Tag Archives: feuss

In It for the Long Haul

Suitcases come in different shapes and sizes, but the best ones are the kind you pack up and go on a trip with. Here are some of our top picks for family (or solo) travel.

Tarmac AWD 22 (Eagle Creek)
This well-built carry-on-size bag comes with a ton of extras, including sturdy, 360-degree dynamic wheels that make navigating crowded airports a breeze, and lockable (and self-repairing) zippers. The Coat Keeper is an especially nice feature. How many times have you brought along a sweater or jacket just in case the flight gets chilly—and then left it on the plane or in the back of a taxi? The Keeper lets you clip your jacket to the outside of the suitcase. The AWD 22 also comes with a No Matter What warranty that really does cover damage from any cause. About $330. Eaglecreek.com

Pack-It System (Eagle Creek)
The Pack-It System comes in a variety of styles. Folders help keep your clothes wrinkle-free and compressed; Cubes are great for t-shirts, pants, underwear, and anything else you can roll up; Sacs keep all your small stuff organized; and Mud Boxes are water-resistant and perfect for muddy shoes and scuba wetsuits. $25-$30. Eaglecreek.com

iLite Supreme Wheeled Boarding Bag (American Tourister)
If you’re taking a short trip and are bringing your computer along for the ride, this bag may be just the ticket. Despite its small size, the iLite series sports sturdy wheels that allow you to push, pull, and turn any way you want. It also has a very comfortable retractable handle. On the inside, you’ll find plenty of pockets, straps, and zipper compartments, all of which make keeping your clothes where you put them. Samsonite/American Tourister have positioned the iLite as a laptop bag, but although the large exterior pocket has plenty of room for a computer, cables, and a few other gadgets, it’s not as well-padded as it could be. But that’s nothing a few extra pairs of socks couldn’t solve. About $75. Samsonite.com

Colora (American Tourister)
The most noticeable feature of the Colora series is the eye-popping colors (including raspberry, lime green, and orange), which make spotting your luggage on the baggage carousel quite easy. Even the handles and wheels stand out. Now all you have to do is find a stylish wardrobe to match. On the inside of the bag, you’ll find plenty of pockets, zippers, and cross-straps to help keep your belongings right where you pack them, something that’s greatly appreciated when bringing home souvenirs or trying to keep your things in any sort of order. $125-$145. Samsonite.com

Helium Garment Bag (Delsey)
Delsey’s garment bags come in three styles: Covers (or sleeves) are lightweight and include a locking hangar clamp to keep your clothes from sliding around, as well as a few exterior pockets; Non-rolling bags are pretty much what the name indicates: they’re framed bags that you sling over your shoulder or hold by the top handle. They also have lots of pockets for shoes, toiletries, accessories, and maybe a book or two; Rolling bags will keep your clothes wrinkle-free and looking good, but they’re are a little bigger and heavier. Fortunately, they’ve got wheels—something to consider if you’re traveling in a group and you’re the designated Sherpa. The rolling bags come with an adjustable strap that allows you to connect them to other bags, freeing up your hands. One of our favorite features about Delseys is the built-in over-weight indicator, which lets you know if you’ve gone over the 50-pound limit of doom. $79-$150. Delsey.com

Learning with Your Kids? There’s an App for That

As fun—and educational—as iPads can be, when it comes to parents playing learning games with their children (as opposed to kids playing by themselves and turning into zombies), there really isn’t an app for that. Until now. TigerFace Games has developed a number of learning apps that allow parents and children to either compete or collaborate. The TigerFace Games apps are just a few of the dozens of games that are part of the Fingerprint Network. We spoke with Nancy MacIntyre, Fingerprint’s CEO and co-founder. Having worked at Broderbund, LeapFrog,and Hasbro, Nancy knows a thing or two about games. “We’re trying to create experiences that parents and kids can do together,” she says.

We test-drove three Fingerprint apps, including two that are being released this week. We also previewed two more that are due out by the end of September. All are fun, engaging, entertaining, and challenging, and the graphics and animation are excellent.

