The Scoop A visual journey, packed with sun-drenched illustrations through Mexico. Each two spread page introduces several spanish words and a poetic description of something one might experience in Mexico.
Off We Go to Mexico
is best for young kids (age 2-5) who aren't expecting a storyline, but will enjoy this book's detailed, colorful pictures and lilting rhyme. Off We Go to Mexico gives a nice overview of Mexican culture the way a child might experience it. If your child is learning Spanish, translated words and phrases, included in each two page spread, could be a great conversation starter, and if a trip to Mexico is the first time your child will be encountering a foreign language they'd be a great opportunity to discuss how that works.
If you're headed to Mexico, the simplified match at the end of the book would be a great way to point out where you're headed without getting drawn into the details of roadways and geographic features.
Related Links
Buy:
Off We Go to Mexico
(affiliates link)
Children's Books and Toys for a trip to Mexico
Book Review: A Mango in the Hand
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book so that I could check it out. I will be donating it to my children's school library. If you buy a product through one of my Amazon links, I do receive a small commission, and that income helps me keep this site going.
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Posted on June 12, 2013 |
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We're always sort of nervous when we take the kids to a historical or cultural museum. True, there have been some sticky moments, but more often they surprise us by finding something they're interested in, as they did in this picture taken at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. When we're at our best, we can use that as a hook to carry us through a bit more of the collection.
Related Links
Albuquerque with kids
What is Photo Friday?
- Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
- The focus of the post should be on your photo.
- You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
- It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
- Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
There's something special about taking your own kids to do something that was magical for you as a child. For me, the opportunity to be up high, sailing through the sky on the Astro Orbiter, is a hazy childhood memory, so it has been fun to revisit this ride year after year at Disneyland.
Related Links
Orange County and Disneyland with kids
Contrarian advice for visting Disneyland with kids
What is Photo Friday?
- Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
- The focus of the post should be on your photo.
- You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
- It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
- Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
The Scoop The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children
is the kid-friendly guidebook you wish you had for every city. The author, who knows the city like a local, provides recommendations and advice to help you get the most out of grown-up attractions like the Louvre, find kid friendly activities like French cooking classes, and eat in restaurants that feature French food but also accomodate American-food-focused kids well.
The cover, and small size make
The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children
feel like a special gift from your most stylish friend, and somehow that made it hard for me to take this guide to Paris with Kids seriously. It sat on my nightstand for weeks before I finally cracked the cover. I read the introduction in detail, and then focused on the sections of the city that I know best, inspecting to make sure that the advice made sense for kids, that the author was recommending quality restaurants and attractions, and that the organization made sense. I'm a tough audience when it comes to guidebooks since each one weighs heavy in a daypack already loaded down with sippycups and wetnaps.
The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children: Play, Eat, Shop, Stay really delivered. I loved the suggestions in the introduction for bilingual summer day camps and year round festivals that would appeal to children. There's even a list of babysitting services. That's the type of information a friend in the area might have, but you'll rarely see it in a guidebook.
The neighborhood guides did a good job of giving kid-centered advice about what to do in each of the most touristed parts of Paris. Listings included a few kid focused options (for example a cooking school near the Louvre) and the major attractions. Each listing is brief, but gives you an overview of how you might attack it with kids in tow, and an overview of the snack or meal options inside (you know you'll never make it through the Louvre without a snack break or two). Restaurant recommendations run the gamut from quality local places that accomodate kids well to kid-comforts like the Hard Rock Cafe.
Can I include a quick plug? If you're already carrying your smartphone on vacation, consider adding all your favorite Paris recommendations to TripDoc (my iPhone app). Just give TripDoc the names, and it will plot them all on a map so that you can plan out your days and find your way around Paris.
Related Links
Buy:
The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children: Play, Eat, Shop, Stay (affiliates link)
Children's Books and Toys for a trip to Paris
City Guide: Paris with Kids
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book so that I could check it out. I donate products valued over $40 to charity. This book, valued at $19.95, is being loaned to a series of Paris-bound friends this summer. If you buy a product through one of my Amazon links, I do receive a small commission, and that income helps me keep this site going. TripDoc is the iPhone app my husband and I co-developed.
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Posted on May 29, 2013 |
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I've been invited by Residence Inn to contribute to their Family Travel Talk Forum on Facebook this year. I'm joining several other blogging parents and I'm excited to see it shape up as a lively forum where we can share tips about traveling with kids.
