Travel Gadgets for Parents (and Kids)

Gadgets for Parents and Kids:

Traveling with kids is fun. It opens them up to the world around them, introduces them to nature as well as culture. It also comes with some challenges such as keeping them from wondering off, safe, and entertained.
Kids gadgets and other travel gadgets can make it more enjoyable, fun, and stress free.

Filip
It is, as per their site, the world's first smart locator and phone for kids. This device looks just like a small plastic watch. However, it does a lot more.
It is a locator. By setting what they call a Safe Zone, you can monitor where your kids are within a certain area.

And it is also a phone
Mobile phones come with certain dangers for little ones, and they lose them often. Filip has a 2-way GSM cellular voice capability that provides the similar quality of coverage that you expect from a regular smartphone. You pre-program 5 phone numbers that your child can call using the Filip app for smartphones. This way they do not make unnecessary or expensive calls and have important numbers readily available. Your child can scroll through the numbers and call the one they want with the touch of a button. Moreover, you and only the 4 other people pre-programmed on the phone can call the child. You can also send text messages.
www.myfilip.com/

Along similar lines there is
Toddler Tag
A small device that helps keep track of your child’s location. It works wirelessly and is waterproof. The locator is a two-unit system--one that attaches to your child and one you keep with you. When a child starts to wonder away and strays out of a 25-foot range, a chirp-like alert sounds from your unit, so you're immediately aware.


   

SEAL swim monitor
While know where your kids are is important, it is even more important to make sure they are safe during the water activities. Kids are rambunctious, that is just their nature, they are full of energy. I have seen a couple of kids at a local pool dive in, get out, and dive in again more times in one minute then a dolphin.
The SEAL swim monitor and drowning detection is a wearable alarm system comprised of a band that hangs around the child's neck, which connects wirelessly to a guard band for parents. If the system detects a potential drowning incident in progress, the SEAL band triggers​​ a high intensity visible, audible, and vibrating alarm alerting guards and guardians to the danger so that a rescue can begin. The SEAL bands are adjustable with multiple colors and look like colorful necklaces during swimming. www.swimsealsafe.com

Contigo Autoseal Trekker Cup
Keep spills to a minimum with this kid-proof bottle. The lid is 100% spill and leak proof. The cup automatically seals between sips so no accidental escapes.




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Sign of the times – parents take at least three gadgets on a trip just to keep the kids happy. Gadgets such iPad, smartphones, game consoles, and laptops
Fuhu NABI Tablet is a kid friendly tablet that is easy to hold. Kids are able to surf using kid-safe Web browser, watch movies and TV shows, read books, learn math and play games.

game consoles

Before you go, download some fun and educational apps on your smartphone. You know your kids will want to play with one, so it will keep them entertained for a bit.

You can also pre-load some games, movies and shows on your laptop for the family to enjoy while at the airport or killing time in a hotel room.

If nothing else works to keep your kids entertained, tune out, with noise-cancelling headphones:)

Sound-off: Are there gadgets that you have packed to keep kids safe and entertained on trip that are not listed? Let us know below

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Kids Travel Gadgets for Fun Summer Travel

Kids Travel Gadgets for Fun Summer Travel

This week I realized I have not done a kids gadgets post in awhile. I was reminded by my co-worker when she was describing how they are getting their 6 months old daughter accustomed to travel. They started with a couple of short trips and when she did well on those, they took her on a longer journey. Large percentage of time kids and travel go together. And they have many of the same needs that adults have plus more. They are quite discerning travelers and don't hesitate to tell everyone what is what. Kids Say the Darndest Things
To keep them busy and entertained this summer travel season, here are some useful and fun travel gadgets:

Seat Pets

These fun looking animals are actually seat belt pads. They slip onto a belt and provide cushioning for the little voyagers. These particular Seat Pets are great as their head also can act as pillows for the kids to nod off. More comfy they are in the back, hopefully, they would less fussy too. The Pets also come with a pocket where they can store water bottles, their handheld gadgets, and snacks. Seat Pets

