Grab Bag
On our boat we have a grab bag from which nothing can be taken – not a sneaky chocolate bar or battery. If we have to abandon the boat, this bag is literally a life saver. Along this line of thinking comes the All-for-One (and One for All bag).
All for One, and One for All
If you want successful spontaneity with children, you have to prepared. Your springboard to making it happen is a holdall with all you need.
- Rucksack
- Snacks and treats x 2 for everyone. (To be kept in the bag and no sneaking)
- Nappies/pants.
- Picnic Blanket
- Wipes
On top of the hold all in laminated or in a plastic sandwich bag, (if possible), list of:
Phone/money
Entertainment for car.
Waterproofs.
Water bottles
Snacks from fridge.
Medicines.
Buggy/stroller/skooter?
This will help to take the OMG out of setting out. Just getting everyone in the car, dressed, with their own wellies is an achievement.
On one walk I was with a group of Mums who stood bemused when a father turned up with his 7 year old and his toddler. His wife was ill, and he was new to the three-ring-circus of child, AND toddler AND kit. He had forgotten the buggy. Already frazzled, he said he could carry the toddler when she was tired. The mothers turned to start the walk, with wry smiles. The seven year olds bounded off. Toddler-pace was out of the question. So, Dad swung her onto his shoulders. Who doesn’t want to ride on Daddy’s shoulders? Win-win. It could have spiralled into an afternoon of mother’s irritated by an “un-together-un,” but, he did his best to make it work, and the Mums appreciated the effort, and reciprocated.
Beach Buddy
Bag with buckets and spades and beach stuff.
The next time you go to the beach and have washed out the sand etc. , find a bag and know where (ie remember) you’re going to store it in the garage?garden hut? back of kitchen cupboard, with the cleaned beach kit.
So when the day is ahead of you, it’s going to be sunny, you can be ‘inspired’ to jump in the car and head for the beach. No last minute panic or having to re-buy kit. Was I in trouble when the favourite castle making bucket or some favoured spade could not be found. My bad. And they were mad.
Swim kit is usually in the same place after lessons.
Ship to Shore
I was forced to have the bag ready because living on a boat there is no space, so you have to be super organised, everything has to have its place. When we came to live in a house I lost buckets and spaces left, right and attic. I can not tell how many buckets and crabbing kits we have had to buy. Recently I was hunting Christmas decorations and exhumed two beach ‘outings’ , the first from a Bournemouth beach day with pals aka 10 and 8 years old, and the other our boat beach bag from 2 – 5, forgotten and gathering dust when they could have bee used many times.
What and where is your know-where-it-is storage go-to?