From the Sidelines

Need some Summer Fun? Just Look Outdoors (Pt 2)

    Last post, I talked a little about some summer activities that you can do with your kids, in particular camping.  I hope the few ideas that I posted about the planning and packing steps in preparing for a trip.  This post I’ll focus on the meals and activities that you can do while you are out of doors.     

 

Meals

            Planning and making meals while camping is another great opportunity to educate your children and get them involved in the trip.  Have them help you make the meal plan, but make each meal simple. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and hobo pies are easy to cook and clean up.  You can find some great tin foil recipes at Family Travel and other great food ideas at camprecipies.com. If your kids are at a good age, let them cook or help cook their own food and definitely, definitely let them help clean.  Campsite chores like cleaning, collecting fire wood, or filling water jugs can be exciting for little ones. Plus, it gives us parents a little more down time.  Finally, don’t forget the snacks.  The outdoors has a funny way of making kids have huge appetites.  Make them easy to put together and familiar.  A child’s tolerance will be pushed on their first camping trip you want them to be as well fed as possible. 

 

Activities

            A camping trip should be as fun and memorable as possible.  Allowing your children to pick a few of the available activities will keep them active as well as involved.  Keeping a video, audio, or written journal of the trip is a fun activity and will help them get ready for the next by replaying their favorite moments.  Disposable cameras are a great way for little one’s to help capture the memories.  They can snap all the pictures they want of the things that were important to them.  Now, if you are a crafty parent, collages are another way for kids to make memories.  Take paper, glue, scissors, and crayons and let them pick leaves and pine cones to add or keep in a memory box.  Whatever you plan, make sure you have alternatives or back up plans.  Unforeseen interruptions such as weather or broken gear can torpedo all excitement and no back up can sink them.  Check with your campground.  Most parks will have a list of activities in the area, some will have kid friendly ones organized for you.

           

Above all, camping can be perfect learning experience for your children.  In this day and age of electronics and big cities, a quiet and calm weekend in the woods can teach kids much about themselves and their surroundings.  Taking time to teach your kids safety -identifying poison ivy and sumac for example- and respect for the outdoors is a great place to start.  Remember to take only memories and leave only footprints.  While there might be no one around for miles, there is no one and nothing around for miles. Teach them to keep within eyesight, for the little ones, and earshot for the bigger kids.  This will help them from getting lost.  If they find themselves lost, teach them to find a tree and stay put.  If they keep a back or fanny pack with them, make sure a whistle is inside along with a small first aid kit.  They should know that three blows is the standard signal for “Help!”

            Don’t forget to check out all the rugged shirts and cargos at Red21Boys by Wes &Willy and feel free to share any ideas for camping or any other outdoor activities. We love to hear from you!

Need some Summer Fun? Just Look Outdoors

Summer vacation can be both a blessing and a burden for parents.  On the one hand seeing your children all day is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with them.  On the other hand, seeing your children all day can be a dreadful experience when you don’t have activities lined up! Over the next few blogs, I’ll talk about some different summer fun that can engage your kids and make the time you spend with them enjoyable and not painful.

            Since I’ve been focused on sports these last few posts, I though we could take a break and focus on another outdoor activity, namely camping.  I remember fondly taking camping trips when I was young and all the great experiences I had.  Making S’mores, taking shelter because of possible tornadoes, and games by the campfire are memories I’ll never forget.  If you are a new parent or new to the outdoors, the last thing you might want to do is take your kids into the middle of the woods.  At first thought, camping with kids, especially young kids, can seem daunting.  However, with a little extra care and planning, a family camping trip can be one of the most memorable experiences for you and your children.

Before you begin planning your trip, I think the most important thing to remember is to involve your kids every step of the way.  Having them help plan the location, meals, and activities will ward off the complaints and make them feel like their opinions count

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning and packing for a camping trip with children.

 

Planning

As mentioned, a little extra care needs to be taken when preparing for your family camping trip.  If this will be your first family camping trip, make it a short one.  One or two nights will be about all little ones can handle.  Plus, if there is a major inconvenience such as bad weather, much more than a few nights can be unbearable.  Your first trip should be a fun as possible, otherwise it will be difficult to get yourself or your kids motivated for a second.  It’s also helpful to pick a site with running water and facilities.  I know most dads think they are Bear Grylls or the Survivor Man, but having running water and restrooms will ease your children into camping.  Any state run campground will have this information readily available.

