6 Family-Friendly Brands You May Not Know, But Should
In today’s digital-first world, we can’t decide if it’s harder to remember a brand name or forget one. There are new brands and products popping up daily, and with social media, it can sometimes be hard to miss them.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t innovative brands with a story you may be able to relate to out there; ones that you would jump for joy over if gifted their products.
Check out these six brands flying under the radar and just maybe you’ll become one of their loyal supporters.
Write to Me
An Australian brand entering the US for the first time, Write to Me started with just $400 by two friends. They create beautiful journals and keepsakes centered around family time, including family gratitude, pregnancy, wedding and baby, and even one for funny things your kids say! These beautiful capsules are unlike anything you’ve seen with chic bindings and cases.
Journal in your handwriting and create heirlooms to pass down to the people that love you the most. Handwriting keeps a piece of you alive long after you are gone with the ability to retell stories that are so important to capture.
All products are available on their website. #WriteYourLife
Loog Guitars
In 2017, Loog Guitar’s Kickstarter was the best-selling guitar ever. Designed to make it fun and easy for all ages to play music, Loog is driven by a passion for music and sustainable design
Flashcards and an app are integrated with 3-string guitars to gets kids (and adults!) playing songs on day one, making it fun and stimulating to learn music, especially for kids so they can develop the cognitive and social skills that help them live a better life.
We recommend the Electric Pro for those 8+ and the and Mini Acoustic for kids ages 3–8.
Rockit Rocker
Say goodbye to driving around the block until the baby falls asleep and say hello to a free hand when out and about. The Rockit by Rockit Rocker was developed by three regular dads with seven children between them and is the solution to all parents’ tired hands. The Rockit Rocker is a portable baby rocker which attaches to any stroller to provide a gentle rocking motion — soothing babies and helping them sleep.
This handy device can be purchased on Rockit Rocker USA and Amazon. Attach vertically to your stroller for best use. They even encourage rechargeable batteries which are also better for the environment. #EnvironmentallyFriendly
White Leaf Provisions
Healthy soil = Healthy food. Started by a husband and wife team in Charleston, White Leaf Provisions is a family run business bringing the first 100% regeneratively farmed, Biodynamic®, Organic & GMO-Free baby food line to market in the U.S. The result is pure, transparent, nutritious and delicious foods.
Their line of baby food blends and applesauce transforms not only how we feed our children but also encourages farming methods that can help to heal the planet that our kids will inherit. Products can be purchased on White Leaf’s website and Amazon.
Tinkering Labs
Toys with step-by-step instructions aren’t always kid-friendly. That’s why Tinkering Labs created a “STEAM” kit that gives children a way to build stuff without having to worry about getting it “right.” The Tinkering Labs kit, also called Electric Motors Catalyst (EMC), provides challenges to get kids out of a rigid, model-building mindset, and into open-ended play. It allows kids to build doodling robots, power electric model cars, add motors to legos, and more! For example, they can “make a machine that can scramble an egg,” or “build a creature with spinning arms.”
Tinkerers are provided markers that can be used in the building process. Why? Because the company learned that when kids feel stuck, having an artistic avenue helps them recalibrate and then solve the problem. There is even a Tinkering Camp that kids can attend, and they work with schools to integrate the kit into the curriculum. Great for girls and boys ages 8 and up, and tinkering adults!
The company also holds quarterly contests, such as its Summer Contest that just launched (and closes August 26). Want to enter? Get your EMC kit and join in! Tinkering labs site ($55) and Amazon ($59).
Wishing Pixies
No gift can be better than the one that encourages kids to be better people, for themselves and others. Created by a teacher with over 20 years of experience in education, Wishing Pixies is the only child management and educational behavioral app designed to help parents raise calm, emotionally resilient and kindhearted children. The Wishing Pixies app is specifically geared toward children from 2 to 10 and is coupled with Pixie Dolls; parents act as the Pixie Doll and kids can play with them. Win-win!
What started this unique idea? One mom who pretended to be the tooth fairy with her child, writing notes back and forth. She learned more about her child than she ever would have as her mother. This is why her favorite feature is the chat section, where parents can talk to there kids as if they are the Pixies.
Through the app, the parents can set personalized goals for the child, such as cleaning their room, taking the trash out or being nicer to their brother or sister. The child will receive these goals from the pixies via a notification on their tablet and they must complete them to ensure the happiness of the pixies. Once completed, they are awarded “fairy dust” and when enough dust is earned, the pixies can grant the child’s wishes. The wishes are customizable by the parent and can be anything from ice cream, to a sleepover with friends. Here is a video to tell you more. Check out their website and download the app on iOS and Android.
