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Simplifying Family Life

Summer time means family fun in the sun and water for elated-to-be-free kids and parents everywhere.

Every time the thermometer approaches 90, we know the kids will be begging to go for a swim. And we will - whenever possible, of course - most likely agree.

So why not be prepared for life's little family joys like a spur-of-the-moment trip to the beach or a moonlight swim at the community pool?

Make your life simpler (not to mention more fun) and increase pool or beach time by having a bag (actually, a couple of bags - families rarely travel light) ready to rock so you can roll at a moment's notice.

Here's what you'll need for a day at the beach or pool:

• Grown-up bag: sunglasses, hat or baseball cap, sunscreen (SPF 30), cover up, thongs or flip-flops, swimsuit, towel, lip balm (SPF 30), water-resistant watch, a good book or magazine and a zip-close bag inside which to safely stash cash and a cell phone. Toss in a spare bag, too, for wet suits and towels to ride in on the way home.

Each of the kids has a duffle bag of his or her own, two. These could include:

• Preteen- or teen's bag: change of clothes, goggles, swimsuit, brush (required equipment!), hat, towel, visor, cell phone (hopefully she won't forget her earbuds), Frisbee, and a good read for just hanging out.

• Preschool and school age kid's bag: change of clothes, bathing suit, hat, goggles, shovel and towel (plus an extra towel to cover up with for naptime). Water resistant toys that don't make noise (this latter part is very important).

By keeping water bags packed, you can be on the way to the beach or pool within minutes of someone suggesting it.

Suggested Reading

Gardening With Kids. How to get growing with kids in your backyard.

Tips for Sharing Bedrooms. Simple tips for keeping the peace when siblings sharing sleeping spaces.

How to Organize Your Preschooler's Toys. If the dinosaurs are taking over the place, here's how to regain control of your child's overflowing toy collection.

10 Steps to a Cleaner Home Create a cleaner home in the future by putting these 10 steps into play. You'll find by creating simple systems for what comes in and goes out of your home, you'll spend less time cleaning.

Gearing Up for a Cleaning Affair You didn't mess up the house yourself. There's no reason you be the only one with mop and bucket in hand. Here's how to enlist a houseful of volunteers to help with the weekly chores.

10 Rules for a Road Trip Before you hit the road with the kids this holiday season, lay these ground rules to ensure a smooth ride ahead.

Car Tripping with A Pet Sounds lovely, right? Except when Fluffy gets beneath the gas pedal or Rover does the seat high jump. Before things get wild on the road, consider these rules for pets.

10 Rules for a Successful Slumber Party If the troops are heading to your home for the slumber party, these 10 rules will help keep a potentially wild night under control.

3 Fun Car Games Family road trip on your schedule? Here are three fun games to try that will help make time fly.

Essential Carpool Rules They're a great time-saver and less our carbon footprint in the process. Here are rules to consider implementing to ensure a smooth ride ahead.

Carpool Survival Tips Being part of a carpool sounds simple enough. But stuff happens, people flake - and things can quickly spiral out of control. Here's your survival guide.

Are Weekly Meetings a Good Idea? Everyone thinks meetings are a good idea - for someone else's family. If your home should have a revolving door, and you often find misfires in everyone's schedule, there are plenty of good reasons to consider adding one to your schedule.

Motivating Kids To Clean Of course they resist. They're kids. But you needn't resort to punishments or raising your voice to get them to pitch in around the house. These tips to motivating kids can help get the jobs done - without whining.

Divvying Up The Chores How many chores per kid given his or her age? What if you have five kids - or just one? The methodology is the same. It has to be fair and age appropriate.

Surviving a Trip to Grandma's House It will lovely to see your parents. But, you're not a child anymore and in fact, have your own. Here's how to keep the peace and your sanity when going home to mom (or dad).

Keeping a sense of humor about life with kids is essential to keeping both your sanity and your home life in check. Need a little levity today? Check out a few of the fun rhyming poems at VeryFunnyPoems.com today!

For more great information, check out FamilyABC.net.

About the Author

Tara Aronson is a native Californian. Having grown up in San Diego, she studied journalism and Spanish to pursue a career in newspaper writing. Tara, whose three children - Chris, Lyndsay, and Payne - are the light of her life, now lives and writes in Los Angeles. She also regularly appears on television news programs throughout the U.S.