Cosmic Reactor
Two players compete head-to-head in seven math-based games. One is a memory-match game, where players turn over “plates” that have equations, trying to find matching pairs (for example, 5×2 and 20-10). In another, a randomly-generated problem comes up (“pick the equation that gives 41”), and players have to find the right one from among a bunch of equation-sporting viruses that are floating around the screen. Customization is easy, so kindergarteners can do simple addition and subtraction, while older kids can multiply and divide larger numbers. (Ages 5-11; $2.99).

Quick Tap Spanish
In this two-person game, players race to match foreign-language words with their English equivalents. Quick Tap (which also comes in French, German, Portuguese, Mandarin, and others. Includes more than 100 word pairs in a variety of categories, such as animals, colors, food, and numbers. A fun way to brush up on the basics. (Ages: 5-11; $1.99)

The Flying Alphabetinis
If you like Scramble With Friends (by Zynga) or Boggle, you’ll love this game, where tiny acrobats with letters on their bellies pile on top of each other and create a jumble. Players find words forwards, backwards, up, down, and even zig-zagy. Flashcards with hints (like a picture of a boat) help early readers. (Ages 5-11; Free – $2.99).

Sushi Scramble (coming soon)
A friendly sushi chef puts letters on floating boats while hungry customers grab them as fast as they can. In the 2-person collaborative mode, players work together to complete assignments such as, “Make two words that start with T”. In competitive mode, up to four players make words using letters from the boats or snatched from another player’s tray..(Ages 7-11; $2.99)

Equator (coming soon)The earth is out of whack and the only way to set things right is to come up with two equations that produce equal results. Both players work together using game-generated numbers and floating arithmetic operators (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). As the game progresses, problems gradually become more challenging. (Ages 5-11; Free – $2.99)

When parents download any of the 40+ Fingerprint apps, they become part of the Network, which offers some nice features. Of course, basic parental controls keep kids from downloading more apps without permission. But there’s also the ability to set up individual profiles for everyone in the family and track each child’s progress. That way dad and mom will know whether there are specific areas the child needs to work on.

Right now, Fingerprint apps are available only on Apple devices. But Android versions will be out soon. As Nancy MacIntyre says, “We’ll do anything we can to keep kids and families playing together.” For more info, visit http://www.fingerprintplay.com

Superhero Toys

In a recent article on wired.com, Kevin Feige-the man behind just about every Marvel comics movie released over the past decade-says that Marvel has movies planned out until 2021. If you’re a kid (or someone who still loves comic book characters and adventure movies), that’s great news and you might want to look at some of your favorite superhero capes before the films arrive! If you’re a parent, that might be less-than-great news because every one of those movies will spawn a series of related toys and games, that means… more money spent on toys! Have no fear though, you can check out websites like https://www.raise.com/coupons/walmart and save money with their coupons and discount codes on those coveted toys. Here are just a few of them.

Iron Man Action Cycle (Playhut)
Iron Man and his alter ego (big, big ego), Tony Stark, is one cool dude-especially when he’s in motion. And that’s exactly where the Iron Man Action Cycle puts him. Given how high-tech Iron Man is, this toy is remarkably low-tech-not even a battery. Kids stomp or punch an air bladder which propels Iron Man across the room. Best on hard, flat surfaces-carpet will just slow him down. Since it requires stomping and punching, a little parental supervision is advised to ensure that no one’s toes or fingers get smashed. There are also Captain America, Spider Man, and other superhero Action Cycles. All are $19.99. Available at playhut.com and toysrus.com.

Marvel Iron Man 3 Avengers Initiative Assemblers Battle Vehicle (Hasbro)
This cool toy includes Iron Man himself and a race car, which converts to power-enhanced exo-armor when Iron Man needs a little extra protection. The car also has the ability to launch Iron Man into the battle with a simple push on the spoiler. $19.99. Hasbro.com

Marvel Iron Man 3 Avengers Initiative Arc Strike Iron Man Figure (Hasbro)
Sporting a lot of interactive features, this large Iron Man’s hands, chest, and eyes light up with a blue electronic glow. When “powering up” the lights glow brighter and you get that cool powering-up sound. And when firing, the lights pulse. While not as poseable as some might like, the lights and other effects will engage most kids. $19.99. Hasbro.com

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Flingers (Playmates Toys)
And now onto those heroes-in-a-half-shell. The Ninja Turtles are back with a new line called Flingers. Each Ninja (sold separately) has a built-in mechanism that allows him to throw things at the evil Foot Clan. Leonardo has 10 sewer lids, Raphael 4 sais, Donatello 3 bo’s, and Michelangelo has 10 pizzas. The figures themselves are dressed in some pretty funky (in a good way) junkyard armor. The flinging mechanism works well, but performs best on a hard surface and in the weapons need to be fired off in a certain order, especially with Raphael. But done correctly, it’s fun to see each Turtle grab his weapon and throw it. $12.99 each. Playmatestoys.com.

