Everyone looks forward to a beach day—spending endless hours playing in the sand, collecting seashells, and splashing around in the water. It's a day to just let your mind go, forget about your work stress and focus on family-fun.
To make your life hectic-free when packing for the beach, use this cheat sheet to make sure you're good to go.
More: 4 Beach Activities to Do With Your Family
Designate a Beach Bag
First, have a designated beach bag that you don't mind getting dirty. Make sure it's big enough to fit all of your beach essentials and is easy for you to carry. Keep your bag packed with the items listed below during beach season so you're ready to go at all times.
Sunscreen
You hear it a thousand times over and over: Wear sunscreen. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Make sure to protect your kids, and yourself, with sunscreen. Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and UVA and UVB protection. Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before sun exposure, and don't forget to reapply!
More: Sunscreen 101: Understand What the Labels Mean
Hats
Hats help protect your scalp, ears and face. Although kids love baseball caps, they don't protect the ears. Try to find hats that shade all areas to help prevent any sun burns. If your kids only want to wear a baseball hat, then make sure to put sunscreen on their ears, and reapply.
Sunglasses
Did you know UV-ray exposure to the eyes can lead to cataracts later in life? It's so easy to protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses. Double check that the sunglasses you wear have both UVA and UVB protection.
More: 6 Tips for Staying Safe in the Sun
Sand Toys
Keep your kids occupied at the beach with shovels and pails. Let them explore their creativity and build sandcastles. Or, they can try digging to China.
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