Kindle Fire (with kid-friendly new features)
Kindle is one of the best travel gadgets. Easily store and access multiple books without having to actually drag them around. It is a great device to keep kids entertained with books, videos, and games. However, these new versions also allow web access and can lead to many hours spent on it. With Kindle FreeTime, you can set daily screen limits, and give access to each chilp appropriate to their age. When kids are in Kindle FreeTime mode, the background color and fonts change to a kid-friendly design. Kids only see titles that have been selected for them. You can find out more about Kindle FreeTime here

Kid-ready Digital Cameras
Travel and pictures go together. It is fun and keeps mementos of places you have visited and things you have done. Start off your young photographer with these great kid-friendly cameras:


Take 'N' Play Games

BPA-Free Water Bottles for Kids


This bike stroller means you can really go the distance with baby in tow

This airline baby seat lets your baby relax hammock-style.


More Kids Newest Travel Gadgets:

The Digital Baby Pacifier Thermometer is the easiest way to take your baby's temperature.

A Car Seat Sun Shade keeps the seat at a comfortable 69 degree

Keep-It-Kleen Pacifier closes on its own when dropped

A On the Go Play 'n Snack Tray puts a lot of kids' books, pencils, toys, and other fun stuff within their reach. Making traveling easier and more fun


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Gadgets to Keep Kids Busy While Traveling

On the Go Play 'n Snack Tray

Multitasking is standard on a road trip. Keeping your eyes on the road, determining directions either through GPS, or even more distracting, smartphone, and keeping another eye on the kids and keeping them entertained. On the Go Play 'n Snack Tray makes it a bit easier. It puts a lot of their books, pencils, toys, and other fun stuff within their reach. This travel gadget also acts as a table for playing with all those toys and for coloring books. It can also be used as a food tray when it is time for a snack. It is waterproof so it can handle spills and wipes clean for prolonged use. Tray is made of foam and it easily attaches to car seats and folds flat for space-saving storage.

Handheld games can be a great way to occupy kids' time while travelling. The games usually come in simple plastic casing making them portable and also less expensive if they go flying across the back seat by "accident".
Type of the games that these might include are word searches, jumbles, scavenger hunts, puzzles, and speed mazes. So they would be learning at the same time as they are playing. Brainteaser games are great for trips as they keep kids busy for longer period of time and develop their brains at the same time.
Perplexus is one of those games that is enticing and mentally stimulating puzzle.

Travel size games are easy to pack and transport. Best of these are the ones that have multiple games in one. This way you do not have to drag several different variations, they are easily switchable, and would keep the rascals occupied for longer. Four Children's Card Games, for instance, has 4 different card games within one package. It has Old Maid, Animal Rummy, Hearts, and Crazy Eights classic card games.


A Backseat Survival Kit, as the name implies, helps keep parent sane. It has quite a bit of activities packed into it. Includes 6 non-toxic water-based felt-tip pens, 6 skeins of floss, a pair of dice, 1 string loop, 8 foam Parchesi playing pieces, a 100 page activity pad.

Can't find your keys before the road trip, the toddler probably has them. Replace them with Electronic Metal Keychain Toy which looks quite a bit like the real thing and has three smooth, metal, teething-safe keys, plus a push-button remote that makes car sounds, a penlight and belt clip.


There is also now a whole market for kid-friendly tablets available so that they can have same gadget as the grown ups. While they might look like the full version tablets they are designed with kids in mind. They come with parental controls that limit what content is accessible and deactivates in-app purchases.

Fuhu Nabi

Speck iPad 2 iGuy

A pair of Kidz Gear Volume Limit Headphones would go great with any of these tablets. It allows parents to preset the volume so that the little ones do not blast music and such in their in ears.


