Get Your House (and Family) Ready for a Summer Outing
Take the headache out of heading out for a day at the beach, park or creek with these prepare-ahead measures
Getting ready to go on a summer outing can take far longer than you expect when you have to pack everything you and the kids are likely to need for the day ahead. It pays to think ahead and have everything at the ready to make getting out of the house a streamlined process for young and old. And remember, when all else fails, it pays to be flexible and have a Plan B!
Plan for whatever may come
If you’re not really a planner and like to take it a day at a time during the summer holidays, there’s no need to change your nature. But this idea (courtesy of my neighbourly neighbour) will have you flying by the seat of your pants and feeling organised. When you’re getting breakfast ready in the morning, why not also pack an Esky or cooler bag full of food and drink for the day ahead? That way, whether you stay home or head out somewhere, you’re ready. And if you do end up staying home, you’re off the hook when it comes to food prep for the rest of the day – you deserve a holiday too, after all.
If you’re not really a planner and like to take it a day at a time during the summer holidays, there’s no need to change your nature. But this idea (courtesy of my neighbourly neighbour) will have you flying by the seat of your pants and feeling organised. When you’re getting breakfast ready in the morning, why not also pack an Esky or cooler bag full of food and drink for the day ahead? That way, whether you stay home or head out somewhere, you’re ready. And if you do end up staying home, you’re off the hook when it comes to food prep for the rest of the day – you deserve a holiday too, after all.
Head out early
The morning can slip by before you know it if you’re pottering around sorting out what to take, but heading out early (and by early, I mean before 8am) will mean you beat the traffic, find a great parking spot and avoid the hottest part of the day. Best of all, you’ll have time to make it home for an afternoon nanna nap (if you’re lucky) and the kids will be tired enough to crash out as well (if you’re twice as lucky).
The morning can slip by before you know it if you’re pottering around sorting out what to take, but heading out early (and by early, I mean before 8am) will mean you beat the traffic, find a great parking spot and avoid the hottest part of the day. Best of all, you’ll have time to make it home for an afternoon nanna nap (if you’re lucky) and the kids will be tired enough to crash out as well (if you’re twice as lucky).
Have a hydration station
Unless you want to hang the expense and buy everything you need to eat and drink while you’re out, taking plenty of water is a must. Freeze drink bottles the night before and pack one for each child – the less they find to argue about, the happier you’ll be.
Unless you want to hang the expense and buy everything you need to eat and drink while you’re out, taking plenty of water is a must. Freeze drink bottles the night before and pack one for each child – the less they find to argue about, the happier you’ll be.
Same goes for lunch
For sanity’s sake, make and freeze sandwiches the night before and pack them into a cooler bag with an ice pack just before you leave. The cost of summer outings can soon add up, especially when you’ve already forked out on admission fees for the zoo or parking at the beach.
When you only occasionally buy food during an outing, it will also seem like an extra special treat. We live nowhere near the beach, but for a special summer outing my partner and I sometimes trek to the beach with our two kids just as the sun’s setting for a swim … followed by fish and chips. I call it ‘the world’s most expensive’ fish and chips when I announce what we’re doing, just to make the event feel more special. And because I actually think it is the most expensive fish and chips in the world.
For sanity’s sake, make and freeze sandwiches the night before and pack them into a cooler bag with an ice pack just before you leave. The cost of summer outings can soon add up, especially when you’ve already forked out on admission fees for the zoo or parking at the beach.
When you only occasionally buy food during an outing, it will also seem like an extra special treat. We live nowhere near the beach, but for a special summer outing my partner and I sometimes trek to the beach with our two kids just as the sun’s setting for a swim … followed by fish and chips. I call it ‘the world’s most expensive’ fish and chips when I announce what we’re doing, just to make the event feel more special. And because I actually think it is the most expensive fish and chips in the world.
Wash and dry for next time
When you’re back from the beach, dry the towels on a verandah or the line, then roll up or stack the towels ready to go for the next outing. If they’re so salty they look and feel like cardboard, now is the time to wash them – not much fun grabbing your towel next time you’re on your way out the door only to find it’s uncomfortably scratchy and in need of a wash.
When you’re back from the beach, dry the towels on a verandah or the line, then roll up or stack the towels ready to go for the next outing. If they’re so salty they look and feel like cardboard, now is the time to wash them – not much fun grabbing your towel next time you’re on your way out the door only to find it’s uncomfortably scratchy and in need of a wash.
