New Balance – The Next Kid Thing

It’s been quite the hectic start to 2015. With all the snow, a stint in the hospital, a pair of birthdays AND a major transition to preschool, we had our plates pretty full with family obligations. I have quite a few posts devoted to Littles turning 3, but in the meantime, I wanted to share just some of our preschooler must-haves.

Since it’s been a few years since the older guy went to preschool, and ultimately because each kids’ needs are different, I found myself packing a much different backpack with a whole different set of supplies. Finding a backpack small enough for a wee preschooler, yet big enough to hold a folder is quite the ordeal. Since most guys this age are so small, I’ve found that the backpacks are smaller than 12 inches, which is the size of a regular school folder. I’m currently on the hunt for a backpack that we love, but until then, check out the things we do love!

So, without further ado, here’s what was in Little J’s backpack this week:

NKTPreschoolerMustHaves

1. Contigo Autospout Kids’ Striker Water Bottle

We’ve been longtime fans of Contigo products, so it was a welcomed surprise when Santa gifted this fun water leakproof bottle. I like the design of the bottles and how the spout pops up with the touch of a button. The detachable straw makes for easy cleaning, which is a plus. This BPA-free bottle that has a lifetime guarantee, is a perfect size for preschoolers to tote to school. I’ve read online that this design has been getting poor reviews, but honestly, it works well for us.

2. Lunchbot trio stainless steel bento box

Lunchbots are our bento box of choice around here. This box which features three compartments is small, yet spacious enough for the littler guys. Plus, I don’t have to hunt for a ton of foods to fill the compartments, considering Littles is such a finicky eater. I love that this box is just stainless steel; there’s less paint and designs to deal with, which make it easy to share between the two boys.

3. Munchkin Lunch Bag

Even though he’s off to school like a big boy, my little guy is very much still a tot. I know he’ll be into superheroes and other characters in years to come, so I try to keep things age-appropriate. Animals and things that have wheels take top billing on his favorites list. I personally love this Munchkin owl lunch bag that we’ve been using for the past year. It’s cute, but extremely functional. It fits his full lunch, snack, and two small boxed drinks. In the mesh pocket, I like to stuff an extra straw and paper towels.

4. New Balance 750v3

New Balance running shoes have been some of my favorite athletic shoes for my little guy. With the firm soles and easy fit, even though he’s not running super fast quite yet, I know his feet are well supported. What makes these shoes a top pick is that my guy is quite uncoordinated because of low tone, but the firm fit and higher soles give him a much more secure step. The colors and design in shoes such as the 750v3 tend to complete his cute little outfits.

5. Name Bubbles Preschool Pack

Name Bubbles are, hands down, one of my most favorite labels for my kids’ things. From the designs to the cool fonts, Name Bubbles has a look tailored for every family member. The labels are waterproof and durable, making them perfect for every day use for the kids’ gear. The preschool pack is an ideal pack that offers different-sized labels for the 3-5 year old set. My guy is obsessed with trains, so the labels from the preschool pack happily adorn his lunch box, winter gear, folders and even his little toy he brings every day!

6. Stonyfield Organic Smoothie

Like many toddler/preschoolers that I know, Littles is quite the finicky eater. So far, he’s come home with an almost untouched lunchbox every day. Nevertheless, I’m always looking for a drink or smoothie to satisfy his hunger and nutritional needs. J loves yogurt and smoothies, and Stonyfield happens to be his favorite. While we love the YoKids line, he loves this Strawberry smoothies the most. It’s organic and has the nutrition elements that he needs. The sugar content is high, like many yogurts, but when this is sometimes the only thing he’ll eat all day, I’m grateful that it’s so accessible and easy to pack.

7. Huggies Pull Ups

It’s a bit daunting to send your child to school every day, especially when they’re not potty trained yet. Pull Ups were a big part of our lives when my older one was 3, so, as Littles turns the corner, we’re starting to transition to Pull Ups and potty training. Every kid has their own way of learning, but I’m totally expecting this potty training phase to be quite the adventure. The cool designs and easy side tabs make these our favorite training pants. They’re absorbent and light, too, which makes for easy packing in that backpack.

Now, to find the ideal backpack for my newly-minted preschooler…

Cold, wintry days often mean monochromatic shades of gray for weeks at a time. We’re currently craving warmth and color on the dull days, and enjoying these goodies (and gear) that channel some much-needed cheery vibrance.

