Some parents dread summer. I adore it. What a treat to sleep in, to drive less, to read stacks of books, to go on long walks in the early morning and before sunset, to strap on our helmets and go biking, and to plan adventures of all sorts!
Whether you're traveling near or far this summer (or even staying at home sweet home), I'm happy to present some of our family's favorite clothing, footwear, accessories, and hobby gear for the warm summer months! These are products that we are loving and using extensively this summer - and we have a hunch that your family will love them too!
What better way to pass the summer than with a wonderful book on the couch, in a hammock, or by the seaside?
When it comes to picture books, our family especially appreciates classics, historical biographies, and books of substance. As you will note from looking at the covers below, we also seek out books with captivating, lifelike illustrations. If your family has similar interests, you'll enjoy reading these aloud to your kids and will appreciate the conversations that follow.
Pictured: A Treasury of Mother Goose, Eleanor, Joan of Arc, Kamishibai Man, Leonardo Da Vinci, Saint George and The Dragon, The Gardener of Alcatraz, The Librarian Who Measured the Earth, To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers, Welcome to the Symphony.
The very first Let's-Read-and-Find-Out title, A Tree is a Plant, was published in 1960. There are now over 130 titles on everything from the human body to weather to space. If your child is constantly asking "Why?" and "How?" (which are beautiful, important questions, by the way), this series will help fill in the knowledge gap.
Pictured: Germs Make Me Sick, What Happens to Our Trash?, What the Moon is Like.
If your young reader (especially ages 5 to 11) hasn't yet reached that "aha!" moment with reading, consider picking up several titles in the "We Both Read" series by Treasure Bay Books. One page - with longer, more complex text - is designed for the parent read. The other page - with simpler, more straightforward text - is created for the child. It's a great way to add interest and information to captivate the attention of a child who is looking for more substance.
Pictured: A Day on the International Space Station, Ben & Becky in the Haunted House, Endangered Animals, Secret of the Old Bones, Soccer, The Mystery of Pirate's Point, Top Predators, Wild Animals.
Summer is the ideal time to do puzzles, catch up or get ahead on school concepts, and /or learn something new. Technology sometimes helps with this, but we prefer analog opportunities more and more these days.
Pictured: Cluedle: The Case of the Dumpleton Diamond, Everything You Need to Ace Geometry in One Big Fat Notebook, Hidden Pictures Book Set 2026, Spot the Imposter Puzzles, Agatha Christie Magnetic Bookmarks, Pantone Notebooks, Star Notebook Collection, Strawberry Notecards.
These are some of the novels are kids will be picking up this summer. My philosophy is that, in most cases, the only children's novel that is worth reading is one that adults will also find appealing and fascinating. As such, there's a good chance I'll be reading these as well.
Pictured: Angel on the Square, Anne of Green Gables 6-Book Collection, Fifteen, No Flying in the House, Surviving the Applewhites, The Children of Green Knowe, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.
I'm always searching for the next good non-fiction book to inspire and educate me to serve, parent, and live well. These are a few of the titles I'll be picking up this summer. Follow me on goodreads for my full reviews.
Pictured: A Random Walk Down Wall Street, Age of Opportunity, The Anxious Generation, The Call of the Wild + Free.
Carter's has been making children's clothing since 1865 and they continue to innovate while staying true to their original purpose. We love that new styles are introduced every season - kid friendly pieces in classic designs for ages newborn through size 14 that both parents and kids will agree on.
Pictured (left to right): Girls Rib Tank Top, Girls Cherry Denim Embroidered Midi Shorts, Girls Floral Maxi Dress, Girls Floral Smocked Midi Dress, Boys Surf Active Polo Shirt, Girls Smocked Tank Top, Boys Off Road Car Graphic Tee.
For resort vacations, world travel, and everyday fun around the neighborhood, look at these summer-ready picks by Janie and Jack. The brand offers a laidback, effortless style that is refined while also being kid-friendly for rough and tumble play at the park, on the beach, or in the backyard.
