As most of you know, Bumkins prides itself in having safe products for both you and your child. We make sure that our products are lead safe, PVC, BPA, phthalate & vinyl free. The Center for Health, Environment & Justice, an advocate for “responsible corporate behavior” and the use of safer chemical alternatives, released a “Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies.” The Bumkins Art Smocks made the list!

Our art smocks come in multiple prints, ranging from our Bumkins original designs to our loveable Seuss and Haring patterns. Keep your child and their favorite clothes and accessories mess free…and the paint stains to a minimum!

Bumkins Lunch Boxes are also free from such harmful chemicals and are another fantastic back-to-school item. Be sure to check them out and keep your children’s lunches and snacks safe next school year, while also keeping them looking cool with the 8 different designs now available.

What is PVC? It is found in everything…from plastic and clothing to ceiling tiles and pipes! Known to its chemical buddies as polyvinyl chloride, this multifunctional plastic is harmful and detrimental to one’s health. Products with PVC and its additives [used to make it flexible] have been found to be releasing toxins into the air. Luckily, there has been an increase in awareness of its harmful effects and companies have been using a safer alternative for their items.

What is BPA? Known to its chemical friends as bisphenol A, this organic compound is also commonly used in plastic production. Most commonly used as the inside coating for most food and beverage cans, it is also found in everything from baby toys to medical and dental devices to electronics in the household. Its harmful effects include obesity, neurological issues, thyroid complications, cancer…the list goes on. However, there is hope! As you may have noticed, awareness of this horrendous compound’s effects has also increased and BPA-free products are becoming more readily available.

What are phthalates? Working with the above in health crime, phthalates are also used in plastics to make them more durable and increases their longevity of use. They are found in almost everything: as coating on your everyday pills and vitamins, makeup, toys, household items, packaging, detergents, perfumes, electronics…the list goes on! Like BPA, it also has a long list of harmful effects. Also like BPA and PVC, it is being phased out of production in many countries, including the United States.

Well, more like Dr. Seuss’ beloved characters will be running amuck in the the new line of shoes for both children and adults by Converse. Inspired by the classic stories and characters, the Seuss line by Converse has already launched and comes in 17 fantastic designs. Grab a pair and release your inner Seuss today at the Converse website. Prices range from $35-$65 and each pair you purchase comes with a free cinch bag!

Don’t forget to check out our Dr. Seuss Lunch Boxes to match these stylish kicks!

This year, as you send your kids off to school, Bumkins has a new way for them to show up in style; Our new line of Lunch and Snack Boxes that feature our stylish and colorful prints.

The insulated interior and easy wipe exterior make these bags the ultimate for storing snacks, and lunches.

• Bumkins easy wipe fabric exterior – Lead Safe, PVC, BPA, Phthalate & Vinyl Free
• Insulated moveable dividers
• Interior mesh pocket
• Adjustable velcro handle
• Lunch Box: 8″L x 6.5″H x 3.5″D
• Snack Box: 8″L x 3.5″H x 3.5″D

**How to enter: Tell us what you would pack your little one for lunch in your Bumkins Lunch Box. One lucky winner will be chosen Friday, August 13 to receive a set of Bumkins Lunch and Snack Boxes in our vibrant Pink Paisley print!

Now available at Bumkins.com and Zoolikins.com

To lighten the back to school load, parents can encourage their children to pack their own lunches. Younger kids can help in the lunch packing process while older children can assume most of the responsibility. The combined child parental involvement creates an opportunity to teach healthy food choices. The complete article can be viewed at the Baylor College of Medicine website.

“If you keep your eyes open enough, oh, the stuff you would learn!
The most wonderful stuff!”
-Seuss-isms.

The wondrous and fantastical Dr. Seuss is back with a new show that is bound to inspire. THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! will feature all of the favorites from The Cat in the Hat, including the Cat [voiced by Martin Short], Sally and Nick, the Fish, and Thing 1 and Thing 2. The show will focus on science concepts and vocabulary to prepare preschoolers for the kindergarten and first grade science curriculum. The show is based on the Dr. Seuss series, The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library. Each half-hour episode will begin with a question posed by the children, which will then be answered and explored by the Cat and his friends.

“Guided by the Cat, the kids figure things out by observing, collecting and managing clues, making connections, constructing and evaluating theories, and having discussions — all in a preschool-appropriate manner.“

***New…news! The show will continue on a regular schedule in September, but will actually debut this Saturday, August 7, on the preschool network Treehouse.*** There will also be a partner site on PBSKIDS.org that children can visit to apply what they have learned from the episodes and participate in activities online. The site will also launch in August.

***Also new! Here’s an article about Martin Short and how he created the voice for the Cat!***

Bumkins has been proud to produce Seuss products and be part of the Seuss family. Many of our products feature classic Seuss artwork. We have recently launched lunchboxes featuring two Seuss designs: The Cat in the Hat and One Fish, Two Fish. With school right around the corner, these lunch boxes are perfect for keeping your child’s lunches and snacks cool and safe!