Planning a Memorable Family Picnic
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Planning a picnic is an occassion that the entire family should join in on. Because you want the day to be successful, everyone’s contributions are vital. If you have kids, don’t forget to pack items for fun and in case of emergencies.

Let’s start with safety. No matter what the venue for the picnic, kids will be kids and accidents can happen. Take along a first aid kit for any bumps, scrapes, or bug bites. A first aid kit can come in handy for the rest of the group.

If the picnic is later in the afternoon or early evening, flashlights are a a great idea. They keep older children from getting lost and can be used by the younger ones to play a variety of games. Some extra light will keep you from forgetting any of your stuff when packing up to go home.

If you are near the woods or at the beach, bring sun and bug protection along. Everyone should protect themselves from sun damage no matter how old or young they are. Waterproof sun block is less likely to wash off even, soap supplies, when kids sweat during play.

Bug spray keeps mosquitoes away in the late evening. When possible, take sun visors or ball caps to keep the sun off of small faces. You can purchase inexpensive visors and caps at your local craft store and adorn them prior to you family picnics.

Sticky hands are a fact of life with kids. To keep their hands clean between eating and play, invest in some moist towelettes. A box of cleansing wipes will work wonders to keep hands and fingernails free of dirt and germs when soap and water is hard to come by.

Look at the box to see if the wipes are gentle enough to be used on the face.

Remember blankets and toys. Kids may want to sit in the grass and play. A waterproof blanket gives them a comfortable place to sit and play with their toys where you can monitor them. Sitting directly in the grass can make the skin itchy. If you live in an area where ticks are a problem, playing in the grass is not a good idea.

Since children can bore rather easy, bring a variety of things for them to do. Kids who don’t want to run around often enjoy board games.

You’d be surprised at how a game of Scrabbleฎ or Monopolyฎ can pass the time. Older children can ride bikes or roller skate if you are in a park or an area with trails.

Little Ones love to picnic. Great food and great times can occupy a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Packing a few choice supplies can keep your picnic an enjoyable family occassion.