I hear from parents all the time who think we’re crazy. You see, we are a beach family. From Memorial Day until Labor Day, you can find us at the beach every weekend during the summer. There’s something about the cool breeze on a hot summer day that drives the worry of the world away. Before kids, I could easily spend 8 or more hours on a Saturday in my happy place (with plenty of sunscreen of course) and a great book by my side.
So, when our little guy was born on a 100 degree Saturday in the middle of August (a PERFECT beach day) I knew that life would never be the same. I also knew that I wanted him to be a beach boy. Just like everything else, making the beach work with kids can be hard, frustrating, and really fun at the same time. It’s all about making it work for everyone.
This summer, we’ll be at the beach and battling through temper tantrums, growth spurts, and a mid-day two-hour nap. It’s not exactly the Kindle and snack-filled beach days of my past, but it’s our new normal, and I’m here to offer some tips and scenarios to make the most of any time that you get to spend at the beach this summer.
Rise and shine
Hit the beach first thing in the morning when the sun isn’t blazing and everyone is in good spirits. I’m talking 8am (bagels on the beach) kind of early. If you live 45 minutes to an hour from the beach, this is a great way to ensure that you won’t hit beach traffic and that your little ones will be content without the crazy crowds.
Bring a beach tent!
We personally love the Sunbrella XL, but any beach tent will do the trick. When your littles are super little (I’m talking newborns on the beach), you’ll love being able to shade them at all times. As they get a little bit older, keeping them under the tent for nap time is a definite must.
Snacks, snacks, snacks
Keeping snacks coming is a great way to distract the kids for just a few moments to enjoy some peace and quiet. Besides the bagels for breakfast, we love fruit skewers (just pick up the wooden skewers from the grocery store!) and Pirate’s Booty for snacks, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, and jugs of water and seltzer to last the day!
Switch things up
If the idea of getting up early in the morning to head to the beach is repulsive, just switch things up a bit and head down to the beach between 3 and 4pm. It’s less crowded, the sun is not blazing, and you can even pick up a box of pizza on the way with some wine in plastic cups (shhh! You didn’t hear this suggestion from me) to make it a night. After sunset, head for some ice cream and let the kids fall asleep in the car on the way home!