NKTPopsofcolor

EO Bubble Buddy

Winter, especially with small children in school, typically equates to germs…lots of them. There’s been a lot of negative reports about antibacterial products lately, which is why I prefer old fashioned soap and water when it comes to hand washing. In fact, I’m currently I’m in love with EO’s Bubble Buddy. This kid-sized foaming soap squeezes out and features natural and pure ingredients and is paraben free, polysorbate free, disodium EDTA free and sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate free. With scents like orange, coconut and lavender, Bubble Buddies makes clean up time a little more fun.

New Balance

A departure from my predictable and conservative gray New Balance sneakers, the Splatter 890v3 make quite the colorful statement for kids. Neon colors are a resounding throwback design trend and remain a mainstay in kid style. These New Balance sneakers not only boast a brighter presence, but also feature glow in the dark details and splatter design. My boys have this style and have been sporting them when we head to the indoor playspace. I love how the bright colors contrast against all the snow and gray landscape of winter. Aside from the bright colors, I always love that the New Balance’s baby and toddler sizes feature a hook and loop closure.The Splatter 890v3, which was unveiled this fall, is available in toddler and youth sizes and are currently on sale.

Play-Doh Rainbow Pack

A longtime fan of Play-Doh, I’ve probably mentioned how my love for this classic modeling compound has been renewed with the babe’s ongoing therapies. Between his occupational and developmental therapy, we get even more use of Play-Doh around here. So, between the big kid’s creative sessions and the little’s therapy, we seem to always be creating something colorful, which is why I absolutely love Play-Doh’s Rainbow Pack. With a palette of 33 different colors, the Rainbow Pack is ideal for those open-ended play sessions where a handful of colors just won’t do. Even better, the singular packs found in the Rainbow Pack make Play-Doh even more portable for those families on the go. The only caveat I found for this fun spectrum of Play-Doh is the clean up and storage afterward. I don’t like mixing the colors, so we try to preserve each individual color by wrapping each one in plastic wrap. There has to be a better way, though.

Pantone

Having studied a bit of graphic design and then working closely with magazine production, I appreciate that Pantone remains the color standard. A Pantone-influenced children’s book is an ingenious idea. I couldn’t think of a better way to introduce a spectrum of color to young kids, than by the authority itself. In this Abrams title, nine basic colors and 20 shades of each are overviewed, giving toddlers and preschooler a bright primer on the beauty of color. The puzzle element to the book gives it a tactile approach to engaging the kids even further, though unfortunately, we’ve learned by experience that these pieces are easily lost. Nevertheless, Pantone Colors is our color theory board book of choice.

Ruum Headphones Hat

We’re obvious fans of Ruum Kids Wear, but when I say I love them for their unique style, I mean LOVE. Beyond the cool, yet classic styles, Ruum has some of the best accessories to boot. Right now, they’ve got crazy sales going on, including their winter gear. In January and early February, I like to stock up on basics for the next size up, but I positively love this cool headphone hat. You rarely see purple for boys, so I always love that I can turn to Ruum for boy color schemes beyond baby blue. Best part of this unique hat, besides the fact that it’s on sale for about $3? You can wire a pair of buds so that they actually depict the design. Want some gloves to match? Those are $3 bucks too! Cool!

Hunter Kids Boots

I’m sure I’ve professed my love for Hunter Wellies before, but I’m currently loving these bright yellow boots for kids. The fire fighter and lady bug rain boots get overplayed, so why not opt for a pair of yellow Hunters that are well worth the investment. In addition to rainy days, Hunter boots can be paired with warm boot socks and worn in the snowy weather. If you have an older kid and need functional, colorful rain boots, check out Hunters. These are the kind of staples that are worth the investment and hold up as hand-me-downs.

Kid Made Modern

I’ve been in love with Todd Oldham’s kid craft line Kid Made Modern since its debut at Target a couple of years ago. From the basic colored pencil sets to the craft kits, Kid Made Modern takes craft sessions to an all new level of cool. Santa gifted Biggie with the coolest ukelele personalization kit and comic creation kit. It’s like Kid Made Modern can read our creative minds to combine fun, function and crafting. I’m currently eyeing the Felt Frenzy kit, which would be a great collaborative craft with the toddler and big kid. The colorful kid-friendly felt crafts make this kit a perfect snowy day activity.

Tag: New Balance

NKT Faves: Preschooler Must-Haves