Fast-track the chores
If going to the beach or zoo (or Grandma’s house) is something your kids love to do, have them clean their room or get other time-saving chores done before you go as a condition for departure. If they need a little more encouragement to get up and moving on the chores, the wi-fi password and screen time can be valuable bargaining tools.
Read more: De-Stress Your Kids by Organising Your Home
If going to the beach or zoo (or Grandma’s house) is something your kids love to do, have them clean their room or get other time-saving chores done before you go as a condition for departure. If they need a little more encouragement to get up and moving on the chores, the wi-fi password and screen time can be valuable bargaining tools.
Read more: De-Stress Your Kids by Organising Your Home
Have outings at home
An outing doesn’t have to involve driving. It can be as simple as heading outdoors for the morning or afternoon. When the whole family’s onboard, and there’s shade, comfort and good food (not to mention a game of cricket or soccer to look forward to), your kids are likely to remember this over other more expensive and logistically challenging outings and even holidays away.
An outing doesn’t have to involve driving. It can be as simple as heading outdoors for the morning or afternoon. When the whole family’s onboard, and there’s shade, comfort and good food (not to mention a game of cricket or soccer to look forward to), your kids are likely to remember this over other more expensive and logistically challenging outings and even holidays away.
Think outside the square
The sun doesn’t shine every day during summer, so having some outdoorsy things you may not normally do up your sleeve can be handy to stave off boredom or disappointment. Go for a family trail ride on horseback on overcast days, bushwalk your way to a creek (kids of all ages will easily amuse themselves for the day throwing rocks, splashing about and building dams with sticks. If your teen is likely to need their own space at some point, be sure a book or two finds its way into their backpack – reading under the shade of a tree could be a refreshing change.
The sun doesn’t shine every day during summer, so having some outdoorsy things you may not normally do up your sleeve can be handy to stave off boredom or disappointment. Go for a family trail ride on horseback on overcast days, bushwalk your way to a creek (kids of all ages will easily amuse themselves for the day throwing rocks, splashing about and building dams with sticks. If your teen is likely to need their own space at some point, be sure a book or two finds its way into their backpack – reading under the shade of a tree could be a refreshing change.
When it rains…
Rainy days don’t have to stop you having an outing – if they’re not by the door, have umbrellas and gumboots in an easy-to-find place and go walking in the rain. An outing, no matter what the weather, is often necessary to keep those cobwebs at bay. Just make sure the boots and raincoats fit at the beginning of the summer holidays – too-short sleeves and cramped toes can make for last-minute disappointment. If you do find they’re too small, it’s time to get silly – put on some music and go dancing in the rain in the front or backyard instead. Laughter and exercise is a feel-good recipe that will stop kids (and you) going stir crazy even if you all spend the rest of the day indoors.
Rainy days don’t have to stop you having an outing – if they’re not by the door, have umbrellas and gumboots in an easy-to-find place and go walking in the rain. An outing, no matter what the weather, is often necessary to keep those cobwebs at bay. Just make sure the boots and raincoats fit at the beginning of the summer holidays – too-short sleeves and cramped toes can make for last-minute disappointment. If you do find they’re too small, it’s time to get silly – put on some music and go dancing in the rain in the front or backyard instead. Laughter and exercise is a feel-good recipe that will stop kids (and you) going stir crazy even if you all spend the rest of the day indoors.
Have a Plan B
If it’s really pouring outside, and no one is too keen to go out, replace the day you had planned with an out-of-the-ordinary day at home. Make it a baking day, an arts and crafts day or an outfit sewing day followed by a fashion parade. It can be too easy to turn on the TV and iPads and waste the day with everyone in front of screens. Not much family connection happening there.
YOUR SAY
How do you streamline your way out of the house for a family outing? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
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If it’s really pouring outside, and no one is too keen to go out, replace the day you had planned with an out-of-the-ordinary day at home. Make it a baking day, an arts and crafts day or an outfit sewing day followed by a fashion parade. It can be too easy to turn on the TV and iPads and waste the day with everyone in front of screens. Not much family connection happening there.
YOUR SAY
How do you streamline your way out of the house for a family outing? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
How to Keep Kids Entertained During the School Holidays
Strategies to Avoid Making a Fine Mess During the Christmas Holidays
The No-Nonsense Guide to Organising the Kids
Leave a pre-packed bag with essentials waiting by the door with sunscreen, wipes (I don’t care how old your kids are – you’re going to need them), hats and insect repellant. Let it live there all summer long instead of packing each of these items every time you go out.
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