The Best Summer Picks for Children: Travel, Beach Days and Holiday Essentials.
For this special summer edit, our editor handpicks a tight selection of standout pieces for children. From clever travel companions to beach-day essentials, creative toys and timeless summer staples.
This is our guide to the pieces we’d genuinely recommend for little ones this season: practical, playful and made to make family summer days feel easier, more stylish and a lot more fun.
This summer’s lineup: KIDYWOLF’s waterproof kids’ camera for capturing summer through their eyes, the Joolz Aer² x Wildride bundle for seriously chic family travel, Sunnylife’s oversized carryall beach bag, PO.P’s timeless summer collection and swimwear, the Doona Liki Trike S5 in Ocean Blue, classic summer sandals, Coco Casey kids’ sunglasses, and the KIDYDRAW-PRO for screen-free creative moments on the go.
Consider this your summer briefing in little essentials: the pieces we’re genuinely packing, loving and recommending for sunny days, holidays and everyday adventures with children.
By Alice Codford
We only feature pieces we genuinely love, have tried, want or have had recommended to us. This edit contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission.KIDYCAM PRO Kids Waterproof and Shockproof Digital Camera
KIDYCAM PRO Kids Waterproof and Shockproof Digital Camera, £79.98
Such a fun summer pick for little adventurers. This waterproof and shockproof kids’ camera is a brilliant way to let children document their own summer memories! From photos on the plane to beach snaps, poolside moments and all the tiny details they notice while travelling.
It’s made for little hands, with a 2-inch screen, selfie camera, flash, fun effects and backgrounds, plus 8GB memory and a rechargeable battery. We especially love that it has no games, so it keeps the focus on creativity and exploring the world through their eyes.
Why we love it: Because summer from a child’s point of view is always the most magical one! Shop it here.
Joolz Aer2 x Wildride Boho Bundle
Joolz Aer2 x Wildride Boho Bundle, £499
A dream summer travel set-up for families on the move. The Joolz Aer² x Wildride Boho Bundle combines Joolz’s ultra-lightweight, aeroplane-compatible buggy with a Wildride toddler carrier and picnic blanket — basically everything you need for holidays, city breaks, airport dashes and those inevitable “I don’t want the buggy, but I also can’t walk” toddler moments.
The buggy folds in one second with one hand, weighs just 6.5kg, and folds down compactly enough for plane travel. We love that you can switch from wheels to carrier when little legs get tired, and the picnic blanket makes beach days, park stops and travel breaks feel instantly easier. Suitable from newborn to toddler, with the Wildride carrier designed for children from 9 months to 4 years.
Why we love it: because it proves practical parenting kit can still look seriously chic. The boho-inspired carrier and sleek Joolz stroller feel fashion-forward, effortless and holiday-ready, a bundle you’ll actually want to be seen travelling with! Shop it here.
PO.P Summer Collection
PO.P Summer Collection, from £8
Everything from PO.P’s summer collection is high on our shopping list this season, from easy everyday pieces to swimwear made for beach days, pool trips and garden paddling pool afternoons.
We love the brand’s mix of playful, practical and timeless designs: airy T-shirts, soft shorts, dresses, matching sets and swimwear that feel made for real summer adventures. The pieces have that classic Scandinavian simplicity that works beautifully for girls and boys, and they’re designed to be worn, washed, loved and passed on. PO.P also highlights its use of more sustainable materials, including organic cotton, which makes these feel like summer staples you can feel good about buying too.
Why we love it: because PO.P does summer clothes the way we like them, timeless, practical, conscious and made for every child. Shop the collection here.
SunnyLife Carryall Beach Bag Oversized Tote
SunnyLife Carryall Beach Bag Oversized Tote, £25
The kind of oversized beach bag that makes family summer days feel instantly more organised. Spacious enough for towels, swimwear, snacks, sun cream, beach toys and all the “just in case” extras, this Sunnylife carryall is waterproof, lightweight and made for sandy, splashy days. It also has drainage holes at the base for sand and water, plus a detachable zipped pouch for keeping smaller bits easy to find.
The La Mer blue stripe feels fresh, fun and very holiday-ready — perfect for beach days, pool trips, picnics and packing up the whole family’s summer essentials in one easy tote.
Why we love it: Because it’s big, practical and still really chic. Shop it at Kinder Collective.
Doona™ Liki Trike S5
Doona™ Liki Trike S5, £209
A clever little trike for summer adventures, holidays and everyday outings. The Doona Liki Trike S5 is designed to grow with your child from around 10 months to 3 years, transforming through different stages from parent-steered rides to independent trike mode. It folds and unfolds in seconds, comes fully assembled, and is compact enough to fit in the car boot or even an aeroplane overhead locker, making it especially handy for travel.
We love the sleek Ocean Blue colourway for summer, and the thoughtful details: a UPF 50+ sun canopy, multi-position reclining backrest, soft-ride wheels, dual steering, a safety harness and a compact fold that makes it easy to carry and store.
Why we love it: Because it turns summer strolls into something a little more fun, perfect for toddlers who want to see the world, feel independent and ride in style. Shop it here.
Wheat Sandal Frei
Wheat Sandal Frei, £69.95
A beautifully simple pair of summer sandals for little feet. The Sandal Frei in White Onyx has that clean, timeless feel that works with everything: linen sets, floaty dresses, shorts, swimwear cover-ups and all those easy holiday outfits.
We love a neutral sandal for children because it does all the hard work in a summer wardrobe: smart enough for lunches and evenings out, but still easy and everyday enough for beach walks, garden parties and warm-weather adventures.
Why we love it: Because they’re chic, classic and endlessly wearable. Shop them here.
KIDYDRAW-PRO Portable Drawing Tablet
KIDYDRAW-PRO Portable Drawing Tablet, £41.99
A brilliant screen-free activity for creative kids this summer. The KIDYDRAW-PRO is a portable illuminated drawing tablet that children can use for tracing, drawing, practising letters and numbers, and creating their own neon-style artwork. It’s double-sided too: the front works as a light tablet for copying drawings with precision, while the back becomes a neon-effect blackboard for extra fun, glow-in-the-dark-style creations.
It’s lightweight and easy to take with you, making it perfect for holidays, long lunches, rainy afternoons, travel days or quiet time at home. We love that it encourages creativity, fine motor skills and early writing in a fun, accessible way.
Why we love it: Because it’s a clever, creative way to keep little hands busy this summer: screen-free, portable and genuinely fun for budding artists. Shop it here.
LEOSUN The Casey Kids Polarised Sunglasses
LEOSUN The Casey Kids Polarised Sunglasses, £30
