Fun In The Sun
At the local swim park, while splashing next to another mother (bikini swimsuit, flat tummy, no visible stretch marks—totally unfair) and her bambino, a silver flash caught my eye. I looked over to see her slathering sunscreen on her wee wiggly one. Since anything sparkly or shiny requires a second look, I peered more closely at the bottle of sunscreen she was holding. Is it possible? SPF 70! As one of those mommies who worries about absolutely everything from global warming to deterioration of the ozone layer, shrinking rain forests and artificial sweeteners, it seemed providential that here, just inches from my grasping fingers, was the mother of all sunscreens. I immediately struck up a conversation, hoping my friendly and approving tones would persuade her to share the source of her secret potion with me. Turns out her mother-in-law gave it to her (apparently convinced that a young, slim yet shapely mother of an infant was not capable of even remembering to use sunscreen). She then squirted a dollop into my hand to slather on my own little mermaid. One more secret from the Mommy Club to add to my growing list.

Since warm/hot/humid weather is upon us and we are all in various stages of entertaining the kiddies, I thought I would share some of the oh-so-useful tips I have learned to make summer with the fam that much more enjoyable.

Beach outings...

Whether at the lake or on the coast, a beach trip is a winner for children of all ages, and proper preparation is a must to insure that everyone has a fantastic time. A good rule of thumb is to keep your beach tote packed with the basic necessities and ready to go at all times. When an impromptu day in the sun calls, just snatch up the tote, grab some snacks and head out the door with no worries! Fill your tote with these basics:

1. Oversized beach towel—big enough to lie on as well as spread out your beach paraphernalia. A really great idea I learned way back in my pre-mommy bikini-wearing sun-worshiping days is to bring along a double or queen size flat sheet to spread over the sand. THEN put beach towels or blankets on top of the sheet. Sand shakes right off a tightly woven cotton sheet, unlike fluffy blankets and towels which tend to shed sand for the rest of their useful lives
2.Sunscreen. An absolute MUST for any outdoor activity. Always use an SPF 30 or higher for any extended exposure to the sun. Luckily it comes in so many different forms: stick, spray, lotion, gel and my absolute fave—the sunscreen wipe—you're sure to find one that works best for you and your little sun bunnies.
3. Baby powder. Sprinkle baby powder (with cornstarch) on the sandy extremities of your little one and the sand magically brushes right off! No more sandy feet, hands and tushies. This trick, (learned from a surfer dude in said past life) will save you hours of kid and car cleanup.
4. Wet wipes. Keep an antibacterial travel-size container on hand for quick hand and face cleanup. Perfect for snack-time and bathroom breaks.

Other beach must-haves:

Sand toys. So many to choose from! Keep the wee ones entertained by taking along all the tools they need to build a fabulous sand castle or perhaps a sand excavation. For the collector, these mesh shell bags are wonderful for gathering beach treasures and keeping them safe (and free from sand).

Travel cooler. This traveler is perfect for water bottles (hydration is a MUST), juice boxes and take-along snacks. An added bonus is the built-in radio for great beach tune listening.

Beach umbrella. It's always a good idea to have a little shade handy, especially if you are toting tiny tots with you to the shore. And don't forget the sun hat!

Fun in the Sun—At Home

Since not every day can be a day at the beach, here are a few sure-fire ways to make your yard the most happening place in town.

1. For the babes. The fun age of filling things up and then emptying them out has begun. For some reason most babies never tire of this game. A sand and water wheel can intrigue your tiny tot for hours—while you sit nearby with a tall icy lemonade and a juicy novel.
2. For the terribly energetic toddler. Turn your little one loose with the Little Tykes Beach Ball Sprinkler. One of the summer's hottest ticket items. They will have hours of fun rolling, splashing and cooling off.
3. Kids 5 and over. Super Spiral Sprinkler is a combination sprinkler and water-ball game that challenges and entertains kids of all ages.

Too hot/humid to be outside...

Some days are just not made for outdoor play, but never fear, there are plenty of ways to entertain the troops within the walls of your own home sweet (air conditioned) home. Tiny tots will be entertained and stimulated through classical music and everyday objects in the Baby Einstein series of DVD's and videos. Baby Neptune is a particular favorite, all about water activities and the beach. For toddlers and older kids, set up a movie theater in your family room. Have them make tickets out of construction paper. Set up a concession stand with paper cups full of popcorn, fresh fruit and other nibbles, pick up a great family flick and enjoy an afternoon at the movies!

Keep a storage bin full of art supplies on hand and let your children use their imaginations to create summer memories. Nature's Art Box is full of great ideas for projects to do with your kids, and you can find a creative use for all the seashells, leaves and rocks they have collected. We recently discovered Bits and Pieces , a wonderful source for jigsaw puzzles, games and other novelty items to stimulate your child's imagination and creativity.

What ever this summer brings, remember to take the time to enjoy being with your child. Our little ones grow so quickly; treasure each and every moment with them and make happy and lasting memories.