If you’re a mom, you know that any simple task becomes a challenge when kids are in the picture. Since summer is upon us I thought of making a little cheat sheet with tips and tricks to plan a picnic with your young kids without going insane.
Place
It all begins with choosing the setting. Honestly, a picnic in the front yard can be challenging enough, let alone driving to a neighborhood park. Essentially, you want to pick a place where you’ll have enough space to spread around and that has a decent playground so you can have a breather while kids play. Ideally, look for playgrounds with either picnic table close by or grass patches close by so you are able to watch your kids without having to leave the picnic area.
Time
Parks get easily crowded during the summer, plus, depending on where you live, it can get quite hot. Consider a brunch picnic, something like mid-morning when the sun hasn’t torched up yet and parks aren’t as full yet either. Alternatively, late afternoon can also be nice depending on age and bedtime for your kids.
Food
Keep it simple. Kids don’t need much. Look for options that you can pack in tupperware and that can scramble so you’re not too concerned about how you position them in your bag.
- Fruit, preferably the less messy ones like tangerines, grapes, berries, bananas
- Crackers, pretzels
- Cheese
- Nuts
- Cookies
- Mini sandwiches
And if you’re feeling creative, here are some cute ideas to explore:
Packing
When it comes to kids, I like to be prepared. Here’s a list of items you should consider bringing in your picnic basket or bag:
- Insulated containers or bag: if it’s warm, you don’t food to go bad or get soggy
- Waterproof blanket: easier to clean
- Trash bags: it’ll save you from having to walk to the trash can every 2min
- Paper towels and wipes: spills will happen
- Bug repellent and mesh food covers: it’s that time of the year
- Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses: never underestimate the summer sun or fog.