Man of Steel Quick Shots Battle for Metropolis Play Set (Mattel)
In case you haven’t seen it, Man of Steel is a re-imagining of Superman with a darker, mysterious, and more-alien feel to it. But it’s still epic and no matter where he is, Superman is always fun. What’s not to like about a guy who’s strong, can fly, always does the right thing, and is pretty good looking to boot? With the release of the new movie-and with plenty of sequels sure to follow-there’s going to be a plethora of new toys. Mattel’s Quick Shots line revives a low-tech-yet-effective mode of superhero transportation: Make a V with your fingers, pull back on the stretchy figure’s body, release, and let him soar around your living room. Quick Shots come in single flinger packs as well as in larger play sets like Battle for Metropolis. $30.99 for the set. Mattel.com

Getting Kids Thinking and Exploring

We all know that keeping our children entertained can be a tough task, especially when you’re running out of new ideas. They’re always full of energy and raring to go. Unless you have one of the Rainbow Play Systems of Colorado in your backyard, which keeps the kids entertained for hours, you may need a few tips on how to keep the children occupied. One of our favorite brands for educational-yet-still-truly-fun toys is Educational Insights. As parents, we marvel at how creative and well-thought-out EI’s products are-and we enjoy all the “ah-ha” and teachable moments they elicit. But we also love how engaged they keep the kids, and how much fun the youngsters are having when they’re playing (and we’re especially happy when at least some of that play time is spent with us!). We’ve reviewed some of EI’s products in previous columns, but this week we want to focus on their Nancy B’s Science Club line, which we first saw at this year’s Toy Fair, where they became fast favorites.

Nancy B’s Science Club kits were created by Nancy Balter, a former science teacher and all-around science enthusiast. The idea was to inspire girls to become interested in and learn more about science (even the colors are especially appealing to girls, but aren’t so girly that they’ll alienate boys). The Club has also partnered with female scientists from around the world who provide content and contribute their knowledge. Each product comes with a journal where budding scientists can keep notes and track their progress, as well as an “exclusive membership” in Nancy B’s online Science Club.

The Binoculars kit is a great way to spend some time with your kids getting to know the birds, plants, and critters in your own backyard. Before you start this it’s important to make sure you backyard is safe first, especially if you haven’t spent much time there before; there are always a surprising number of potential dangers. ChammyIRL has a handy guide on how to go about doing this. Once that’s done, the Wildlife Activity Journal includes all sorts of activities, including bird watching, animal observation, and ecosystem challenges that will encourage your child to get up and do some learning outside. This is a great first step into science. The binoculars let you bring the world four times closer and there’s a built in compass so you can learn a little about navigation without running the risk of getting too lost. If you’re not sure which binoculars to buy, check out this guide from Andrew Jackson to learn more.

The AquaScope kit introduces children to a world that’s a little tougher to have access to: underwater life. Whether you’re at a beach, lake, river, or even a puddle after a rainy weekend, the AquaScope lets you explore what’s going on beneath the surface. It magnifies 5x and the built-in LED light can illuminate the murkiest of waters. There’s also a built-in thermometer and ruler. The Underwater Wonders Activity Journal includes tons of activities that involve observing, measuring, and recording discoveries. Theoretically, you and your budding Marie Curie could do all this without getting wet, but where’s the fun in that?

Okay, so now that you and your child have explored the earth and the oceans, how ‘bout the stars? Stargazing may be one of the oldest parent-child activities. Nancy B’s Science Club’s MoonScope is a basic telescope that, at 90x magnification, is powerful enough to see mountains on the moon and Saturn’s rings. Besides learning about astronomy (including lunar phases, planetary movement, meteors, and comets), you can also introduce your kids (and perhaps yourself) to mythology and science fiction. You and your child can have a ton of fun exploring the night sky on your own, or you can take some suggestions from the info-packed StarGazer’s Activity Journal.

