High-Pressure Water Bottle
Anyone up for a water fight? The Aquabot high-pressure water bottle offers that possibility and more. Just pump the cap, twist a nozzle to select a spray pattern, press a trigger, and water flows.
Want to squirt someone up to 25 feet away? Choose the stream pattern. Want to clean gear or wash mud off your body? Select the shower pattern. Want to keep you or your pet cool? Opt for the mist pattern. Lunatec’s Aquabot is BPA-free and is available in green, blue, and clear. A 22-ounce bottle costs $26.50; a 34-ounce bottle is $28.
Lunatec Gear
7929 Silverton Ave., Suite 610
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 653-0401
www.lunatecgear.com
Sippy Cup Lid
Research has shown that every day in North America, 3,745,684 drinks are spilled by children. Okay, we made that up. But we all know spillage is quite commonplace. One solution is the SipSnap Snug Spout, which is recommended for kids ages 9 months and up.
It’s a universal sippy cup lid that can be stretched over cups that range from 2.5 inches to 3.75 inches in diameter. Snug Spout is made of 100 percent silicone. It’s dishwasher-safe and can be boiled for sterilization. It contains no BPA, phthalate, or PVC. Snug Spout is sold in sets of three. The price is $11.95.
Double Double
P.O. Box 40397
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 298-2910
www.sipsnap.com
LED Slap Bracelets
In one respect, slap bracelets haven’t changed much since they first appeared in the 1980s. You straighten one out, slap it against your forearm, and it curls around your wrist.
But there’s a new twist: Bracelets from GlowCity are outfitted with LED lights that illuminate by pushing a button in the center of the bracelet. So, while they’re fun for kids, adults might find them useful for nighttime walks or jogging. And even when the lights aren’t on, reflective stitching makes the wearer more visible. The bracelets use CR2032 batteries, which are replaceable. GlowCity’s Light-up Slap Bracelets are available in several colors for $8.95 each.
GlowCity LLC
(877) 562-4569
www.glowcity.com
Temporary Tattoos
Despite the efforts of adults to keep track of young children, they sometimes manage to wander away, which can make for scary moments at amusement parks, shopping malls, campgrounds, and the like. One way to help ensure a safe return: temporary child ID tattoos from SafetyTat.
Quick Stick Write-On! SafetyTats are applied to skin after peeling off the backing; no water is needed. The tattoos say “if LOST, please call:” followed by a space to write a cell-phone number using the included waterproof marking pen. The sweat-proof/waterproof tattoo is said to last up to two weeks, but it can be removed sooner. Various designs are available, including allergy/medical alert SafetyTats. Quick Stick Write-On! SafetyTat tattoos are available in a pack of six for $10.99, a pack of 12 for $17.99, and a pack of 18 for $20.99.
SafetyTat
P.O. Box 369
Phoenix, MD 21131
(866) 468-5766
www.safetytat.com
Swim Goggles
When Christian Hahn saw his kids struggle with traditional swim goggles that were hard to put on, pulled their hair, and didn’t fit well, he set about designing a painless, easy-to-wear alternative. The result is Frogglez Goggles for noncompetitive swimmers ages 3 to 10. Its makers say that when kids wear comfortable goggles, they’re more likely to conquer water.
The patented straps are made of stretchy and wide neoprene so as to alleviate the hair-pulling problem. Size adjustments can be made using hook-and-loop fasteners. And, Frogglez float. Frogglez are available in various styles and colors, with or without tinted lenses. Prices range from $19.99 to $24.99. Adult versions also are available.
Made By My Dad LLC
9527 U.S. Highway 42
Prospect, KY 40059
(502) 619-2199
www.madebymydad.com
Motorhome Play Set
Pint-sized future FMCA members can start to get a feel for the motorhome lifestyle with Playmobil’s Summer Camper. It features a retractable awning as well as a removable roof so that kids can check out the floor plan, which includes a kitchen with sink and stove; a bathroom; adult mattresses that fit over the cockpit seats; and child bunk beds in the rear.
The set, recommended for ages 4 and up, includes two adult figures, two child figures, a table and chairs, dishes, silverware, food, a fire extinguisher, a surfboard, and other accessories. The Summer Camper is 12.6 inches long, 5.1 inches wide, and 5.9 inches high. It’s item number 6671 on the Playmobil website. The cost is $44.99.
Playmobil
26 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512
(800) 351-8697
www.playmobil.us
Travel Game
A road trip with kids calls for a travel game. The U.S.A. License Plate Game, from toy company Melissa & Doug, educates young minds as it helps pass the time.
Suitable for ages 8 and up, the game not only involves spotting license plates, it’s also a way for kids (and adults) to get a painless geography lesson and learn the state capitals. There are no loose pieces to misplace. But a warning: The makers of this game are not responsible for travel delays caused by repeatedly driving around hotel parking lots looking for more license plates. The price of the U.S.A. License Plate Game is $19.99.
Melissa & Doug
P.O. Box 590
Westport, CT 06881
(800) 284-3948
(203) 762-4500
www.MelissaAndDoug.com
2-In-1 Outdoor Game
We gather here today to acknowledge the harmonious coupling of two popular outdoor games: cornhole (known in some circles as bag toss) and ladderball (also known as ladder toss). The games have been united in L.L.Bean’s Dome 2-in-1 Ladderball/Cornhole Game.
Both games are incorporated into a nylon tent. It measures 39 inches each in height, width, and length when set up using the provided shock-corded fiberglass poles. On one side of the tent are holes through which cornhole players toss the six provided beanbags. On the other side are rungs onto which ladderball players throw the six provided bolos. The game folds into a small package for storage. The price is $59.95.
L.L. Bean Inc.
95 Main St.
Freeport, ME 04032
(800) 441-5713
www.llbean.com
Electric Go-Cart
Safety may not be the first thing on a kid’s mind when he or she climbs into a sleek go-cart, but it’s paramount to parents. Knowing that, the people at Actev Motors designed a “smart” electric go-cart that can be configured to match the skill level of drivers ages 5 to 9. It’s called the Arrow Smart-Kart.
Parental supervision is possible with the Arrow mobile app, which connects to the Smart-Kart via Wi-Fi. Safety features include an adjustable maximum speed limit (up to 12 mph); collision-avoidance technology that automatically stops the Arrow when an obstacle is detected; an emergency stop button; and a “geo-fencing” feature that prevents the driver from going outside a defined boundary.
Kids, meanwhile, will get a kick out of the synthesized engine sounds they can download from an online sound library. The Smart-Kart’s price is $999.95.
Actev Motors
211 S. Whisman Road, Suite A
Mountain View, CA 94041
www.actevmotors.com