By Krystle J Bailey
In last week’s edition of Shore Local, I shared seven tips for family beach days, including how to create a sand-free space and mom-hacks for removing sand from in between baby toes as well as lunchbox hacks and why you should always pack a spare diaper.
No matter how you cut it, “beaching it” with kids can be a day of exhaustion. Planning ahead with a few parenting tricks can save everyone a lot of stress and hassle. Here are eight more tips for your family beach adventures this weekend.
- Repurpose bath toys
Nothing is worse than trying to get out of the house to go to the beach only to realize you don’t have any beach toys for the little ones. In a pinch, rinse off some bath toys and throw them in the beach bag. They’ll do the trick! If you plan to buy toys, however, stop by a local shop to support one of our many South Jersey small businesses. - Tackle boxes are for more than bait
Create the perfect snack packs with unused tackle boxes for beach kids of all ages. Fill them with homemade Lunchables, charcuterie boards, fruit trays, and more. Get creative! They stack easily in the beach bag and provide a simple solution for the mid-day beach munchies. - Keep popsicles cold
Grab that one insulated water bottle that keeps ice frozen for days for this beach day trick. Those bottles make the perfect addition to the beach day snack bag, but not just for water. Put some frozen popsicles inside and fill the bottle with ice for a mini popsicle cooler on those hot days. - Unpop clogged ears
Post-beach clogged ears make for cranky kids. Keep a pack of balloons in the car and encourage children old enough to blow up the balloon with a big breath to un-pop their ears. Be sure to discard the balloons properly and not in our beautiful ocean so as not to endanger sea life. - Keep kids’ skin cool and sunburn free
The night before your beach trip, stick the bottles of sunblock and aloe in the fridge or freezer for a perfect way to protect young skin while providing an opportunity for them to lower their body temperature after a long day in the sun. Keep them in the cooler throughout the day. As the aloe begins to melt, it will become the perfect balm for sunkissed skin. - Leave the medicine, pack the cup
The tiny medicine shot glass that comes with liquid medicine can be used as an easy way to rinse out sandy eyes. It’s almost inevitable that at least one kid will get sand in their eyes at the beach. Fill the medicine cup with fresh water, press up to the affected eye, and rinse gently. It’s the little things that make for a peaceful family beach trip. - Sun break activities
Giving the kids a break from the sun is always a smart idea during the dog days of summer. Getting them to sit still is the challenge. Pack a few “sun break” activities for the day, such as simple paints for seashell painting or age-appropriate books about the beach.
Happy 4th of July weekend! Enjoy a beautiful weekend at the Jersey Shore.
