Summer has officially begun and before long, you may find yourself running out of fun ways to keep the kids entertained. Thankfully, with the release of school comes a few months of gorgeous weather and the perfect opportunity to get outside with your favorite mini-mes. What better way to enjoy your favorite, local park or beach than a picnic? But planning a meal that’s picnic-friendly, towing it to your destination, and bringing your energetic team along can seem a bit overwhelming, so today we’re sharing our six tips for planning the perfect picnic!
1. Finding the Best Location
Step #1 to planning the perfect picnic is choosing the perfect location. Varying factors can help you decide where you want to go, like what time of day you’ll be going, the amount of shade you’ll need, who will be coming along, etc. If you live somewhere that gets really hot in the summertime (like it does here in Florida), you may want to plan a picnic breakfast or sunset dinner. If you’re headed to the beach, be sure to bring a few towels and swimsuits. If your favorite park requires a bit of a walk, you may want to pack all your food and drinks into a backpack to make carrying easier.
2. Bringing Along the Perfect Spread
When it comes to packing your picnic basket, it’s all about collecting an assortment of finger foods to make snacking easy and enjoyable. Gather your kids’ favorite fresh fruits and vegetables, easy-to-make sandwiches and dips, and bottled beverages and you’re ready to go! A variety of healthy snacks are perfect for picnicking because it gives your children the option to eat, run around and play for a while, then come back for more later. Check out these recipes perfect for picnics to take your spread to the next level.
3. Packing it Up
When packing up your picnic spread, it’s important to make sure you don’t overload yourself but also consider what needs to be kept cold. Add a frozen bottle of water or two to your bag or cooler to help feel things cool. Bottled beverages and snacks for all of your picnic dates can get heavy, so bring along a cooler with wheels if possible. You can also carry the food in the kids’ lunch boxes and ask them to help. Here is where you’ll want to consider how far of a walk you’ll have from your parking space to your picnic spot and plan accordingly. Also, keep in mind you’ll want to pack delicate food items, like sandwiches and chips, on the top of your bag and heavier items, like drinks and tupperware, on the bottom.
4. Remembering the Essentials
Your picnic necessities will vary depending on where you’re picnicking, but somethings you’ll definitely need are a blanket to lounge on, sunscreen to avoid sunburns, and wipes for cleaning messy fingers. You may want to also consider bringing along bug spray, ointment for scrapes (in case they play a little too hard), and trash bags for when it’s time to clean up.
5. Inspiring Creativity
There may come a time in your picnic adventure that one or more kids are worn out and need a break from the sun. With any outdoor activity, it’s always a good idea to bring along books, puzzles, or something of the sort. You may also consider bringing coloring books, or just blank pieces of paper, and colored pencils. Many people are their most imaginative when they’re surrounded by nature, and this may be the perfect opportunity to inspire your child’s creativity. If your child loves to draw, write or create in anyway, check out Simply Stamps’ kids stamps so they can sign and date their creations.
6. Snapping Memories
The last thing you’ll want to forget when planning your family picnic is your camera! Take the opportunity to capture some candid or posed photos of all the kids enjoying the summer sunshine. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re adding gems to your family photo album.
Next time you find yourself wondering what to do during a long summer day, use these tips to plan the perfect picnic for you and your family! Summer is the perfect time to spend some quality time outdoors and soak up some vitamin D. You’re sure to have a fun-filled day you won’t soon forget.