 

Packing your gear

Pack light, but be prepared.  If you are not renting a cabin, make sure you have a sturdy, waterproof tent.  If you’ve never pitched it before, try it out in your backyard.  This will make sure that you have all its pieces and if you make it to the campsite at dusk, you’re not flying blind while in a hurry to get it built before dark.  Every one should have a sleeping bag and pads.  Air mattresses are nice for the kids, but I find them a little bulky to take one for everyone.  There should be a battery powered lantern for each tent if possible and a flashlight for each person.  Light sticks are always a good back up and can also double as entertainment. Finally, a basic first aid kit, bug repellent and sun screen are all must haves with kids.  When I was younger, I neglected to put sun screen on my feet while on a three day canoe trip.  Let’s just say shoes were optional for a while after that trip.

The right clothes are important on any camping trip.  If you are going to be hiking or taking nature walks, make sure each child has a good pair of boots.  Although rain may not be in the forecast, rain gear is also good to have on hand, as well as an extra set of warm clothes.  Children get colder faster than adults.  Keeping them warm and dry will go a long way for their morale.  I find that organizing their clothes by day into zip lock bags makes it easy for them to dress.  They can also put their dirty clothes back into the dirty bags when they are done (although this doesn’t happen all the time).  If this is your first trip, it is especially important to have a few familiar items.  Make sure you take their favorite pillow, Mr. Blankey, or stuffed animal to comfort them at night.  It is also helpful if you limit extra items to one backpack.  Not only is it easier for parents to pack, but it will help teach your children to pack light.  For a good checklist of supplies, try this list from KOA campgrounds.

            Next time, I’ll talk more about meal planning and what activities are kid friendly. Until then you can find many more ideas at kidscamping.com. If you are looking for some great boys gear, the shirts at Red21Boys by Wes &Willy are durable for any outdoor activity and are cargos are perfect for carrying all the goodies your son may find on a hike.

            Feel free to share any ideas for camping or any other outdoor activities. We love to hear from you!

How Do You Celebrate Memorial Day?

Fire up the grill and load up the family camper, Memorial Day kicks off summer.  Schools are out, businesses are closed, and the public parks, lakes, and pools are officially open. Everyone rushes to enjoy the first long weekend of the season beneath the summer sun.  Although, swimming, camping, and barbecues are the now the norm for Memorial Day, this celebration had a much more poignant beginning.

            After the Civil War ended in 1865, many communities during the reconstruction began to honor and establish memorials to those who had lost their lives during the war.  Charleston, South Carolina claims to have held the first event to remember the Civil War fallen.  In that “city of the dead”, freed slaves gathered at the old Washington Race Course.  Used as a prison camp by the Confederate Army, many Union soldiers were buried there in mass graves.  The freed slaves exhumed and reburied the bodies and on the following day held a somber procession to honor them. Up north, on May 5, 1866, Waterloo, NY observed the first Decoration Day with flowers and other decorations placed on the graves and memorials of Union soldiers.  Through the efforts of General John A. Logan, Decoration Day was celebrated nationally on May 30^th.  After World War I, the scope of Decoration Day was expanded to include the fallen of all wars. Finally, in 1968, Decoration Day name was officially changed and its date was solidified as the last Monday of May in the Uniform Holidays Bill.

            So while we enjoy picnics and bar-b-cues with our friends and families, we should all take a moment to remember those who have served and lost their lives protecting our freedoms.  Here are a few other ways that we can celebrate and commemorate Memorial Day.

• Visiting cemeteries and memorials.
• Observe the national moment of remembrance at 3:00 p.m.
• Fly the American Flag half staff in honor of the dead.
• Donate to the Veterans of Foreign Wars by purchasing poppies from them.
• Attend one of the many concerts and celebrations that are held in communities across the country.  (the most well known of these is at Arlington National Cemetery and televised by PBS)

Let us know how you plan to celebrate Memorial Day.  We want to hear about the barbecue disasters, the “fun” setting up the tent and of course, anything special you did to honor our fallen heroes.  We love to hear your stories!

The Holiday Season is an Exciting Season

When it comes to boys clothes, the holiday season is a time of excitement.  Moms and dads are rushing to find their kids new, quality clothes for gifts while stores are marking down their inventory as the winter shopping season begins to wind down.  So parents, like me, are able to find clothing are bargain prices as well as get a sneak peek at some of the new styles.  Fortunately for fans of Wes and Willy clothes and Red 21 Boys, you’ll get the same treat.

