Fall has officially started and we’re starting to enjoy the cooler mornings and all the seasonal activities. However, that also means that it’s the time of year where school, sports, and all other extracurriculars are in full swing. If you’re anything like me, this means you need all the help you can get making sure your kids are where they need to be, when they need to be there, and in a semi-good mood for the duration of the event.
If you have multiple kids, most of the time, little brothers or sisters are oftentimes forced to watch baseball, football, and soccer games for hours on end. My three-year-old has been at the ball field since she was one week old watching her older brother play, and before that, my middle son was in the same situation, watching our oldest compete in baseball tournaments and practicing for hours on end. As a parent, you don’t have a choice but to bring the smaller kids along. Over the years, I’ve learned that there are many things you can do/bring with you to ensure your little ones are entertained and happy. This can help you avoid the meltdowns and focus on your older kids’ sports.
Below are three essentials to keep younger siblings entertained and keep you, mama, from losing your mind while juggling multiple kids at the ball field:
1. Get yourself a good wagon
A good wagon is essential for carrying not only your younger children, but all of their belongings and toys, as well as sports equipment your older kids may need. We spent many years carrying chairs, toys, snacks, bat bags, and everything else you can think of before we acquired a good wagon to make our lives much easier and, trust me, your back will thank you. There are several options for all price ranges. We were gifted a new one this year and could not be happier with it.
2. Make sure you have ALL the snacks
Kids are hungry all of the time. It doesn’t matter if you fed them on the way to practice, five minutes later you’re going to be hearing, “Mom, I need a snack.” Not to mention, everything they see the other kids eating at the games, they are going to need the same thing. I have found you can’t go wrong with suckers, ring pops, and bubblegum. Other options are chips, fruit, yogurt, and applesauce. I’ve found the easiest way to avoid a hangry toddler is to ensure they have plenty of snack options. Stocking up on the essentials will ensure you have a much easier time while you’re trying to keep them occupied for multiple hours.
3. Don’t forget the toys
You don’t have to spend a fortune to have multiple options for your kids to stay busy at sporting events. In fact, the Dollar Tree will be your best friend, especially since most of the toys you bring to practice or games will go missing or somehow get broken while you’re watching your older kid at bat. Some items you can get for a very cheap price to keep the little ones entertained are play doh, coloring books, crayons, small notepads, bubbles, and stickers. These are not only fun, but also things they can share with their friends and ensure everyone is having a great time.