Other kits in the Nancy B line include the Microscope and Activity Journal and the Crime Solver and Forensic Activity Journal. All are solidly built and, at prices ranging from about $14 to $40, they won’t break the bank. You can find out more about all of them at http://www.educationalinsights.com

If you’d like to introduce your children to proper scientific hardware early on, you could look at the microscopes available from Edmund Optics.

Cooking with Kids

Unlike other chores, helping out in the kitchen is something most kids really enjoy. Helping them get a good, basic knowledge of cooking, kitchen skills, and know-how, is a something that will definitely help them later in life. It can be messy, but the cleanup by wiping the counters and using a steam mop (these are essential to maintain the cleanliness of your floors – you can read steam mop reviews here!) teaches your children the responsibility of cleaning up their mess. In the short-term, it’s a great way to create some lifelong memories-and some pretty tasty meals. And the look of pride on your child’s face when their dish is served will be priceless. If you’re looking for some inspiration on what to cook, you could always check out blogs like St. Ambrose for some kid-friendly recipe inspiration and decide together what you’re going to make. Cooking with kids can be incredibly fun and rewarding, however, it only takes a moment for something to go wrong and for an appliance to be broken, luckily this is where your home warranty comes into play. You can check over here to see about various policies if you haven’t got one already.

It really doesn’t matter if you’re not the best cook in the world, as the emphasis on cooking with kids is FUN! But it’s understandable that you still want to be making something edible at the end of it all. If you are one of the many people in the U.S. who want to improve their cooking skills, you could take a look at the CocuSocial website to find a cooking class near to you. This is a great way of becoming a better cook and making amazing food. And you’ll then be able to pass that knowledge onto your kids!

Let’s start with the basics: pots and pans. Two of our favorites are the Green Pan and Twiztt collections. Both are eco-friendly, non-toxic, and are still easy on the wallet while not sacrificing quality.

Voted “Best in Europe,” the Green Pan can help you and your family maintain a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. However, this is not a traditional non-stick pan, Its non-stick Thermolon ceramic coating helps the food slide off easily, and is heat resistant, which means that if you overheat the pan (even up to 450C or 850F), it won’t blister or peel or release any toxic fumes or add any unwanted chemicals to your food. But be sure to follow the directions carefully. The Green Pan does require some special handling. Available at http://www.green-pan.us or at your local Target or kitchen store.

Twiztt, designed by Joan Lunden, is simple, safe, and affordable. Like the Green Pan, Twiztt uses Thermolon ceramic non-stick coating, which makes cooking-and cleanup-a breeze. Each Twiztt kit comes with everything you need to make a meal (except the actual food). For example, The “Cook, Cut, and Serve” set includes a melamine bowl with a stainless steel lid and an adjustable steam release knob, which lets you mix, heat, and serve in the same container. It also comes with an easy-to-clean, sustainable chopping board that fits on the bowl, eliminating the need to transfer chopped food from cutting board to another container before mixing. Everything but the cutting board is dishwasher safe. Available at http://www.twiztt.com or your local Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Crock-Pots are a great way to cook, and no home should be without one. On those crazy busy days when you know you won’t have time (or energy) at the end of the day to spend making dinner, toss all the ingredients you’ll walk in the door to a home-cooked meal. The new Crock-Pot Hook Up Connectable Entertaining System allows you to connect as many as six cooking units together, which is great if you have a large family or you entertain a lot. For more intimate gatherings, just use one. The units come in several sizes and are sold individually or as a kit. They’re attractive, easy to stack and store, and the removable stoneware and lids are dishwasher safe. Available at http://www.crock-pot.com or your favorite retailer.

No food experience would be complete without dessert. And Yonanas makes creating health after-dinner treats fun. This blender-sized kitchen emulsifies frozen fruit into a creamy dessert that looks, tastes, and feels like soft-serve ice cream. You keep the vitamins and fiber and skip all the fat (okay, if you really want to, you can add chocolate and nuts). Plus, the flavors you make are completely up to you. Yonanas is easy to take apart and clean, and none of the dangerous parts get anywhere near those little helping hands. Dishwasher save, Yonanas is available at http://www.yonanas.com/.

