Now that the weather is warming up, a trip to the beach on a gorgeous sunny day conjures up images of bliss, the ultimate family outing, right?! Unfortunately the reality with kids is often a lot different.
Firstly, you seem to end up taking a lot of STUFF. Beach shelters, towels, buckets & spades, sunscreen, hats, rashies, boogie boards, dry change of clothes etc. And then there’s the sand that seems to get everywhere from your togs, to your ears, to your car…
But before you despair, here are 7 simple tips to help your next trip to the beach run smoothly:
- Sunscreen
Apply sunscreen before you go and then you will only have to top it up once you are there. I have learnt this one the hard way. I would be fluffing around trying to get sunscreen all over my kids when all they wanted to do was hit the water. Kids don’t want to be waiting around for sunscreen to be applied and worse still, for it to soak in. Also sunscreen and sand don’t mix well so getting a thorough coat on the kids before you hit the beach is a good idea. 
Buckets & Spades
Carry your buckets and spades in a mesh laundry bag (available from the dollar shops). These are light, allow the sand to fall through and dry out easily.- Valuables
Wrap your valuables in an unused disposable nappy. This should deter any potential thieves. - Baby Powder
Take some baby powder with you. A sprinkle of baby powder on little bodies helps to soaks up the moisture and sand can be brushed off a lot easier. Baby powder will also help soothe any rashes rough sand has caused. - Snacks
Take a large zip lock bag to carry any snacks to the beach. At the end of the day you can use the same bag to transport home any wet togs. - Beach Shelter
If you have a beach shelter (a constant tension between my hubby & I haha) make sure you have a brightly coloured flag or something similar on it so your kids can easily spot it on the beach. When the beach is crowded it can be overwhelming for little ones to find you.
- Water
Take drink bottles with you. Kids always seem to be very thirsty after swimming in the salt water. Plus it could come in handy to wash sand from hands or eyes etc.
The beach is beautiful and should be replenishing to the soul. Hopefully these simple tips will help you enjoy your next trip to the beach a little more.