My first post, about how to find a moment for yourself without completely ditching the kids, is up now (yes, it's possible). You can check it out here and I hope you'll share your own tips for finding balance when you're traveling with family.
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Posted on May 29, 2013 |
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There's no doubt that Disneyland can be magical for its youngest visitors, but the large scale can sometimes be overwhelming too. That's why we always try to seek out a few spots where the kids can feel like they're having an experience that's all their own.
The new Fantasy Faire at Disneyland was the perfect spot for my two year old niece. Kids line up outside the Royal Hall and are escorted (along with their families) to meet each of the princesses who are in attendance. During our visit, she got time with Ariel, Aurora and Cinderella. Like the Mikey meet and greet in Toon Town, our visit was completely unrushed and since she was a little nervous, she had time to get comfortable and talk with each princess before I swooped in with cameras to try to get the perfect shot.
Related Links
Orange County, CA with Kids
Contrarian advice for visiting Disneyland
All posts about Disney
What is Photo Friday?
- Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
- The focus of the post should be on your photo.
- You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
- It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
- Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
This month, in order to celebrate their second annual family travel issue, the Conde Nast Traveler website is featuring advice from a handful of top family travel bloggers (including me) each Wednesday. The first post, about Packing for a family vacation is already up. It's a fun and useful read, so I hope you'll check it out!
While you're there, you can also check out all of my past posts on Conde Nast Traveler and some great advice from the newsstand issue.
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Posted on May 21, 2013 |
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Today, the Environmental Working Group releases its annual report on safe sunscreens. The report is well worth checking out, both for advice on using sunscreen properly and to find products that don't contain harmful chemicals but do provide adequate sun protection. You might be surprised to learn that some big brands, even in their "kids" formulations aren't as great as you assumed.
Here are a few tips I've learned over the years
- Sunscreens expire, and many have an expiration date stamped on the bottom. I write the year on each tube when I get it so that I can toss it if it isn't used up within three years. (Sharpie works well, and you'll want to add your name too)
- You need lots! For an adult, 1 ounce (think shot-glass-size) would cover all exposed parts of the body. For kids, half that much would be about right.
- Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours and every time you get out of the water, don't count on high SPF or "waterproof" formulas to give you extra protection... they don't.
- Spray and Powder sunscreens are touted for kids because they're so easy to apply, but there are serious concerns about their safety for young lungs. I like the goopy white stuff for the body and a stick sunscreen for face.
- Cold sunscreen on a warm body sends my kids running. I squeeze out some lotion, rub it in my hands to warm it, and then slater it on.
- It's hard to get kids to sit still for lotion while everyone else is running in the sun. One trick is to hand over a stick of chewing gum. By the time the flavor is gone, you'll be done rubbing in sunscreen. And ideally, you would apply the sunscreen about 30 minutes before you head outdoors.
- The best way to avoid sun damage is to avoid the sun. Peak hours for UV rays are between 10am and 3pm. Did you know that you can check expected UV levels in advance? Check out this handy website from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Product Recommendations
General Purpose
Vanicream Sunscreen
. This has been my go-to sun protection for years. It works well on my kids' sensitive skin and is easy to rub in with no white residue or staining.
Face
Faces are tricky, and I like to use a stick since it's less likely to end up in my kids' eyes. All Terrain KidSport SPF28 Natural Sunscreen Face Stick
is a cheaper, but still great alternative to the Aveeno Sun Natural Protection Baby SPF 50 Stick
I recommended last year. Both provides good quality sun protection, though they do leave some whiteness. The small size makes these sticks to keep in my purse or pocket every day.
Lips
I like the not-too-goopy Kiss My Face Organic Vanilla Honey Lip Balm, SPF 15
and my kids like the scent. Since this is for lips, I buy one tube per kid and label it with a sharpie.
Eyes
Nope, there's no magic sunscreen for the eyes. Instead you'll need to buy good quality, sturdy sunglasses with polycarbonate lenses - preferably ones that wrap around to block light from the side.
Low quality glasses that don't have 100% UV protection can do more harm than good, so any sunglasses you received as a party favor should be disposed of before summer begins. I also avoid sunglasses available at children's clothing stores since quality varies and you may not be sure about UV protection (not everything stamped 100% UV passes the test).
If you're an optometrist and have recommendations based on an independent review, I'd love to hear them in comments! The brands I'm aware of that use a high quality lens and frame are Real Kids Shades
, Julbo and BabyBanz / KidzBanz.
One note: It's worth letting your kids choose their own sunglasses since they're more likely to wear something they like.
