Latest news with #HappyKidAwards
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
We've Done Back-to-School Dozens of Times—Here Are the Only 4 Tips You Really Need
Right when you've perfected your s'mores recipe and gotten into a good groove with the daily sunscreen routine, that's when the first back-to-school email hits. It's true: Many parts of the country are trickling back this week and next, which got us thinking about the truly salient pieces of parenting advice that make the return to the classroom feel smooth vs. scary. (Hey, the logistics of packing a backpack for that first day back are not for the faint of heart.) So, without further ado, the four tips that actually delivered when it comes to making one of the biggest transitions of the year feel a heck of a lot easier—for kid and parent. Happy Kid Awards: Best for School Days 2025 1. Post an Out-the-Door Checklist for Each Kid Candace Davison, VP of Editorial Content for PureWow and a mom of two, swears by out-the-door checklists, hung by the door—but the trick is to have one for each kid and once for each day of the week. 'Beyond remembering the typical backpack, lunch box and water bottle, certain days have after-school activities—swim lessons, ballet, Girl Scouts—so I'll use a clothespin to stick that day's index card of 'need to bring' items on their backpack, then stick it by the door.' Come morning, before heading out—and together with her kids—she unclips the card for a quick review to be sure all the essentials are packed for the day ahead. 'I'm really trying to stop having to make trips back to school midday when things are forgotten this year,' she says. 2. Plan a 'Dry Pancake Run' It's not that you want school to start a day early, but giving your routine a test drive—something PureWow's executive editor and mom of three, Alexia Dellner, has dubbed the 'Dry Pancake Run'—can be worth it while still feeling fun. 'Summer means lazy mornings, sleeping in, a lack of routine, all those things,' she says. 'In order to get back into the swing of things, we do the following: The day before the first day of school, we do a dry run. We wake up at the right time, we pack our bags, we get dressed in school clothes and we walk to the bus stop to be sure we're there on time. But then, instead of putting our kid on the bus or managing preschool drop-off, we go out for a pancake breakfast as a family. It's a nice way to kick off the school year, but also a chance to get back into a routine and iron out any kinks.' 3. Schedule Blank Spaces the Same Way You Do Soccer Practice One of the most daunting parts of back-to-school is the return of feeling overscheduled. That's why PureWow's editor-in-chief and mom of two, Jillian Quint, believes in countering the craziness by intentionally scheduling down time. 'Our world gets so busy with all the kids' activities once back to school starts,' she says. 'Two sports, gymnastics, art classes, piano…kill me. We make a point to reserve two permanent nights a week that are clear for just our family. It helps us all to feel some calm as we jump into things.' 4. Rely on This 3-Word Ice Breaker to Get Your Kids to Open Up The overwhelm! The adrenaline! Back to school can feel like the parent Olympics—there's so much pressure on a singular day. But then, pick up happens and, as you eagerly await a full download, your kids are, well, less than verbose. That's why I, a mom of two, swear by this three-word question: 'How was recess?' According to experts, it's one of the best ways to get your kid to open up. After all, it's much more fun to discuss friend-related experiences and interactions than answering standard questions about routine activities and what they learned in school. That said, it can also serve as a conversation gateway to other topics. Save it for the dinner table. 24 Back-to-School Dinners That Are Family-Friendly and Low-Maintenance Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What's the Best Kids' Lunch Box? These 7 Are Kid-Tested, Mom-Approved
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here. You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Read the original article on Purewow. Growing up, choosing a lunch box meant picking out your favorite cartoon character amid the sea of plastic containers. It was just a container for whatever Mom tossed inside; if your sandwich was mangled or your Cheez-Its resembled dust by the time you got to the cafeteria, that was life. At least you could stare at Garfield or the Muppets as you sipped water from the lid of your coordinating Thermos. These days, lunch boxes have gotten far more sophisticated—there are collapsible ones, freezable ones, even electrically heated ones—all at a range of price points. So, which ones are actually worth your money? What won't contribute to a meltdown in the carpool lane? I needed answers—and since you're here, I'm guessing you do, too. The Best Kids' Lunch Boxes at a Glance How I Chose the Best Kids' Lunch Boxes Candace Davison As PureWow editors poll parents and vet products for the Happy Kid Awards each year, determining the best lunch box is always hotly debated. Our team combines market research and reviews with parent recommendations to form a short list of top contenders, and from there, lunch boxes are distributed to parents, as we ask them to review the containers based on the following criteria: Size and overall portability — Are they too bulky for a backpack? Can kids tote them easily? How much food do they actually hold, and is it enough? Ease of use — Can kids open and close them without dumping dino nuggets everywhere, or needing a teacher's help? How easy are they to clean and care for? Durability — What happens if they're dropped? Do they crack, tear or scuff easily? Do the latches seem sturdy or flimsy? Could this last a school year or longer? Value — How much does it cost, and what do you get for that price? 