For many people living in Southern California, the idyllic weather is one of the best things. Couple the weather with the majestic beaches and views, and spending many of your weekends at the beach is easy. As a parent, taking your children to the beach for the day is a free way to make memories and have some healthy fun. However, when you’ve got kiddos in tow, you can’t just run down to the beach without a care in the world. If you’re looking to ensure that your kids have a great time seaside but don’t want your bag overflowing with unnecessary toys and gadgets, keep reading for the only essentials you’ll need for a beach day with your children.
SPF
As an adult, you understand the importance of wearing SPF year-round to keep your skin looking youthful and healthy. When it comes to kids, while they may be able to forgo facial SPF during the fall and winter, they still need plenty in the summer sun. It’s best to find as natural as possible regarding ingredients in your kid’s SPF. Not just from a healthy ingredients perspective but also because their skin is much more sensitive and delicate than more mature skin.
Kid-Size Towels
It may seem silly to purchase kid-sized towels, but the reality is that towels take up a ton of space in a beach bag! If you’re looking to save space and strain on your shoulders, opt for smaller towels for the beach where your kids are concerned and save room for toys you want to bring or seashells they find during your beach day. Getting kid towels that have your child’s favorite characters, from Peppa Pig to Sonic the Hedgehog, on them can also make it easier to get them to come out of the water to dry off.
Cute Suits
Let’s face it; we’ve all got a high-res camera in our pocket at all times in the form of our smartphones. Gone are the days of lugging a separate camera, which means capturing magic memories is a breeze as a parent. Investing in a little girl bikini or cute pair of trunks for your sun is essential to the perfect snapshots. Of course, your kids are more than their clothes, but keep things looking picture perfect with cute suits for your beach days.
Reusable Water Bottles
Teaching your children to become stewards of the planet can be started while they’re very young. One of the easiest ways to instill value for a beautiful planet is through example. Instead of using single-use plastic water bottles, ensure each child has their own reusable water bottle. Stainless steel will last you longer and is a healthier choice than plastic, especially when it comes to your kiddos. Fill their bottle with plenty of water and ice for the day to stay hydrated and enjoy some fun in the SoCal sun.
Limit the Toys
If you’re like many people, you’ve quickly realized that most of the toys we think our children need, whether at home or out in nature, aren’t necessary. Not to mention, toys are easily lost when you’re playing outside, especially when there’s sand to bury them in. Save yourself the headache and plan for your kids to play with the natural resources available to them – from sticks, rocks, seashells, and straight-up sand.
Wet Bags
Wet bags are a lifesaver when you’re at the beach. You can use a Ziploc bag if you’re in a pinch, but investing in a quality wet bag to keep things clean and organized is a must when you have kids and live by the beach. You may have used wet bags when your child was still in diapers, but at the beach, they’re a great place to toss anything messy or too wet to put back in your beach bag.
Going to the beach as a family doesn’t have to be stressful if you take a more mindful and minimal approach to the excursion. Of course, every family is different, and some may have special needs and accommodations for a day at the beach, but the above-mentioned are universal to all of us. Focus on the beauty of your surroundings and remember that your kids won’t remember their toys and miscellaneous extras when they grow up, but they will remember time spent together.