Camping with Kids, Part 2

Last week, we talked about some tents and sleeping bags so you don’t need me to remind you about the stuff that we spoke about. What I will say is that it’s important for you to do your research and find the best backpacking tent that you can find so that you can enjoy your trip as much as possible. But if you’re really going to go camping, you’ll need more than that to make a successful adventure. Whether it’s a tonne of fun games or a device to give you better cell reception, you need to be ready. We all know that a kid’s favourite phrase is ‘I’m hungry’ so I would highly recommend reading up on some quick camping meal ideas from somewhere like campingfunzone.com, so you’re always prepared for this eventuality. It might even be an idea to take some recipe books along with you. Here are a few more of our favorite take-alongs.

Lights
Since camping typically involves an overnight, it’s important to think about how you’re going to get around in the dark (say, to and from the bathroom, from the campfire back to the tent, or even just getting undressed and finding your sleeping bag). While some kids may love feeling their way around by starlight, many will need the comfort of a lantern or flashlight.

HABA Terra Kids Lantern (HABA USA)
One of the problems with battery-operated lighting is that kids never remember to turn them off, which leaves you literally in the dark. The HABA Terra Kids lantern solves that by using an easy-to-turn crank to charge the bright, easy-to-see-by LED lights. So your little ones can keep their light shining all night long-or at least until they fall asleep. This well-built, sturdy lantern comes with a padded handle and a neoprene cover. It also sports a built-in compass (perfect for little explorers), a detachable karabiner, and
an alarm whistle so the kids can alert you if they aren’t able to find their way home with the compass. $39.99. http://www.afterschool.com

Bibi Bee Kids’ Flashlight (Melissa and Doug)
For the little ones, Melissa and Doug’s Bibi Bee Kid’s Flashlight will be an instant hit and may give them a little more confidence to explore. The bright bee stripes and happy face are great for scaring away nighttime monsters. This lantern takes AA batteries, which are well hidden by a childproof panel that keeps kids from removing them. However, you’ll need to bring a small Phillips screwdriver, otherwise you won’t be able to get to the batteries either. $12.99. http://www.melissaanddoug.com

ThermaCELLOutdoor Lantern (ThermaCell)
Lanterns are great for lighting, but they also tend to attract mosquitos and other bugs. This lantern manages to combine a good quality, fully functional LED light source with insect repellant. This lantern is non-toxic, silent, odor-free, and instead of DEET, keeps bugs away with allethrin (a version of a natural insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers). The ThermaCELL weighs only 13 ounces, and 4 AA batteries provide up to 12 hours of power. $29.99. http://www.thermacell.com/

Let’s Go Fishing
Camping trips are a great time introduce the kids to fishing-and to the time-honored practice of telling stories about “the one that got away.” The Zebco 33 Spincast Combo ($29.99) is an excellent option for both newbies and more experienced anglers. It also comes pre-spooled, which is nice for everyone. We also liked using the Rapala Original Floating Lure ($8-$13) as twitch bait. Both are available. At Afterschool.com. They also carry everything from rods, reels, poles, and tackle for dad, to character poles for the kids (even pink ones for those little princesses who still want to play in the mud and water). http://www.afterschool.com

Quit Bugging Me
Whether or not you’re near the water, don’t forget the bug spray. Natrapel Bug Spray (available at drugstores everywhere) is not only effective, but is DEET-free and safer for everyone in the family. Unfortunately, even the best insect repellant doesn’t get 100 percent of the bugs. And even if it could, there’s always poison ivy and poison oak. The Itch Relief Patches from BeKool ($4.99 for a package of 18, http://www.bekoool.com/) not only relive the pain and itching, but also provide a physical barrier to prevent scratching.

Camping with Kids

With summer winding down and fall nipping at our heels, now’s the perfect time to look at great camping gear. There are loads of different types of camping gear that you can get, some people like to get something like a family sized SUV from sites such as https://www.hyundaiofanderson.com/used-inventory/index.htm or some may even opt for a
fancy camper van that they use around twice a year.