            Right now, Red 21 is giving their customers great prices on Wes and Willy fall styles for the holidays.  Whether it is a jacket, dress shirt, or a pair of comfortable jeans you’re looking for, you can find them on discount at Red21boys.com.  Best of all, there is still time to have your gifts delivered by December 24^th and Red 21 boys are shipping it for you for free!

            But Red 21 also has some great spring styles for sale. There’s great swimwear and matching tees for those fortunate enough to be living in a warm climate.  If not, these new styles are perfect for a holiday vacation.  So check out the sale at Red 21 and the new swimwear for boys by Wes and Willy.

Become a fan and receive
special offers and promotions

BINGO!

(photo curtesy of windleydaoust)

BINGO!
Car bingo that is.

Being that I'm about to embark on a v-e-r-y long car trip... I thought it would be way worth it to look up some road trip activities! I may not be a kid anymore, but I admit sometimes in the car I have the attention span of one. Must. . .fight. . . boredom!

I'm figuring there are lots of other people in the same boat. We're at the tail end of summer here, and back to school is just around the corner. I'm betting there are other people squeezing in a quick vacay.

So how to entertain the kiddos in the car? Well if you're not so high tech as having those new fangled portable dvd players for kids and all that, you've gotta be creative. I did the web searching for you. Here's a link to a cool site called MomsMinivan.com. Go there and you can find all sorts of car activities for kids.

Just print them off before hand and presto, road bingo and more! That'll keep those kids entertained a while. But hey, at least if they do get bored enough to konk out like those kids you'll get a little quite time. Oh better yet, dress 'em in soft cotton t-shirts from Red 21 Boys clothing! Man, those things are so awesomly soft and cozy I wish they came in grown up sizes. 20 minutes on the road in duds that cozy and your big boy will be sleeping like a baby in no time.

Wish me luck folks!

I'll be away from the keyboard a bit. But when I get back I'll give you the scoop on all the new back to school clothes I see while I'm gone. Everyone knows a lady's gotta go shopping on vacation! And new school clothes? That's first on the list of things to check out.

Back soon!

Have Fun. Play Hard.

Howdy Y'all!

(photo curtesy of m_bree)

Hi everybody! The headline? Yeah I'm practicing. I'm going on vacation in Texas next week to see some family. Word on the streets is they say y'all there. Maybe not with a howdy though... *shrugs* I'll report back later.

I know I know! I've been one bad blogger. No posts lately. But now the Red 21 Boys Clothes crew is back to bloggin'.  :-)

There is a lot of news lately! Have you guys SEEN the newest in boys clothes? WOAH! There are TONS of new boys clothing items. I surfed the Red 21 Boys site this morning and I saw a huge buffet of new boys graphic tees, boys hoodies, and cool boys 2 in 1 shirts! Little and big dudes alike are lucky ducks, boys clothing gets cooler by the season.

We can make a difference people! No more silly "cute" frogs with lilly pads jumpers. No more terrible scratchy sweaters or uncomfortable dress clothes. As long as we keep supporting innovative boys clothing stores like Red 21 Boys, we'll keep getting fun new boys fashions that win with kids AND parents. Check out the big group of boys styles built for comfort and style no matter the occasion.

Speaking of making a difference, we gotta help the little guy in today's picture. Fashion emergency, sound the alarms! Can he see out from under that hat? Well if he can, here's some cooler boys shorts for the beach, if I do say so myself:

<-- The Wes and Willy Boys Beach Short (photo curtesy of Red 21 Boys Clothing)

Alrighty guys, I gotsta check out. I've got some maps to look up. Can you believe it?? I'm DRIVING to Texas. A 12+ Hour Trip! See ya later!

Oh and hey, let me know if you think of any cool car trip activities. "I Spy" and "Road Bingo" are just not gonna cut it after 2 hours or so.  :-)

Have Fun. Play Hard!

Fido Loves the Beach

(photo curtesy of PLCjr)

Happy beach season! You know, us people aren't the only ones known for enjoying some sand, surf, and shorts. Okay. . . so not so much the shorts in this case, but definitely the other two. Fido would LOVE to come with you next time you take your family for a day of fun in the sun!

Boys and their dogs are natural best friends, so it's only natural that the furry members of your family would have fun at the beach with them.  :-)

But along with the fun comes the need for a few basic safety precautions. So I've done the web-searching for you. Check out the American Kennel Club's website for some great Summer Tips for pet owners, including. . . *drumroll*. . .beach safety!

So pack up the entire family -fuzzies and all- and go enjoy the great outdoors!

