Top 10 Bestsellers
as at 01/02/10
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Beach Survival Guide |
Travelling to the beach with kids can be fun but exhausting! Check out our top 10 tips below to help you out and browse our exciting range of beach gear....
 | 1. Apply sunscreen before you leave
Ok, so you've made it to the beach but the kids have run off to play before you've had time to even work out which bag the suncream is in. Avoid this mad scramble and their complaints as you rub in gritty sand to their tender arms by just spending a couple of minutes applying the cream before you leave the house. Better still make the most of your sitting targets while they are strapped into their car seat or pushchair. Simple, but the simple ideas are often the best!
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2. Spread the load
Even small children can carry a bucket and spade down to the beach. Get them involved at an early age with helping to cart stuff down to the beach. Most kids will relish the responsibility and every bit will help lighten your load.
3. Choose your site carefully
If you've got young kids and are worried about keeping an eye on them think about where you are best located. If you are worried about them making a beeline for the water without you, it may actually be better to set up camp right next to the water rather than further away. That way you can keep a close eye on them and stand a vague chance of a 5 minute sit down yourself. Or, you may prefer to set up as far away from the water as possible and insist on accompanied trips only to the water. If your child likes making sandcastles don't forget that the further you are from the sea, the more difficult this will be!
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4. Keep cool while having fun
If you struggle keeping the kids out of the sun, try this activity out... Hollow out a boat, car or train in the sand - whatever your little one is into! Don't forget to carve out a special seat for your young driver, and use shells, stones and driftwood for those all important knobs, levers and buttons. Now all you need to do is strategically position a sun umbrella to cast some shade as an excellent way of getting them to take a bit of time out from the sun without realising it!
5. Wipe it, bag it
How many times have you got to the beach and wished you'd packed a spare bag? In my experience you can never have enough plastic bags and wipes to hand on the beach. I'm talking bags to put rubbish in, wet clothes, half eaten sandwiches. And wipes because, well, why do kids always stick their hands in the sand just as you get the sandwiches out? Go armed with wipes and I guarantee it'll make your day on the beach easier!
6. Be bright, be seen
Whether it's a colourful umbrella, windbreak or beach tent, use something distintive to mark out your spot on the beach if it's busy. It'll help the children easily identify where you are when they're trekking back from the sea, rock pooling or the loo! And, before they hare off in the first place make them take stock of where they are, identifying any useful landmarks. If you want to be doubly sure take a look at our child safety tags.
7. Avoid high noon
Sometimes it is difficult to get out of the house on time when you have young children in tow. This often means that by the time you get to the beach it may even be nearing midday. However, as young children are particularly susceptible to heat exhaustion, sunstroke and dehydration it may be best avoiding the midday sun altogether. A better idea may be to head for the beach later in the afternoon and to stay for a picnic tea when the sun is not so strong. |
8. Fun & games
If you've forgotten your bucket and spade, or just fancy doing something different, here are some games to play which need nothing other than yourself and your child:
- Bury each other
- Make funny faces out of seaweed and shells.
- Rediscover the joys of wave jumping.
- And don't forget the traditional games which you can still play in the sand like hangman and noughts and crosses.
9. Scavenger hunt
Children love this activity. Basically you give them a list of things to find and bring back to you. You can turn it into a competition if you have more than one child. You can either give them one item out at a time to find or if you're feeling really organised write out a small list for them to take with them or that you keep with you and they can come back and have a look at. Don't forget a prize for the winner! Here are some typical things you might get them to look out for:
- a shell
- a feather
- a piece of driftwood
- a funny shaped rock or 3 stones (small/medium/large)
- some seaweed
- a bucketful of water
You might find our shell bag useful for this activity! |
10. Food tips
Keep food easy on the beach and take a cool bag to keep things fresh all day. Before you begin eating one handy tip with young kids is to fill up a bucket with sea water so that if they get sandy hands mid meal they can just dip them in the bucket for a quick clean up. Don't forget to have a sand free towel to hand or you'll be back to square one! |
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