Mom Hacks: Summer Adventure Packing Hacks with Kids

I started putting together a post of just beach hacks and realized that so many of these work for any kind of summer adventure with kids. As a mom of 3 little kids (right now they’re ages 3, 5, and 8!), I know fully that if you don’t have systems in place and packing hacks, you will 100% forget something when you’re headed out of the house. No matter what kind of summer activities you’re planning, let’s get you fully prepared!

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Summer packing hacks for daily adventures

The Dedicated “Go-Bag”: Keep a pre-packed tote by the door with summer non-perishables: sunscreen, bug spray, a mini first-aid kit, and wipes. You only ever have to add food, water, and the kids. My “go bag” is a canvas tote with my initials on it. The kids know that if they need something, it has to go in “the lobster bag”!
The Ziploc Outfit Roll: Pack each kid’s spare outfit (shirt, bottoms, underwear) in a single gallon Ziploc bag and roll it tightly. It saves space, and when their clothes inevitably get soaked or muddy, the wet items go right back into the empty Ziploc. These stay in the trunk of the car as a “just in case” spare.
Frozen Water Bottle Trick: Fill water bottles halfway and freeze them on their sides. Top them off with water right before you leave. The ice will slowly melt, giving you ice-cold water all day long.
Makeup Brush Sunscreen: Buy a cheap makeup brush or beauty blender specifically for applying face sunscreen on toddlers. It keeps your hands clean, applies evenly, and kids usually tolerate the feeling much better than hands.
The Fitted Sheet Playpen: Bring an old fitted sheet to the beach or park. Place your cooler and heavy bags in the four corners to keep the sides propped up. It creates a sand-free, bug-free zone for the little ones to sit and eat.
Cornstarch/Baby Powder for Sand: Keep a travel bottle of cornstarch or baby powder in your car. Rubbing it on sandy legs and feet instantly removes the moisture, making the wet sand brush right off before they climb into their car seats.
The “One-In, One-Out” Rule: When you get home, do not put the pool/beach bag down. Immediately pull out the wet suits, trash, and empty containers. Wet suits and towels go right to the laundry room to be washed. Empty containers go into the dishwasher, and I put trash in the trash can. Restock the non-perishables instantly so it’s ready for the next day.

If you’re looking for more family adventure content, head over to my Family Travel hub page!

The snack pantry

The “Drive-Up” Buffer: Keep a running cart in your Target app. The absolute second you finish the second-to-last box of a staple snack, add it to the cart. Check out once a week and grab it via Drive Up. I also use same-day delivery on the Target app because it’s very convenient! I find most groceries to be the same price as our “cheap” grocery store.
Subscription Autopilot: For the heavy, non-perishable staples your kids go through constantly, set up automated deliveries (like Amazon Subscribe & Save). Let the logistics handle themselves.
Two-Tiered Snack Bins: Keep a “help yourself” bin at eye-level for the kids with pre-approved snacks. Keep a separate stash on a higher shelf for those “treat” type snacks, like gummy fruit snacks or Cheetos.
Decant for Visibility: Take snacks out of bulky cardboard boxes the minute you bring them home and put them in clear acrylic bins. (These are the acrylic bins I use in our pantry.) You can instantly see your inventory levels with a quick glance. The kids know what goes where for the snacks we refill all of the time, so they can tell me what we’re running low on. (Especially if we have friends over or they decide to give snacks to every kid in the neighborhood!)

General Mom-Life logistics for being prepared for summer adventures with the kids

Dog Poop Bags Everywhere: Keep rolls of pet waste bags in your purse, the diaper bag, the trunk, and the stroller. They are the absolute best impromptu trash bags for sticky wrappers, dirty diapers, or wet bathing suits on the go. I keep a roll in the console of my car, and when we have snack wrappers, lollipop sticks, and loose snacks I can just throw it all in one bag and dispose of it. (Keep the bag holder attached to the strap of your canvas bag, and you’ll always have them ready!)
The Permanent Trunk Caddy: Keep a rigid organizer in your trunk all summer. Stock it with a couple of spare towels, an extra pack of baby wipes, an umbrella, and a roll of paper towels. I also keep a bottle of sunscreen and a box of bandaids in here just in case!
Shoe Drop-Zone Baskets: Have a specific basket by the door dedicated strictly to summer shoes (sandals, water shoes). Move all winter shoes into storage. I find that this prevents the chaotic five-minute hunt for the missing left sandal when you are already running late. In our home we have a mudroom and each child has a cubby for their shoes. They know that if they take their shoes off on the porch or in the backyard, they still need to move their shoes back to their cubby.
Assigned Water Bottles for the Kids: All of our water bottles are labeled anyway because of school, but in the mornings I will take out three water bottles, fill them, and put them on the edge of the counter closest to our mudroom. The kids are responsible for grabbing their assigned water bottle and making sure it gets into the cup holder of their seat in the car! (These are our favorite leak-proof water bottles for kids!)