What: Hats that give kids a break from the standard baseball cap.

What we say: Whether your going to a ball game, the local park, or even taking a “stay-cation” with the family, little faces should be shaded from the sun on hot days and from rain and snow as fall and winter approach. And what better way to keep kids protected from the elements than with a fun, fashionable hat?

For boys, we love the Herringbone Button Hat ( $12.50) at Gap kids. A little bit train-conductor, a little bit hipster, this is the perfect fall hat and since it’s made of high quality tweed cotton, it can we worn both to casual outings and dressier ones.

For girls, The Bucket Hat from Lands’ End ($14.50) is great for fishing trips with dad or shopping with mom. Machine washable and 100% cotton, it is totally functional, and we like the cute embroidered critter design as well.

For boys and girls, check out Little Lids for fun shapes and styles, from berets ($15) to intricate knit hats ($35). They even have themed hats (Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones are our picks) versatile enough for dress-up, Halloween and everyday wear.