Pictured: The Poplin Shirt, The Herringbone Short, California Tee, The Twill Short, Suede Buckle Sandal, Ditsy Floral Ruffle Dress, The Embroidered Cabana Shirt, Striped Ruffle Sweater Top, The Slub Polo, Oxford Pull-On Short, Suede Sneaker, Raglan Baseball Tee, Ribbed Peplum Ruffle Top.
Shoes that squeeze toes too tightly can lead to foot problems years, even decades, later. That's why the Little Love Bug Company specifically designs their children's shoes with wide toe boxes for health foot development. The flexible soles allow feet to stretch, run, and naturally move for healthy feet now and in the future.
As my skin continues to change with age (I'm 44), I've been researching the best skincare routine for optimal health, brightness, and moisture. Along the way, RoC Skincare kept coming up because the products are designed by dermatologists and are clinically proven to "extend your skin span." My new routine is Vitamin C in the morning and Retinol at night.
Repeat after me: all supplements and vitamins are not created equal. It can be tempting to just pick up the latest vitamin megapack or plastic jar of chewables at Costco or Sam's Club, but resist the urge and do research instead. You'll soon find that many supplements on the market are actually working a net zero in your body, barely offering benefits. Thorne supplements, however, are highly regarded for their rigorous testing, decades of clinical experience, and superior results. Plus, rest assured they are manufactured right here in the USA.
Summer is the time when the quality of your beauty tools matters. Tweezerman has been my favorite brands for tweezers and nail clippers for over a decade. These expert tools offer superior grip and perfectly angled tips for comfort, control, and precision. Best of all, you can show your personality by selecting thematic tools based on your interests - whether that be travel, disney, or a specific color theme.
Families: wait until you see this magical bench concept! The Convert A Bench is easy to set up and easy to clean and easy to convert between a bench and a chair. One bench converts to a 3-person table. Two benches can be put together to create a 6-person table. Plus, the benches are made from vinyl and resin (super low maintenance!) and you can order customized bench cushions or pillows in pretty patterns!
Improve the quality of your next family vacation with one simple hack: purchase a set of packing cubes for each member of the family in his/her favorite color! Packing and organizing on the go will be a breeze because each person will know exactly where their clothes are.
Some people do "spring cleaning." In our house, summer is the season of purging, cleaning, and organizing. With school behind us, we take the opportunity to go through closets, do a thorough renovation of the pantry, and put together lots of bags of our gently-used items for our favorite local charity.
One of our recent game-changing solutions has been the Space Saving Hangers by MORALVE. Fit 5 skirts, 5 pairs of pants, or 6 tank tops vertically on one hanger! Brilliant! This is an excellent innovation for dorm rooms also. If you have a student heading off to college this fall, take note.
Our family lives in the backyard for nine months out of the year! Not literally, of course - but we do spend hours outside: playing cornhole and foosball, hosting parties, kicking a soccer ball, passing a volleyball, eating dinner, tossing sticks to our playful golden retriever, planting vegetables and flowers, and soaking in the spectacular Arizona sunsets. If this sounds a lot like your family or you're hoping to make more golden backyard memories this summer, GoSports is the brand for you. Whether you want to relax in the best camping chair (this is my favorite one for watching my kids play sports!), propose a competitive game of corn hole with a cold drink in hand, or challenge your kids to a basketball game in the pool, GoSports will get you there.
Pictured (left to right): All Weather Metal Cornhole Scoreboard with Drink Holders, WOVN Beach Backpack Chair, Coast Modern Outdoor Side Table, Magna Soccer Tabletop Board Game, SplashHoop Elite Basketball
If you consistently find yourself sitting on the bleachers or out on the soccer field in warm weather, consider a portable fan. Aecooly offers a variety of options - tabletop, portable, misting, even a tiny one that folds down small enough to put in your pocket! They are great for bike rides, road races, weekend hikes, camping trips, and international travel! Also: Perfect for cooling off pets on hot days too!
I'm a big fan of long, lazy afternoons over scheduled-by-the-minute extracurriculars that divide the family by interest. To pull everyone together, try a new-to-you board game! Dyce Games offers creative options that even regular gaming families may not recognize. From History Trivia to drawing games to rating games, there are party games that will appeal to each member of the family!
Pictured (left to right): Doodle Heist, First to Worst, History Trivia Game.
What products are you loving this summer?