75 Simple, Delicious School Lunch Ideas The Best Kids' Lunch Boxes of 2025, Tested & Reviewed 1. Omiebox Bento Box for Kids Omie/Alexia Dellner Bento box styles have been a parent and kid favorite for the past few years, but they can often be pretty bulky—a challenge when backpacks are already pretty crammed. Omiebox's smart, lightweight design made it immediately stand out from the crowd: It's relatively slim, and yet it can hold a surprisingly hearty lunch. But that's far from all: "I really love the option to include a hot meal (which we do at least once I week—I add boiling water to the container while I microwave pasta leftovers, then pour the water out when I'm ready to assemble. I mean, who knows what really happens at lunch time, but my son says that the food is still hot when he opens it up and it always comes back empty)," says executive editor Alexia Dellner. "Oh, and the dividers are great—because nobody wants strawberry juice on their meat sticks. (My meat sticks.)" $50 at Amazon 2. Packit Freezable Playtime Lunch Box packit Why bother with ice packs when your whole lunch box can be one? PackIt's latest design features freezable gel walls, keeping foods chilled all day, and when it's empty, it smooshes flat, taking up less backpack space. (My toddler has used this bag every day for a full year, and it looks brand new—spills easily wipe away, and it's survived being dropped, stomped on and trampled by a dog without issues.) When I had other kids test and review the bag, they mentioned that they loved the fun designs, and that the zippers were easy to use. Plus, you can easily pop in a bento box, and the handle features a buckle clasp, so you can tether it to a backpack or messenger bag, if your kid's bag is already crammed full. $30 AT Amazon $30 at Target 3. Bentgo Lunch Container rachel bowie/bentgo In every poll, Bentgo comes up as PureWow parents' most-recommended lunch box. And it's not just hype—it's consistently won over editors in product testing, winning a Happy Kid Award not once but twice. Why? It's just that reliable—and affordable. 'I like the simplicity of Bentgo's kid's lunchbox," explains Rachel Bowie, senior director of royals and special projects (and has tested countless lunch boxes as she oversees the back-to-school edition of the Happy Kid Awards). "It feels like there's a spot for all my son's favorites—a half sandwich, a fig bar, even a cookie or two. I put Cheerios in the small circle, though you could also include a dip. Still, it's that compartment size flexibility that really makes it a fail-safe for us. The seal keeps everything separate, but most important of all, the tabs are easy to pop open. Best of all, it's dishwasher-safe, which is so helpful on busier school days.' Plus, with 33 designs to choose from, there's a style that's bound to suit your kid's taste, whether they're into llamas, unicorns, construction trucks or, ahem, quiet luxury neutrals. $30 AT Amazon $30 at pottery barn 4. Calpak Kids Lunch Bag calpak There are people who love the order of a bento-style lunch box, and there are those who like things a little more freeform (especially if your kid's the type who sees four compartments and demands all four compartments be filled, even if they'd be stuffed with a sunbutter and jelly and a banana). Calpak's lunch bag is remarkably lightweight yet durable, zips smoothly without snagging and the recycled polyester exterior is easy to wipe clean. The crossbody straps and top handles made it easy for kids of all ages to grab and go, no matter how much they were hauling around, and the bag itself—at 4 inches wide and 10 inches long—is spacious enough to hold a full lunch and water bottle, no problem. (Some other soft bags we tested required you to carry the bottle separately.) There's a name label on the back, yet you also have the option to personalize it, should your (er, your kid's) aesthetic skew more embroidered monogram than Sharpie. $38 at calpak 5. Lunch Box davison In a world where kids' lunch boxes can creep past $80 a pop (!), this $29 find stands out for its versatility, durability and value. The main compartment is large enough to fit a whole bagel or sandwich—with a removable ice pack included—and the hard case features a silicon bubble in one compartment, so you can easily stow a whole piece of fruit without bruising it. What really impressed me were its leakproof compartments, which were filled with marinara as the box was flipped, dropped and shaken—and didn't leak at all. $29 AT Amazon 6. Munchkin Toddler Lunch Box munchkin/candace davison Designed for kids aged 18 months and up, this five-compartment wonder is a daycare must-have. The lunch box survived drop tests without popping open, yet small hands didn't have any difficulty opening the box themselves. Plus, it comes with stainless steel utensils that pop into the inside of the lid, though our tester said they occasionally pop off and into food if the container is sloshed around too much. That said, the silicone liner on the lid creates a great seal, so liquids didn't seep into other compartments, no matter how much it was jostled. $17 at Walmart $17 at Target 7. PlanetBox Rover Stainless Steel Lunch Box planetbox/purewow So many stainless steel lunch boxes are a hit with parents—but then kids can't open them. Or they're just not as fun as their friends' character-emblazoned bags. PlanetBox bridges the gap, with a slim, five-compartment container that parents can pop in the dishwasher, and yet kids can easily use and customize with exterior magnets (which come in 18 designs, from unicorns to galaxy prints). The set also comes with two leak-proof stainless steel containers with BPA-free silicone lids, so you don't need to pack your kid's yogurt separately. $55; $47 at PlanetBox What to Consider When Shopping for Kids' Lunch Boxes original photo: candace davison Budget and aesthetics aside, there are a few key things to look for: Size — Both in terms of whether it can hold enough food for your child's lunch and snack needs, and how bulky it is. If it can't fit in your kid's backpack, is there a strap that can connect it to the bag? Number of compartments and configurations — Do you want something bento-style, where you can store multiple foods without them touching (or needing to resort to resealable bags and other containers? Are the compartments adjustable and/or removable? Ease of use — How easy is it for a kid to use? How easy is it to clean? Durability — Do you intend to use this for more than a year? What do the reviews say about its longevity? Are the latches strong? Does it scuff or crack easily if dropped? (Stainless steel options have the best warranties—often five years, versus one or two with plastic lunch boxes—because they tend to be the most durable.) Ability to keep foods cold — Is there an ice pack or freezable liner included? How insulated is it, or will you need to purchase something separately to get the job done? Leak resistance — If it's a hardshell lunch box, are there silicone gaskets or other seals to make it less prone to leaks? Is it recommended for dry foods only? What's the Best Overall Kids' Lunch Box? Due to its overall capacity—yet slim design—ease of use and warm-food compartment, is PureWow's pick for best overall kids' lunch box of 2025. However, if you'd prefer something that's stainless steel, I recommend taking a closer look at Planetbox, or something that can smoosh flat when lunch is over, opt for Calpak or Packit. 58 Toddler Lunch Ideas Even the Pickiest Eaters Will Love Why You Should Trust Us PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women's walking shoes that won't hurt your feet, we've got you covered.