Additionally, RV battery are a necessity to some, but others just like to make sure that have the right tent. Usually, in the summer, we send the kids to somewhere like Camp North Star which they absolutely love as they get to play with people their age and go on adventures, but we also like to go camping with them ourselves every year. Our favourite times to camp are fall and spring: great weather, smaller crowds, and still plenty of fun to be had. So what to pack? Here are some fun and easy ideas for a perfect family camping trip.

Carbon River 3 Person Tent (Eddie Bauer)

For a small family, Eddie Bauer’s Carbon River 3 Person Tent is the perfect choice. While some 3-person tents barely fit two, this one actually does accommodate three (Including a couple of large adults) quite comfortably, in part thanks to the generous 55-inch ceiling height. The rain fly gives plenty of weather protection and the interior storage pockets and vestibules mean lots of room to store your gear-and less to trip over inside the tent. Color-coded poles make this oversized tent easy to pitch, even when it’s getting dark and you’re already half asleep. A glow-in-the-dark zipper makes it easy to find your way back at night. And bright yellow stakes keep the tent planted in the ground and easy to see (no one needs to be tripping over stakes or stubbing your toes on them when you venture outside to use the bathroom). $249. http://www.eddiebauer.com

Snowline Sleeping Bag (Eddie Bauer)

While it’s possible to get by without a tent, you’ll definitely need a sleeping bag. The Snowline is an honest-to-goodness three-season performer (which will save you some money in the long run), this bag comes in regular (for those under 6 ft. 3) or a long option (for taller campers or anyone who just wants some extra room). Goose Down insulation inside a ripstop nylon shell, this mummy style bag is tough and will keep you warm on cool nights and won’t bake you on warmer ones. The Snowline is machine washable (but you’ll probably want to hang it out to dry). And weighing in at only three pounds, it’s a great bag for long hiking trips or shorter, glamping trips where you still want to be comfortable. $250 for down, $129 for synthetic insulation. http://www.eddiebauer.com

Lucky Bums Sleeping Bag (Lucky Bums)

For little campers, the Lucky Bums Sleeping Bag is a great fun, functional option. Whimsical and eye catching for the kids, this mummy bag still offers the warmth (it’s rated to 10 degrees) and durability that you’ll need for camping in different seasons. There’s a full-length right-side zipper and a Velcro enclosure at the top, an ergonomic hood with drawstring, an internal drawstring to keep campers extra toasty, and it comes with a stuff bag. At less than three pounds, even the youngest campers can schlepp this one all by themselves. $50. http://www.afterschool.com

Coleman NXT Grills (Coleman)

Looking to do a little cooking while you’re out on the trail but don’t want to mess around with collecting kindling and starting a fire? Coleman’s NXT Grills are easy to use if you’re not going to too far into the wilderness (even though they’re small enough to fit in your trunk, they’re still too big to carry for very long). The NXT (which is also perfect for tailgating, beach BBQs, or even your own back yard), has 321 square inches of cooking surface and 20,000 BTUs, which give it the power to sear in flavor. The NXT comes with a porcelain-coated, cast iron grill. Griddle and stove top are sold separately. $219. http://www.coleman.com

The Paper Chase

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think about making something out of paper—Origami? Paper airplanes? Papier-mache? For most of us, those were activities we did in Kindergarten or in an after-school crafts program. But creating things from paper is definitely not just for kids. This week, the Parents@Play team had a chance to try out two books that made us look at paper—and what you can make out of it—in a whole new way. We produced some very cool projects. Better yet, we discovered an amazing new way for kids and parents to spend some fun, creative, entertaining—and electronics-free—time together. And we’re confident you’ll be able to do the same with your family.

Paper Made! 101 Exceptional Projects to Make Out of Everyday Paper, by Kayte Terry (Workman Publishing)
Warning: if you read this book, you may never throw away another newspaper, magazine, empty cardboard box, bag, piece of torn wrapping paper, napkin, or candy wrapper as long as you live.