Trunki by Melissa and Doug Sunny:

Trunki suitcases allow children to scoot along on their luggage through the airport or train station. They are lightweight, sturdy and can serve as luggage, riding toy, and transport for kids. Trunki is carry-on size, making a great option as a kids' travel pack.

How do you keep your kids busy while traveling? 
And limit the amount of "Are we there yet?" questions?
Let us know below


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10 Great Travel Gadgets for Kids

10 Great Travel Gadgets for Kids:

1. MobiGo Touch Learning System
- a great little gaming system for little hands, with both a touch screen and a real Querty keyboard, plus no little parts to get lost. Kids can use the touch screen and also type letters on the keyboard. Both educational and fun.

2. Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera
- Have a young photographer in the family? This kid-friendly camera is great for travel. They can take as many shots as they want or until ran out of available space. Camera stores over 2,000 pictures and has 256 MB built-in memory. As the name implies, this digital camera is built to take a drop or two or more and keep on going.

3. V.Reader
- The V.Reader Animated Ebook System is like a kiddie Nook with animated stories, learning games and an easy-to-use touch screen. Now they can read like grown ups, or at least look like it. Plus no multiple books to drag with you as you travel as the V.Reader comes with small cartridges, has a USB port and SD memory card slot for expansion. It features a sturdy plastic body with see-through plastic screen cover for durable

4. LeapPad Explorer
- It's a tablet built for kids and for learning. Includes a library of 100+ cartridge games, apps, digital books, videos and flash cards. Has a built-in camera & video recorder, 5" touch screen for use with finger or included stylus. And comes with 2GB of memory, enabling it to host a robust suite of apps including: innovative book apps that provide a fully interactive, cinematic reading experience with word-by-word support and state-of-the-art gameplay; a Story Studio to combine art, audio and writing; Art, Animation and Photo studios to inspire imaginations. Software includes broad curriculum such as reading, mathematics, science, geography, art, music, language and culture, health and more. Plus, skill levels automatically adjust the challenge to match each child's pace and remember progress from game to game and book to book. (via leapfrog.com)

5. Ultimate Ears Earphones for Children
- To keep the beeps and other noises from above gadgets to a minimum, headphones are a must-have gadget when traveling with kids. These ones are specifically designed for children. They have a built in volume control that limits any music source by up to 40% and the ear cushions fit comfortably to create a seal. This means kids don't have to crank the volume to focus on their music, movies, or games, therefore protecting their ears.

6. Uniden Walkie Talkies
- easy to carry and pack, making them a must-have for travel families.
They’re rechargeable, too—and can run up to 10 hours on a single charge. Stay in touch no matter where you are… up to 15 miles away!

7. Travel Chess and Backgammon Game
- On the road cannot always plug-in or just want to unplug, board games are a great stand-by.

8. Advanced Alarm Child Locator
- With this transmitter fitted you will be alerted automatically by a loud chirping noise as soon as your child wanders out-of-range by approximately 30 feet/10 metres. Perfect for busy places such as airports, festivals, new cities or anywhere where you or your child might get distracted. Can easily be fitted to your child's wrist, footwear, clothing or bag. Locate your child with the push of a button long life batteries already installed and ready for immediate use. This gadget is water and shock resistant.

9. Mini-Laptop/Netbooks or portable DVD player
- Kids can have fun playing games, writing, drawing, or watching movies or shows. If you are able to obtain Wi-fi during the trip, they can also play on their favorite sites.

10. iPad
For a bit older kids, iPad might be a great idea as it can replace both gadgets above and also games systems, books, and music players. And here also earphones come in handy.
ColorStudio HD app for iPad is a great companion. It is a high-tech coloring book, where kids can use marker, crayon, pencil and paint brush to draw that also has animated characters, music, sound and visual effects that bring scenes to life.

For more kids travel gear visit: Kids Travel Gadgets

How do you keep your kids or yourself entertained while traveling? Let us know below

What others are saying about Travel Gadgets for Kids:
Travel Gadgets for Families by USAToday Travel

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