But make sure to remember the rest of your gear. . . check out the cool boys clothing at Red 21 boys clothes to get cool boys t-shirts, trunks and boys shorts. Red 21 boys clothing is the obvious choice for boys swimwear. Click here to see why!

Oh, and trust me. . . bring sunscreen. LOTS of sunscreen.

Alright that's all for now!

Have Fun. Play Hard!

There IS a Cure for the Summertime Blues. . .

(Photo Curtesy of Dave Ward Photography)

Okay so the kids are psyched about summer right now! But it's just starting. When I was a kid summer was my favorite time, but even I had to admit that after a few weeks of doing nothing the novelty wore off. . . and I just wanted to get up and GO somewhere and do something!

Summer camp is a classic choice for a kid's summer entertainment. Remember how fun it was? Sing alongs, camp fires, ghost stories, fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, crafts...you name it and there's a camp with it!

Think about it, it's a great idea! The kids have fun, and parents get a little time for themselves.  :-) But before you pack up your boys clothing, camping gear, and load up the car... take some time to find the camp that will be the best fit for your boy.

I've done some leg work for you. Decided to skip around the web and find some suggestions for picking a great camp for your boy. Man, one site says that there are over 8,000 residential summer camps in the US! Whew!

Check out a lisk of steps that help you ensure your boy has the best camp for his needs here, and read Camp High Rocks' article "Choosing a Summer Camp". And after choosing one, make sure you don't forget your boys' clothing and gear needs! Boys clothing for camp should be rugged, functional, and ultra durable to stand up to outdoor conditions and rough and tumble play.

Some great suggestions-- boys cargo shorts, because they're made of durable rugged fabric and have lots of nice deep pockets for carrying camp gear. Take a look at the boys Fatigue Cargo Shorts from Red 21 boys for an idea of what to look for in a good boys cargo short. Remember, these shorts have a roomier fit, so perfect for all that hiking and outdoor stuff he'll be doing. Roomy and breathable!

Hmmm, oh you should also consider a good pair of boys camo pants. Your boy will love 'em cause he'll look cool in his Red21 boys clothing camos! You'll love em because camo can get all kinds of dirty without the dirt and dust being obvious, and camp grime washes out with ease. The Vauxhall Camo Cargo Pant from Red 21 Boys Clothing is a great example. Don't forget to pack a few good changes of boys t-shirts! One of my favorites is the "Going Green" boys T-shirt. Earth love, an appropriate t-shirt theme for the outdoors, no?  :-)

Well after you've talked with your boy, decided to find a camp, and stocked up on all the coolest boys clothing and gear from Red 21 Boys Clothing. . . there's only one more thing to do. Find a camp!

Visit this helpful site to find the best camps near you. It's way easy, just type in your city and it'll tell you the coolest camps in your area!

www.mysummercamps.com

Have fun. Play Hard!

V.I.P. Family Vacay

Summer! SUMMER! SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER!

Okay sorry about that. Have to say though, summer is here and I am VERY excited.

It's only about the best season of the year!

And the best part of the season? The vacations. Man, remember those? I remember long family road trips when I was a kid. We trucked all over the US. Out to washington to visit my great aunt, up to Wisconsin to see my uncle. Ha... we even made a pit stop at Roswell once on the way back from visitting my granny in Texas. It was out of this world. If you consider out of this world to be a museum filled with tin foil UFOs.

Well filled with more than a little nostalgia, I decided to start looking around for some way cool vacation ideas. It's unbelievable how great some vacation spots are to kids nowadays! We would never have dreamed of vacays this cool when i was a tot. I stumbled on this news article, and it's got a whole bunch of incredible places that treats kids like royalty--

"The Finest Family-Friendly Hotels - Luxury Spots where Kids get the V.I.P. Treatment, Too"

Special kids' outtings. Magician shows! Cookies and milk along with turndown service.

Okay so it's a bit pricey. But we can dream can't we? Until then, I suggest having a blast closer to home. Gather up the kids. Dress him in some super comfy boys summer gear. Ooo, like check out these new boys Wes and Willy boys swim trunks! They're crazy comfortable, could be why my cousin's boy is in love with his Wes and Willy boys Coconut Cove swim trunks from Red21. Soft lining, durable too. Red21 boys clothing. has you covered in the summer boys clothes department. And there are plenty of fun boys T-shirts to go with the ensemble.

Meh, if you can't swoop away to a V.I.P. vacation at a 5-star... at least you can dress like a V.I.P and chill out by the local pool.

Signing off,

Have Fun and Play Hard!