My Top 10 Beach Tips for Kids

Today, I want to share my top beach tips for kids.  Summertime for our family means lots of beach time – kid play time, water time, sandcastle time (and most of the time) bliss.

My husband and I LOVE to take our kids to the beach to play, and we feel so lucky to live fairly close.  It doesn’t matter how many times we go…playing in the sand, chasing waves and collecting shells never gets old.

Beach Tip #1

Sunscreen them up before you get there.

Once you get to the beach, you will be juggling towels, toys, bags, umbrellas, coolers, and excited kids.  It will take you a little while to lug all of your stuff to the sand…and this is with your kiddos  jumping up and down excited.  Believe me, it is much easier to take the time to do the sunscreen before you arrive.

Beach Tip #2

Bring a laundry basket or a wagon for all of your beach gear.

This will be your rolling (or handheld) locker.  Whatever toys and towels fits in our laundry basket, we can bring.  I like laundry baskets because they typically have the grates where sand can easily shake and fall out.   But, I’d like to upgrade to the wagon since I can pull it!

Beach Tip #3

Follow-up to tip #2 – my rule is…we can bring what we can carry in one trip from the car to the sand.

It is hard enough to make one trip, while corralling kids.  Don’t make it harder on yourself by going back and forth to the car!  And as my kids have gotten older, they each have a “job” when helping with gear.  For example, I have them carry their own little kid beach chairs to the sand.

Beach Tip #4

Shade is key.

If you plan to be at the beach more than an hour or two, bring an umbrella, a pop-up tent (even if you have to borrow it!)…whatever will provide a little reprieve from the sun.  It makes it much more enjoyable for you and the kids on longer beach days.

Beach Tip #5

Scout out the potty situation beforehand…this is especially important if you have smaller children.

Some beaches have typical beach bathrooms with doors that close, some have port-a-potties, some do not have bathrooms readily available. Better to know before you go!  You can look this up online.  I also always stash some hand sanitizer in my beach bag.

Beach Tip #6

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

Make sure to pack LOTS of water.  I pack refillable water bottles for everyone so that I can fill up at the beach water foundations.  It’s easy to forget to drink water when you’re playing, so I usually make the kids take some sips every so often.

Beach Tip #7

Bring two towels per kid.

Sounds silly, right?  Well, in the past I’ve brought one towel per kid.  And at the first snack opportunity (mid beach play), they sit their cute muddy/sandy/icky tushes down on their towels to eat.  Then at the end of the day when they’re tired and ready to go, they want a clean towel.  If you have the room, I find that having two towels per kid has worked better for us.

Beach Tip #8

Pack some baby powder!

Yep, if you didn’t know this little secret, now you do.  Baby powder repels sand.  A super easy way to clean sandy little hands, feet and legs.  Oh, and I always stick in baby wipes, too.

Beach Tip #9

Bring some small baggies to give to your kids for their beach “treasures.”

Both of my kids collect shells.  And I am always being asked to hold them or put them in my nonexistent pockets (hello kiddos, mama is in a bathing suit!).  A few Ziplock sandwich baggies takes care of this!

Beach Tip #10

Playing in the sand is most fun with…yep…TOYS!

Here’s my tip.  Pack them in full sized trash bags.  Easy to carry to the sand.  Easy to dump out.  Super easy (and less messy!) to grab all of your sand toys at the end of the day and throw them in the garbage bags.  Less sand rolling around in your trunk!

What are your beach tips?  If you have a great one, please share below in the comments below!