Preparing For An Outing

When preparing for an outing with your children, there are a few must-haves and must-DOs. Here is my short list, yours will vary a little or 150% ... this is what works for us.

Must-Do:

1) Make sure everyone goes to the bathroom immediately before departure.

2) Everyone has eaten a big meal within an hour of leaving.

3) Schedule car rides around nap time or AS nap time.

4) Have devices charged (whatever you take pictures/get directions with).

5) Mentally prepare the kids for your trip. Let them know what to expect. The bigs will get it, the toddlers not as much. But everyone does better when they have the information they need to succeed.

6) Mentally prepare yourself. Know your children and their hot buttons and try to steer away from those. You may want to card sheep wool for an hour and make your own yarn, Johnny may want to play with the crossbow instead.

Must-Haves:

1) Waterbottles: We bring one per person because no one can share.

2) Snacks: Typically 3 items per person. ie: Cheese stick, baggy of grapes, baggy of crackers - in disposable containers.

3) Stroller for babies/crabby toddlers and the occasional uncooperative grade-schooler. We use this one because it's small, cheap, and if it breaks I'll toss it in/near a trashcan and not worry about it. Ours was like $9 at Target about 10 years ago.

4) Sunscreen/Bug spray: Always, even in the dead of winter. We use Wyndmere Naturals - created and produced right here in the West Metro and sourced from all over the globe.

5) A movie for the ride, but only if the ride is 2hrs or longer.

6) A 1st Aid Kit (band-aids, $60 cash, wipes, kleenex)

7) Medicines: epi-pen, tylenol (adult), suppository tylenol (or regular oral if they'll take it. We have febrile seizures in our family so this is a must).

8) Device chargers: Phone/tablet, camera.

Above all, a positive attitude is a must. This is, unfortunately, often times the most difficult thing to bring/maintain for everyone. Know your limits, plan meals/snacks accordingly, and know when to call it quits.

What would you suggest?