10 fun ideas for a simple picnic

Summer Picnic

Did you know August is National Picnic Month?

The kids are itching to be outside all day long, so why not pack a lunch and head to the park for a simple but splendid picnic with your family? Whether you’re an on-a-schedule type mom or the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants mom, picnics are an excellent way to get some fresh air. Check out these 10 picnic-pleasing tips for your next outing with the family.

1. Picnic Basket Get yourself a cute picnic basket that’s big enough for the entire family. Be sure to buy one that has a separate compartment for cold drinks and enough pockets for all of those yummy snacks.
2. Snacks Grab snacks that are easy to pack such as carrot sticks, crackers, cheese cubes and raisins. Kids like finger foods that can be easily eaten without the mess. Pack each snack in individual snack bags or small containers to keep them from getting jumbled together. (Remember to pack containers that are easy to tote home for cleaning – you don’t want to leave behind a messy park!)
3. Drinks Individual juice boxes or sippy cups filled with your kids’ favorite drinks are perfect for keeping your kids hydrated outside. Put ice packs on top of the drinks to keep them nice and cold until you reach your destination.
4. Lunch This is the best part about the picnic! Kids love simple sandwiches like peanut butter and jelly, turkey and cheese or cucumber and mayonnaise. Get creative and use a character themed sandwich cutter to shape your child’s sandwich into a favorite cartoon friend. It will be a great surprise to your little one when you hand over his lunch.
5. Dessert Okay, this is really the best part. Let’s be real. Chocolate chip cookies or anything chocolate can get pretty messy under the sun. It’s better to keep it simple and pack desserts that your kids can eat with no fuss involved. Think teddy grahams, fruit snacks or fresh fruit.
6. Play-Up on S’mores Julie Wages, mother of two grown children, offers this tasty treat advice: “We would take our little ones from church on a picnic and we would cheat and use chocolate graham crackers and marshmallow cream instead of s’mores. Just put the cream in a Dixie cup and give them the sticks of graham crackers to dip! A lot less mess!”
7. Play it Safe Nothing ruins a picnic like bug bits and sunburns. Remember to slather on sunscreen and bug repellant before the festivities begin in order to keep your family’s skin healthy and safe.
8. Games What’s a picnic without some fun? Think simple. Bubbles, kites and books are great things to bring along for an after lunch activity. Also try games and activities that engage kids with the outdoors. Birdwatching, bug-hunting and rock collecting are all fun activities for a picnic.
9. Always Bring Extra When Theresa Jones, mother of two, goes on a picnic with friends, she says she always packs extra snacks. “If we are meeting friends – kids always want what the other has.” She also plays it safe by asking if anyone has allergies. “Our son’s friend has a nut allergy so we don’t do peanut butter and jelly.”
10. Wrap It Up Bring a fun, comfy blanket to set up shop. Take it up a notch and think recycling. Use reusable sandwich bags and sippy cups from home. Roll up the blanket when you’re all done and stow it in your basket for an easy transport back to the car. Don’t forget the baby wipes. No matter what the ages of your kids, wipes are and always will be “mom’s best friend.”

Meagan Ruffing is a stay-at-home mom to Dylan  and Hannah. She is a parenting freelance writer who looks forward to countless picnics this summer with her family.

Where to go 

Mendon Ponds Park • 95 Douglas Road, Honeoye Falls, NY • Monroe County’s largest park boasts 2,500 acres of woodlands, ponds and wetlands which have earned this park recognition on the National Registry of Natural Landmarks. 

Cobbs Hill Park • Culver Rd. and Norris Dr. • With a great view of the city, your family will enjoy the stunning Rochester skyline.

Ontario Beach Park • 4800 Lake Ave • A consistent winner of our Family Favorite Awards! Take a stroll along its picturesque pier, ride the 1905 Dentzel menagerie carousel, go for a swim, enjoy a day of boating – this park provides all that’s necessary for a perfect summer day at the beach.

Highland Park • 450 Highland Ave • It’s not just for lilacs! Enjoy a stroll through the park’s many paths while you munch on sandwiches. 

Durand Eastman Park and Beach • 1200 Kings Highway • As the weather heats up this is the spot to be! With 5,000 feet of waterfront, this spot is perfect for a hot afternoon.

Maplewood Park and Rose Garden • Maplewood Drive at Seneca Parkway • Stop and smell the roses! This scenic park features more than 3,000 rose bushes that burst to life in early June.