Let’s get this out of the way right now: Kayte Terry is a genius. The things she creates from stuff that otherwise would have ended up in landfill or a recycling bin, are absolutely amazing. And if you’re willing to put in the time, you’ll learn how to make equally amazing things by folding, cutting, gluing, painting, molding, weaving, twisting, braiding, shredding, crumpling, and even sewing ordinary pieces of paper and cardboard.

Projects include a fruit bowl from braided newspaper, a place mat from woven strips of lottery tickets, a book bag made out of an actual book, a lampshade made from decks of cards, jewelry, picture frames, tables, photo albums, and a lot more. Any or all of these can be done by one person alone. But they’re a lot more fun to do with someone else—or a group of someone elses.

The New World Champion Paper Airplane Book, by John M. Collins (Ten Speed Press)

Unless you’re an aeronautical engineer, forget everything you ever learned about making and flying paper airplanes and let John Collins show you the way. As the proud owner of the Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled by a paper airplane (226 feet, 10 inches), Collins really knows what he’s talking about.

He starts the book with a kind of flight-school, explaining the physics behind flight, how different shapes and types of wings affect lift, what rudders and flaps do, and even how to throw for the best effect. He then gets into folding 101, starting with the most basic folds and working up to complex ones that may take quite a few attempts to master. You could skip all this and dive right into the airplane making, but your aircraft won’t be nearly as good.

Once you’re ready, you’ll find step-by-step, illustrated instructions for how to build the most amazing paper airplanes ever. We’re not talking about basic airplanes that you make in less than a minute and toss across the room. The planes you’ll learn about in this book might take half an hour or more of very detailed work to make. But instead of having a craft that stays airborne for a few seconds and then crashes, you may be able to build one that will float around for minutes at a time (at least that’s what Collins says. Some of his “follow foils” stayed up for that long. The longest we could manage was about 30 seconds).
All in all, a perfect activity for very patient parent-child teams ages 10 and up.
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Saying No to the Summer Brain Drain

From a family-togetherness perspective, summer is a fantastic thing: family trips, camping, and, if you’re lucky, a vacation. Families often use summer as a chance to bond as a family but also to unwind. This is why camping vacations to places like Iceland are so in demand. If you are interested in visiting Iceland yourself, you can look here for more information. This gives these families time in the great outdoors and a chance to just hang out. Some families also look for local, kid-friendly places to keep their children active and having fun, as well as try to spend time together as a family (See – best ranked family entertainment near me for more information). But from the school perspective, summer is a disaster. Most education experts say that kids lose about three months of knowledge over the summer and teachers have to spend the first two months of the new school year catching up. Fortunately, there are ways-most of them painless-to keep what your kids learned last year firmly inside their head. This week, we review three books that, besides offering a great way to stay connected with your kids, will help you brush up on a few subjects you probably haven’t used in a decade. All three authors were guests on Armin Brott’s “Positive Parenting” radio show. You can listen to those interviews at mrdad.com/radio, then search for the author’s name.

Summer Bridge Activities (Carson-Dellosa Publishing, Greensboro, NC)
This book (it’s actually part of a series, one for the summer between each year of elementary school-1-2, 2-3, 3-4, etc.) is pretty traditional, meaning it has worksheets, graphs, maps, and even some flashcards. But it manages to keep kids and parents engaged while reviewing last year’s learning and getting a head start on next year’s. Besides math, reading, writing, and other academic subjects, the books also include physical fitness (actually doing it, not just reading about it) and suggestions for family field trips.

Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse to Stay up Late, by Laura Overdeck (Feiwel and Friends, New York)
Bedtime stories are a wonderful way for families to spend time together-and to get kids to learn to love books. But have you ever wondered why we don’t do math with our kids before they go to bed? Sadly, math gets dumped into the category of things that most people do only because they have to, not because they want to. The goal of Bedtime Math is to change all that and to make math a fun, engaging part of our kids’ lives, to make it as beloved as the bedtime story. Each section (there are more than 30) starts with fun piece of trivia about such topics as flamingos, bungee jumping, exploding food, and team mascots. Then, there’s an equally fun math problem that uses what you just read as “props.” Actually, there are three problems on the same topic: one that involves mostly simple addition and subtraction, one that might require some basic multiplication, and one that incorporates logic along with the other math functions. It’s all such fun that you’ll find yourself reading the book long after the kiddies have fallen asleep.

