A Busy Mom’s Summer Go Bag – Tween Edition
Last Updated on November 1, 2015 by Jody Halsted
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Go Bag : the bag you keep packed for family outings.
I actually thought that once my girls were old enough to schlep their own stuff that I wouldn't need a ‘go bag'. I foolishly thought that the kids would carry the things they might need.
Then I found out 2 things:
- Their idea of what they might need at any given time is far different from mine. Far, far different…
- Kids take practically forever to gather items that you request they take. And when I'm ready to go, it means now…
Choosing your Summer Go Bag
I found that a big part of choosing a go bag was picking a bag that was not only functional, but one that my girls would carry. Because our outings can vary between biking and driving, I have 2 bags at the ready – the abundantly pocketed Zip Top Organizing Utility Tote and a backpack. They sit next to each other, one filled, and are easy to swap if needed.
Each bag is large enough to hold everything I deem necessary for our outing, plus a few extras. Each is easy to carry, and (most importantly) super cute!
What to Put in Your Tween Go Bag
Thankfully tweens require a lot less than younger children – but now I require a bit more as I don't have to keep an eye on them continuously.
These items live in my Summer Go Bag – I always know where they are if I need them and replace them when I'm done using.
1) First Aid – sunscreens, bug sprays, band-aids, and other first aid items. They are all in their own small caddy to keep them together and easy to access.
2) My wallet – I use a large wallet that can double as a clutch as I rarely use a purse in the summer. If I need to run to the store I just grab the wallet, tuck my phoone in it, and go.
3) A small thermal – kids always want food! To keep costs down while we're out, I pack small, healthy snacks like cheese sticks, trail mix, and fruit.
4) A speaker – this is especially useful on bike rides or picnics. I use Spotify on my phone and keep our favorite tunes downloaded to avoid streaming costs.
5) A magazine – a smart choice if we're someplace with water as kids really aren't that careful when they come back to beg for food. No point ruining your electronics!
6) Sundials Sunglasses – my eye doctor recently recommended that I wear ‘readers' for computer work and reading. But they aren't really great when reading outdoors! These adjustable lens sunglasses are perfect for poolside reading! I also love that they can adjust to see more clearly farther away and don't cost a fortune – in case you're the type to misplace sunglasses.
7) Portable charger – just in case tweeting, Instagramming & Facebooking drains my cell phone battery….
8) Kindle – as much as I love my tablet the back-lit screen is just really difficult to read in the sun. The basic Kindle
9) Notebook – my best ideas often come when I'm not actively thinking. So do my shopping and to-do lists…
Of course we will add other items depending on our activity, but I find that keeping these objects packed & ready helps us get out the door and on to the fun faster!
