One of our daughters’ favorite summertime activities is spending time swimming and playing at the pool or on the beach. We enjoy going early in the morning when there are fewer people around and the temperatures are not quite as hot.
However, I soon began dreading these water-themed outings due to the major production required to get everything ready to go. Beach towels? Check. Goggles? Got ’em. Sunscreen? Can’t forget that, especially with my fair (downright pale) skin. By the time I added snacks, drinks and inflated floats, it seemed to take as much time to get ready to leave as we spent at our destination!
I finally found a better way. I bought a large, inexpensive mesh bag into which I put all of the items that go with us on every trip, including goggles, sunscreen, snorkels, beach towels, etc. That bag is always packed and waiting by the back door so that when the time is right for some water play, I don’t have to think about gathering all the articles we need. As for the larger items, like floats, I just leave them in the trunk of the car for the summer.
Each time we return from the pool or the beach, towels get washed and dried and returned immediately to the bag, ready for the next time. Being prepared -and having everything we need for our trip in one place – works for me!
Do you have a tip for making outings with your children easier? Please share!
More tips on a variety of subjects can be found at Works for Me Wednesday hosted by We Are THAT Family.
photo courtesy public domain pictures
Great idea! I wish we lived near the beach. We are thinking of putting a small pool in backyard though. 😀
Great idea! I do something similar for our trips to the neighborhood pool! Thanks for the tip!
Great idea! I know this might sound crazy, but the thing that helps us the most in getting to the park or just going out in the summer with our 5 kids is making sure everyone has sandals, and is dressed to go. Not good clothes, but decent ones. When they are all dressed and an opportunity arises, it is much easier to grab shoes then to have to get everyone dressed as well.Great post!
Perfect tip to keep summer activities moving speedily along! 🙂 Organization is so helpful!
great idea! i eed to do ths because i always end up forgetting something 🙂
We do the same thing. It has always been know as the "Swim Bag". Quite catchy don't you think? If I ask the girls to grab the "swim bag" they know exactly where it is and where we are going. 🙂 – Kat