We’re just about packed for our summer vacation and I’ve gotten a lot of messages lately about what are our favorite kids brands for summer. I put together a list of a few summer favorites for kids. A few people asked about toys & gifts for summer so I added in some fun new toy ideas and of course summer books too!

Summer Favorites for Kids

Keen Kids: Last year all 4 kids wore Keens and at the end of the summer…. after many adventures, travel, parks, dirt and mud…. our Keens were still in great condition. This year we’re back in Keens and while the style and fit is the same, the new colors are totally new and awesome. They’re bright, fun, and if you have a few kids they look like a traveling rainbow! One new style that I really like for little ones is the Pep Fisherman. It’s a much different look than the Keen we’re all used to for summer time but just as comfortable and really cute.

Primary.com: They’re all solid colors so you can easily mix and match. They’re all really soft so they’re comfy for kids too. Their swim line is amazing and not only is it mix and match, the girls’ is reversible. We also like their pjs, hoodies and dresses. Oh and I loved how bright they were in all our photos!

Maisonette: This is a great site to find a ton of great kids brands all in one place: from pajamas to bathing suits to shoes & accessories, this site has everything for kids. This is a really good site for gifts and clothes to pack for vacation! You’ll find brands like Busy Bees, Native, Sun San Sandals, Minnow Swim and more.

Pink Chicken: Adorable, super comfy and easy to pack. They’re currently having their big summer sale and almost everything is 25% off right now

See Kai Run: Always a go-to in our house and this year their summer shoes are one of my favorite lines yet. I got the girls “nice” sandals to wear on vacation – but they’re See Kai Run so even thought they look nice, they’re still super comfy and supportive for their feet. The boys got nice leather sandals too. ALSO for summer: the new See Kai Run sneakers are mesh and breathable. A lot of camps require sneakers and this is an awesome summer option. My kids get some seriously sweaty feet and these are the best summer sneaker I’ve found. They’re called the “Saylor” and come in 7 colors.

Babo Naturals: We’ve been using the bath products (shampoo, wash, cream, bubbles, etc) for a few years and just for the sunscreen, zinc and spray for summertime. It smells great and is a lot safer than many kids sun products. Also, Babo is designed for the most sensitive skin, from babies to adults and is 100% gluten, soy and dairy free.

Fun Summer Toy Favorites:

Bubbles! Hands down our favorite summer toy = bubbles. Even my 8 year old is still entertained by bubbles. Check out these new bubble favorites:

Gazillion Crazy Wands: these crack me and the kids up. The lips and the vampire teeth are our favorite. It’s like a summer version of a photo booth.

Gazillion Bubbles Tornado Machine: hours of fun & much easier to use that other bubble machines we have used

Master a Million: This is my new go to answer to “i’m bored”… get your kid this ball at the beginning of the summer and see if they can “Master a Million” before the end of the summer. It’s a bouncy ball that has a counter in it. We’re already into the hundreds after a few days!

Real Working Buddies Firetruck: We have A LOT of firetrucks in our house…. this is BY FAR the coolest one! It’s easy to fill with water and it sprays water really far. My kids love this truck (makes a fun summer birthday gift!)

Disclosure: We were not compensated for this post. A few of the items in the post were sent for the purpose of review and ALL of the items are honestly products we use all the time.

Maui Hoops: my kids love hula hoops. Maui Hoops has a “wave hoop” that makes hula hooping so much easier. Both of my girls learned with a wave hoop.

MorfBoard: My girls have been asking to try skateboarding and this seems like the best option for first timers. You can really easily switch it from a scooter to a skateboard.

Play Table/Chairs: We had a princess table & folding chairs for the girls for years and I just got an Avengers one for the boys. We use these little folding tables ALL the time, especially in the summer. They’re easy to pop up if other kids are over for a bbq and great for crafts, activities.