Tips for Taking Kids to the Beach


by Alecia Hardt - Date: 2007-02-01 - Word Count: 609 Share This!

The Palmetto trees are swaying, the ocean calling your name. But between you and paradise are numerous trips from the car, loads of stuff to be lugged and a toddler who has to potty as soon as you hit your chair. I have been there and done that. We have lived in numerous beach states and vacationed there all of our life. However, now that we live in Hawaii, I think we have perfected the beach trip. Our favorite place here is Ko'Olina on the Leeward side of Oahu. While it is half locals and half tourists, it is all beautiful and peaceful. This makes it our number one choice for a relaxing day.

My husband and 3 year old go there all the time, but we recently found one of the best beach products I've seen. My husband stopped by the store and came out with 3 backpack chairs. $14 well spent. They solved all of our beach woes. The chairs are called " The Wear-Ever Chairs." Ingenious- wish I had made them. All each of us needed was a chair on our backs. The back pack was large enough to hold the towels, a rolled sun tent, water bottles, toys, sunscreen and even the large Zip-lock full of tech toys. It was perfect for everyone. Not only did everyone have their own stuff in their own chair, but it got our son excited enough to pack by himself. It was very nice not to have the large bag that everyone needs to dig into. Did I mention they have built in cup holders too? The chairs were also really comfy to carry and to sit in. They even have a 4 position reclining mechanism. The best part- if you drive a small sports car like we do, you are in luck. They fit flat in very small spaces and there is no need for the U-Haul. AND- if you need to carry your small one in your arms, you will have both hands free, without the bobbing shoulder bag. So- if you are taking small children to the beach, here's what works for us- hope it works for you too.

1. Buy the chairs! Set them up and have the children help you load them. Take light, dry snacks that can be put right into the individual chairs. Kids will know right where to look when they are hungry.

2. Throw in a small inflatable pool. If you do not want your small child in the ocean, they will have fun helping you fill it with water. It keeps them cool and contained by your side. You can even drag it into a cabana or under the shade of the umbrella.

3. Since you will have the chairs with the primary stuff on your back, fill a large lingerie bag with the sand toys. Load and shake when you are ready to go home.

4.Take along a Neat Sheet. When it's time to go, a quick dunk in the ocean will be enough to rinse the sand off the kids; then you can plop them on the sheet for sand free clean up. Sand does not cling to Neat Sheets and they roll up really small.

5. Don't forget the usual gear either- sunblock, sunglasses (protects eyes from sun and sand), swim shirts and hats, water shoes if the beach is shelly or rocky, lots of water bottles, and alot of patience.

Taking small children to the beach does not have to be a huge source of stress. If you prepare before you go and have the right tools to get you to the sand, you might just find yourself relaxing in the breeze afterall.


Related Tags: beach, kids, toddlers, hawaii, chairs

http://www.thepaisleypalmetto.com

Alecia Lea Hardt, a stay at home Mom and Naval Officer's wife is the owner of The Paisley Palmetto. She is a graduate of The University of South Carolina at Aiken. The Paisley Palmetto began as wishful thinking and quickly turned into a plan of action.

Alecia was looking for a creative outlet and career that would afford her the flexibility a Mom and military spouse needs. After countless daydreams of a boutique, she took a leap of faith and opened The Paisley Palmetto.

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