Sand (Without the Stress): Preparing a Great Day at the Beach

There’s nothing quite like a day out at the beach, but if you don’t prepare properly you will end up covered in sand, boiling hot, burnt, and everybody will end up going back in the car miserable as sin.

Let’s show you what you need to get together to have a great day at the beach, from great healthy food to the simple things!

Lots of Beach Toys

If you want to have 10 minutes to yourself, you need to make sure the kids are occupied.

You can go for the typical bucket and spade for the little ones, but for the older kids who are just going to stand around (potentially looking miserable), you might want to make things a bit more exciting for them.

You could give them balls and plenty of frisbees to throw around, but you could also do something a little bit different.

There are a wide variety of kids’ metal detectors for sale out there, and this can give them the opportunity to go exploring, so you have a bit of peace and quiet, but it can also form the basis of a new and interesting hobby.

Either way, toys are the way forward so your kids can be occupied and you can have a few sun-soaked minutes to yourself!

Freeze Water and Juice Cartons the Night Before

It’s never nice to take a gulp of refreshing water, only to find that it’s as hot as the cup of tea you had this morning!

The best thing anybody can do is to put their water bottles and drinks in the freezer the night before.

If you’re heading out to the beach on a blisteringly hot day, the water will start to melt but you have a large ice cube in the bottle, which will gradually fill up the water bottle throughout the day.

You can do this for your kids’ juice, but you can also do it for things like fruits.

Freezing grapes can make for a lovely snack, but you can also use these water bottles and cartons as ice packs in the food cooler.

Create Your Own Shade

Having your own shade is essential for a comfortable day. You have got to decide what type of shade is best for the needs of your family.

So if your kids are always in the water and don’t stay still, a basic beach umbrella for you and one other might be all you need.

Of course, you don’t just have to go for an umbrella; you could get something like a canopy or a tent.

Either way, ensuring you have enough shade is essential. You don’t want to spend too long out in the sun that you burn or, even worse, get sunstroke.

You should always know your limits, and depending on the time of day you venture out, always have an opportunity to get in the shade.

Have Plenty of Suncream

It’s amazing how many people don’t bring enough suncream to the beach; the best thing you can do is to apply some before you head off to the beach.

That way, if you’ve got wriggly kids that it takes 15 minutes to plaster them in suncream, at least you’ve got the base coat sorted.

You also need to make sure that your children are reapplying regularly.

Kids need a suncream of at least SPF 50. It’s also important to note that if you are using a suncream spray, you will need to reapply that more regularly.

You should also pay attention to the most missed areas, such as the shoulders, nose, ears, back, the outline of your swimsuit, and the tops of your feet.

Be Prepared for Pests

Pests are particularly problematic when you are on the beach. It’s always better to be prepared.

If you are going to the beach and are taking food with you, you might find a wasp or two which is never fun.

If anybody gets wasp stings, you can treat them by washing the affected area with water and soap and applying a cold compress like an ice pack (such as that frozen bottle of water) to any swelling for 10 minutes.

There are a lot of methods that involve home remedies, such as bicarbonate of soda and vinegar, but these are not always particularly helpful.

It’s important to be prepared for pests by having a bottle of essential oil spray as the strong scent tends to get rid of insects quickly, and you can find sprays like peppermint that do the trick.

Hide Your Valuables

A day out on the beach can turn into a nightmare if you end up with your purse or car keys stolen.

If you want to keep these items safe, the best approach is to make it incredibly difficult for someone to try and get these items.

You can put your items in a zip lock bag and bury the bag under your beach towel, or if you are looking for more creative ways to hide things like your car keys or phone, you can keep them in a zip lock bag at the bottom of the cooler. Just make sure there are no holes in the bag itself.

Know How to Remove Sand

You can have an amazing day at the beach but then dread the sheer amount of cleaning you’ll have to do to the car.

Sand is one of those things that gets everywhere and you may find that you are cleaning out your car for days.

But the solution here is to use baby powder. Apply baby powder to your children’s legs and feet, and it absorbs the moisture of the sand, which makes it easier to brush off the skin.

Hey presto, you can get in the car with (hopefully) minimal cleaning when you get home!

Going to the beach can be a lot of work, but make sure that you are giving yourself peace of mind while also ensuring that your kids are occupied.