These lazy summer days are made for picnics, but when planning a picnic for children you need more than just the perfect cheese and wine. I know how much Natasha and Chloe love the combination of outdoor games with yummy snacks on a blanket in the shade – while mommy and daddy relax… with that perfect cheese and wine.

Our friend and Citibabes member, c, has pulled together a wonderful assortment of picnic practicalities (and the fun stuff, too!) to turn an afternoon on the grass – or beach – into a real treat.

- Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes

My little girl loves picnics: indoor picnics, outdoor picnics, picnics in her bed, picnics in our bed… So, I’m always on the lookout for fun picnicking gear that will make our portable feasts (real or imaginary) easier and cuter.

Here are my top picks for picnics:

The Central Park Outdoor Blanket from Skip Hop comes with its own insulated cooler bag. You can even detach the bag and use it on its own. The blanket unfolds to a generous size, so you can sit comfortably with several tots. Available in two very hip Skip Hop patterns:  Black Wave Dot and Chocolate Uptown Stripe. ($45.)

I love this Picnic Basket from Alex Toys for its charming wicker basket and plaid table cloth. The basket comes with a set of enamel ware that includes four plates, four cups, four spoons and four forks. ($34.99.)

Lunch boxes from Beatrix (formally Dante Beatrix) are a super cool way of keeping your PB&J sandwiches fresh. They are PVC free, lead free and machine washable. Available in monkey, bunny, ladybug, panda, shark, robot, dinosaur, or owl. ($34.)

Lawn games and backyard toys from Melissa and Doug’s Sunny Patch Collection are charming and whimsical. Get some exercise at your picnic with this Froggy Catch game ($11.99) and adorable Bollie Kickball. ($9.99.)

Keep your drinks cool in Klean Kanteen’s stainless steel bottles that are available in sizes perfect for you or your child. You can even turn a bottle into a sippy cup with an Advent Sippy Cup spout. The large opening fits ice cubes, too. Klean Kanteen is BPA free and toxin free and the bottles are available in an assortment of bright colors. ($17.95.)

Start a picnicking tradition with your children. It’s a fantastic way of enjoying the outdoors and these fun picnic accessories will make the fun a little more colorful.

By Elizabeth Leach, Freelance Writer and Citibabes Member

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