Natural Supplements
There is some evidence that the vitamins in your diet can help prevent or even heal sun damage. While I wouldn't recommend adding supplements beyond the daily vitamin your doctor recommends, I do think it's worth making sure your child's diet includes good quality sources of Vitamin C and A (both of which can be found in summertime favorites like Cantaloupe and Apricot).
Related Links
Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection for more recommendations, from clothing to sunshades, check out my post on sun protection for your child
Beach Safety with Kids
Disclosure: I have not received free samples or been paid to recommend any of the products in this post and all of the products I recommend are the ones I purchase for my own kids. If you buy a product through one of my Amazon links, I do receive a small commission, and that income helps me keep this site going.
Filed Under:
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summer
travel tips
4 comments |
Posted on May 20, 2013 |
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When we're staying at an upscale hotel, walking back from the pool to our room always feels to me like a minor bit of disorderly conduct. Not to the kids though, refreshed and recharged they can't wait to get back into their daytime clothes and see more of our destination.
What is Photo Friday?
- Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
- The focus of the post should be on your photo.
- You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
- It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
- Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
Summer is just around the corner, and with it the family trips to the beach that seem to define this season. I wanted to share a few safety tips to keep in mind before you hit the waves.
Check Conditions
In an ideal world, you'd only swim at beaches where there's a lifeguard. City websites are a great resource for finding local beaches with lifeguards and information about open hours.
Surf reports, generally available in a local newspaper, will give you an idea of the size of waves that day, and that can help you determine whether there could be an increased undertow (the bigger the waves, the bigger the undertow)
Learn about local animals. Are there sometimes Jellyfish? If so, check with the lifeguard to find out how frequently people are experiencing stings currently. You'll also want to teach your kids how to identify a jellyfish on the beach or sand. If you are in a shark area, know that sharks are attracted to shiny jewelery and move closer to shore to feed during dusk, dawn and night.
Be aware of any concerns about local water quality and watch local news for beach closures.
Revisit Water Safety
Start each summer with a refersher on water safety - both for you and for your kids. Here's a good resource to get you started.
Kids may be confident pool swimmers, but if they haven’t been in the ocean before, the waves are a real game changer. Spend some time close by until you are confident that they have the hang of it and aren’t overpowered by the undertow. Teach them that if they are caught in a current, they should swim parallel to the shore until they are out of the current, instead of fighting the wave and that if they cannot get free, to draw attention to themselves by yelling and waving their arms - then set explicit limits about what areas they can be in and how far out they can go. And remember to stay within arms length of kids under age 8 when they are in the water.
Encourage children to use life-jackets, but avoid rafts, water-wings and other flotation devices that can slip off, they may encourage the child to go deeper than they are able to manage on their own. I’m a fan of this Speedo Swim Vest
that is compact for travel (but be sure to pair it with a rash guard shirt). For young tots, this Puddle Jumper Deluxe Life Jacket
is a bit bulkier to pack, but more comfortable to wear.
Be Watchful
It's tempting, if you're in a big group, to think that "someone will notice" if something goes wrong. The problem is, that when a group of adults is watching, oftentimes nobody is paying close attention. Instead, appoint one adult to keep the kids in sight at all times, preferably getting in the water with them, and take turns.
Remember that swimmers under age 8 should be within arms reach of an adult at all times, which might mean multiple adults in the water. I find it helpful to set up a fun out-of-water activity for young kids (sandcastles for example) to make it easier to keep track of everyone.
Dress Right
UPF clothing seems to be everywhere these days, but remember the more body it covers, the better it works. I can never resist a cute little swimsuit for my daughter, but when we'll be out in the sun for an extended period of time, I prefer to pair swim trunks with a rash guard shirt instead of a one-piece. You can see my top picks for sun protective clothing and hats here
There's no arguing about how cute bare kid-feet are, but they'll need some foot protection when they're walking to and from the water. I avoid flip flops since it's easy for young kids to trip when they're wearing them. Crocks are fine for the beach, but a real hazard on escalators. Instead, for babies I like a good water shoe that will protect their feet from heat or sharp objects in or out of the water. For older kids, I buy KEEN Newport H2 Sandal
- and because of the innovative design which allows kids to cinch a large shoe tighter, I often get two summers of wear from a single pair.
Protect from Sun
Here's my best advice on Sunscreen and recommendations about sun protective gear for families
Related Links
favorite sun protection products for kids
Sun Protection for your Little Traveler
Sunscreen for Kids
Filed Under:
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travel tips
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Posted on May 15, 2013 |
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