Sharpie Neon Permanent Markers
When you think of permanent markers, you most likely think of the Sharpie brand. When someone asks for “a Sharpie,” odds are that they are asking for one of the Fine Tip or Ultra Fine Point models. But what many people do not realize about Sharpie — one of the more visible sponsors of NASCAR and David Beckham alike — is that Sharpie also makes art-friendly markers, meant for more than just signing something. The Sharpie Neon, for example, will electrify your writing or art projects with vivid neon colors that shine brightly in the daytime and glow at night. Meanwhile, the Sharpie Metallic will make your folders, notebooks or even old sneakers shimmer. Other Sharpie options currently on the market and easy to find at a retail store near you include the Art Pens set and the Extreme marker.
Contigo Snack Hero Drink & Snack Kids Tumbler
The Contigo Snack Hero Drink & Snack Kids Tumbler is a 2-in-1 beverageware container that has been engineered to simplify both kids’ and parents’ lives. A 4-ounce snack holder cleverly-stacked on top of a 13-ounce spill-proof water bottle, it lets parents pack both a drink and snack in just 1 container. The spill-proof valve system means no spills or leaks, even when you hold the tumbler upside down. Also available from Contigo is the Spill-Proof Kids Tumbler Line, which helps kids transitions from a sippy cup. It has a no-spill valve in the straw that makes it impossible to spill, and a seal around the straw that offers extra protection against leaks. With waste-minimizing items like these, travel with children certainly becomes easier.
Reading anything on a digital screen outdoors and in the full glare of the sun can leave you uncomfortable, to say the least. myFlipShade is a new and helpful phone accessory for the person that just cannot put down their e-book. The all-in-one accessory flips around from the back of the phone to provide a pop-up shield that protects your screen from the glare as well as peeping eyes. The shield also doubles as a vertical and horizontal stand, folding up neatly behind the phone when not in use. myFlipShade is only available for iPhones, so fingers are crossed that an Android-friendly model is in the works.