Potentially Catastrophic Science: 50 Experiments for Daring Young Scientists, by Sean Connolly (Workman, New York)
Despite the name, the experiments in this book aren’t really all that dangerous-as long as you and the kids follow the directions. The book is like an archeological dig through 34 of the greatest scientific breakthroughs in human history. We start with Stone Age choppers and the discovery of fire more than a million years ago, and go all the way through rocket launches, lasers, and DNA. Each experiment includes a brief explanation of what made the invention so special, what it does, and where the potential for catastrophe was. Those overviews are so entertaining (and educational) that you could, theoretically, quit right there. But why would you when you’ve got step-by-step instructions for how to actually replicate what you’ve just read about? You’ll have a blast-especially in the chapter that talks about gunpowder.
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Making Summer Travel Fun

Planning to hit the road this summer? A road trip is a summer adventure that is fun for the whole family, one that has you hitting the road and heading off to amazing destinations. If you are thinking about this, you may want to find a car that is spacious and won’t make your family feel cramped inside, here’s a full list of seven-seaters you might want to check out, so your family can have a comfortable trip on that long trip ahead. Of course, having something to keep them preoccupied while you drive would be helpful too, so you’ll definitely want to check out some of the great travel items that will reduce family squabbling and keep the kids happy, entertained, and, most of all, quiet!

SeatPets (SeatPets)
For kids, seatbelts can be the most annoying part of any trip-even worse than a younger sibling. Kids spend half their time squirming around, trying to get the seatbelt into a more comfortable position. And if they fall asleep, they often wake up with a seatbelt mark on the face. With SeatPets, those problems are a thing of the past. Little bro or sis, however, will still be as annoying as ever. SeatPets are soft, cuddly creatures that fit over any seatbelt, making it a lot more comfortable. They also have big, soft heads (lion, cow, ladybug, cat, dog, monkey, and monster), which help keep the child’s head supported and reduce those sore nap-necks. These plush pals also come with a variety of pockets so kids can store away treasures, and a handy backpack strap, which makes it easy for Junior to schlepp his own Pet when your hands are full. $19.95 (discounted if you buy more than one). https://www.seatpets.com/

Peppa Pig Picnic Adventure Car (Fisher-Price)
If you haven’t been to Europe lately, you may never have heard of Peppa Pig. But you will soon. Peppa is a precocious porker with her own TV show and, not surprisingly, a line of toys, books, and other products, including the Picnic Adventure Car. Kids will love to act out their own road trip with Peppa and her pal George (included) and the bright red family car, which plays songs, says phrases, and even does the famous (or soon-to-be-famous) “Peppa snort” that will send your child into fits of giggles. Comes with a picnic basket and blanket. $19.99. http://www.peppapig.com/

My First Camera (Plan Toys)
Even the youngest kids are fascinated by electronics. They’re also incredibly hard on them. With My First Camera, toddlers and preschooler will enjoy “taking pictures” just like mom and dad. Plus, it keeps those little fingers busy and away from your expensive camera. The kaleidoscopic lens gives kids a different view of the world every time they look through it, and there’s even a strap to help them keep it nearby. My First Camera is eco friendly-made of sustainable materials, water-based dyes, and organic woods, meaning it’s no big deal if it ends up in someone’s mouth. $15.00. http://en.plantoys.com/

Kidzoom Camera and InnoTab 3 (VTech)
If your child is too big to be distracted by a camera that doesn’t actually take pictures, try Vtech’s Kidzoom Camera. It’s a fully functional digital camera that not only lets your child take and edit photos (with cool effects), but also make movies and play three included games. The camera holds up to 1,000 photos that are as high-res as many budget-priced cameras aimed at adults. $39.99. http://www.vtechkids.com

Vtech also has an array of tablets for kids, from the youngest right up until they’re ready for their own iPad. Officially, they’re toys, but they’re actually pretty sophisticated. The new InnoTab 3 has a child-friendly, multi-function, touch screen that’s easy-to-use and nearly impossible to break. And with Learning Lodge, which is VTech’s proprietary library, kids can download apps, books, music, or choose from games that teach them subjects like math, social studies, which will help minimize the summer brain drain. $69.99.

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