Beach trips with the family are wonderful, but in reality, they take a lot of coordination and preparation from the whole family in order to make them go by without difficulty. As a family-owned business living in Cornwall, we know better than anyone that in the chaos of getting everyone ready, we forget to pack both essential and non-essential items that might make the day go a bit smoother. Here are some things you should definitely remember to bring with you if you’re taking the kids to the beach this summer.
Sunscreen and a Sunhat
Make sure the beach stays fun and safe - pack adequate protection against the heat and UV rays: sunscreen and a sunhat are essential and no one should take a trip to the beach without them, especially the young ’uns. Nothing ruins a glorious day at the beach quicker than sunburn or heatstroke. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen BEFORE you get to the beach and to reapply it after swimming.
The Altruist sunblock is water-resistant, so it’s ideal for wet and sandy days at the beach, but you should re-apply it after getting out of the water and throughout the day for continuous protection.
Something to Hold Treasures In
One of the best things to do at the beach is looking for treasures in the sand. Shells, sea glass, pebbles and other small whatnots, collecting beach treasures and using them to decorate sandcastles is lots of fun. Make sure you bring a small pouch or wallet for them to collect it all in.
These Havaianas pouches are great because they’re made from water-friendly rubber and they have a handy wrist strap and zip up fastening, to keep all the little treasures safe.
Tools to Build the Perfect Sandcastle
No trip to the beach is complete without building a sandcastle, and for that, you need tools. If you don’t want to spend money on plastic shovels and buckets, you can enlist the help of items the kids find in their beach treasure hunt such as sticks, flat stones and seashells to scoop out sand.
Flip Flops
Essential for the whole family, but especially for the kids! Make sure those little feet are protected from sunburn (yes, your feet can still get burned on the hot sand) and sharp objects which unfortunately make their way on the beach. A pair of waterproof flip flops that are easy to clean is ideal - you can all about kids’ flip flops in this recent article.
We also have a wide selection of women’s flip flops and men’s flip flops.
Cooler Box Filled with Snacks and Plenty of Water
When you’re ready to take a break from all the fun, the whole family is definitely going to want a snack. Things that are easy to pack and store: fruit and nuts, crisps and sandwiches. As well as taking care of the munchies, make sure there’s plenty of water around for the whole family. Staying hydrated is very important while out in the sun.
Spare Towels
Everyone’s got a towel, right? Pack one more (or two)! You never know when they might come in handy to clean up messes or just to replace one that’s already soaked through.
Tips on how to make your day more enjoyable
- Check whether the beach you’re going to is covered by lifeguards.
- Parking: if possible, park in a shaded area to make sure you don’t feel like you’re entering a hot oven when what you’re really looking for is a quick escape from the heat! Also, make sure to set a timer on your phone to avoid a parking ticket.
- If you’re going with another family or you have more than one child, make sure they know to stick together and don’t leave each other alone. Also, designate an area for swimming that is within view and safe. Make sure all the kids are aware of it!
- If you get separated for whatever reason, arrange a place or landmark for everyone to meet up again.
- Don’t take too much! Make it easy for yourself to set up and pack up. Most of the time, you don’t actually need that much once all the basics are covered.
Have fun and enjoy the nice weather!
