That doesn’t make sense does it? The words planning and spontaneous aren’t supposed to go together at all but they do, they really do!
I have a bag that I keep in the back of the car in the Summer which is filled with things that mean I can say YES when they want to do things – let me explain how we’re prepared for Summer with our Summer bag!
The first things in our Summer bag are two old towels which mean that the kids are free to paddle in the sea if we have a trip to the beach or we decide to stop off there on the way home from somewhere. In the past I might have said no because wet children on a journey home does not make a happy journey for any of us.
For the same reason, there’s also a change of clothes in the bag. Nothing flash, just a pair of shorts and a top each along with a pair of socks for Master Frugal as he moans like an old woman if he has to wear wet socks or socks with sand in them.
There’s sun tan lotion in there too as they burn so easily and if I didn’t have it with me then there wouldn’t be much spontaneous fun going on if the sun was shining. I also have a hat each for them in there even though it’s a battle to get them to wear them.
There’s a football and a tennis ball in there because you can have so much fun with just a ball and a huge picnic blanket as well so we’ve got somewhere to sit while the kids are playing.
And to finish it off, there’s a little purse with £5 in change for parking and ice cream if we do decide to stop somewhere on the spur of the moment and I don’t have any change.
In the past our Summer bag has included things like a frisbee and daft bits and bobs that I picked up at the pound shop who do a great variety of outdoor toys but these days we just need a couple of bits and bobs to play with. If I know we’re going somewhere specific then I might add in other bits like our badminton rackets but for the most part, I just leave the Summer Bag in the back of the car for the Summer (making sure the towels are clean and the money is topped up obviously ;-))
Having a Summer bag means that I have what we need handy for spur of the moment activities and I don’t forget things or have to say no to doing things while we’re out!
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I love your idea of planning for spontaneous fun! Such clever thinking.
I have started gathering things for our summer bag that I keep in my boot. it has swim stuff, towels, sun cream, hats, ball and wipes.
I do think that being organised is the key to having that space for unplanned fun! Great tips!
What a great idea, I've never thought of doing this it really makes sense. I always pack little things I might need unexpectedly in my bag so why not a bigger bag for the car.
Do you know I was just thinking earlier we should have the same kind of bag in our car. Summer is definitely here in Bavaria and it's not unusual to have a lake swimming get together after school. You have inspired me to get a bag ready! 🙂
We always have a few spare bits in the car too: change of clothes, wipes and first aid kit.
What a fantastic idea! Getting together a bag of bits each time we go off for the day is really tedious – and I always forget something. This is much more sensible.
I love this idea!
I'm always saying we should keep a spare pair of socks in the car because Ruby's the same if she gets wet feet, but the whole summer bag sounds great!
Such a great idea, I may have to pack a Summer bag!
I really like this idea! I’m going to do this too, thanks x
I remember having a bag in the car over summer too, and even though my kids are now growing up I still keep sun cream in the car and a £10 in my phone wallet 'just in case'. You can be spontaneous without planning but add the planning and the spontaneous trip is more enjoyable.
I think that is such a great idea and so simple. We are often caught without things when we are about and about so a summer bag is a brilliant idea.