Top 10 Picnic Tips for the Summer
With a little planning and a bit of good luck (can’t always rely on the great British weather!) you could have a really fun & (relatively) hassle free picnic. There is something for everyone at a picnic and it can be a lovely, exciting way to get the children involved too! Let them choose something each to take as a treat and also let them help you make sandwiches or cakes/biscuits to take. Whatever you decide, it can be a great interactive experience!
So here’s a few tried and tested picnic tips to help things go with a swing…
- If possible, before you go, choose a suitable venue/spot. Consider how far you will need to walk (children/grandma & grandpa) and how far you will need to carry everything!
- Don’t forget to pack a few key essentials such as wet wipes, kitchen roll/paper towel, hand sanitiser, rubbish bags, sun cream and insect repellent. But mainly don’t forget a big blanket to sit on!
- Make your own bug repellent by putting a few drops of essential peppermint oil into a small bottle and spray/drop it liberally around the edges of your picnic blanket to deter flies and ants (who apparently hate the smell of peppermint!)
- Disposable cutlery and paper plates are light to carry but involve too much waste. So, in the spirit of environmental consciousness, take your own plates & reusable glasses and help the environment!
- There’s nothing worse than lukewarm drinks, so fill a thermos flask with ice cubes and dispense as required!
- Similarly, freeze small bottles of water so everyone has a lovely chilled drink by the time you get there (on the journey, the bottles also act as very good coolers for the food).
- Lay all the food out at once so nothing is getting warm/going off/forgotten/melting in containers and will be eaten fresh. Let everyone pick and choose savoury or sweet first (and be relaxed about the children starting with something sweet!).
- If you are a large group of friends/family encourage everyone to bring a cushion each for a bit more comfort!
- To keep cups upright and not forever falling over on uneven ground, pack a muffin tray which will hold the cups for you (obviously check first that the cups you are taking fit!).
- Take something fun to do/play. Easy options are a ball or a Frisbee or why not teach everyone how to play charades!
Enjoy your day and make the most of being in the great outdoors!
