Making It Work for a Day Away

We have been spending a lot of time at the ball fields this summer, which means I have to be mentally prepared to keep siblings occupied on the sidelines. Some evenings we scrape by with almost no patience on my part and other times my children do great and only ever whine when it is time to go home despite already being out an hour past bedtime.

I do not have a super organized strategy, but I have found some things that help make long games and tournament days more enjoyable for my kiddos who have to be fans, instead of players.

Get Comfortable

Hot weather and hunger can tank us all, but especially brothers and sisters who have to be on-site because a sibling has a double-header. I always have sunscreen and bug spray, but I have also gotten much better about packing a tiny cooler filled with extra drinks and snacks. No matter if we are at the ball fields for an hour or all day, we need a refreshments cooler. My kids go ballistic for the flavored Nestle waters or Powerades. If I tuck them into a snack pack for their discovery it is like parenting gold.

Shade is a hot commodity. My husband and I have one of those huge canopy tents. They are great for tailgating, but ended up being a huge headache the last time I dragged it out for a series of softball and t-ball games. It is too big and I had to slope it at an angle to get the grass shaded adequately for my little ones. A friend of mine had a portable and low to the ground umbrella/canopy called a Sport-Brella, and I copied her immediately and went and bought one. It has been the answer to my discomfort prayers. Its easy to carry, haul, and set-up.

The older kiddos like it because it gives them a spot to sprawl out and read a book or listen to music. The Sport-Brella also gives my children (and me) a nice designated area of space at a busy ball field. I have set it up on grass and cement, and both times it worked well for my family. For some reason, this low to the ground umbrella has its own invisible force field that keep strangers away and my kids nearby. Win for all!

Get Dirty

I usually discourage my kids away from puddles, mud, and dirt piles. However, there is always dust and sand available at ball parks. I have let my guard down enough lately to allow my children to get messy , so that I can actually try to glimpse my older daughter hitting or making a play in the field.

My four-year-old son’s friend had mud gloves the other day, which meant he and my little guy made mud pies near the dugout for a good three innings. The gloves were great, but eventually my son just got all other parts of his body dirty and it was okay. He was happy and he was safe and he was taking a shower the moment he got home anyway. It was a great night, and I learned to chill out a bit. Again, another parenting win.

Get Your Own Entertainment

My daughters love to feel responsible and help with the planning process, and my older son is starting to catch on to this fun routine. For years I have let my older two kids pack little bags of fun when we go to basketball games, the ball fields, church, an extra curricular activity, etc. I tell them no screens and my kids usually get creative with their packing. I make sure they do not over pack and mandate the rule that they are responsible for carrying their bag at all times.

Typically craft items get packed or Shopkins. Usually a card game (UNO is a fave right now) and some blank notebooks get thrown in the bag, along with a chapter book and fun hair stuff. My son is good about bringing race cars and maybe a super hero figurine. The bags change all of the time, but often lead to a congregation of kids checking out the stash of goodies. My children like the attention and I enjoy getting to watch the actual game being played.

It is hard to parent the sidelines and simultaneously try to be a spectator. These ideas do not always keep the attention spans in check, but they do help a lot when it comes to family.

How do you keep siblings occupied while a brother or sister is participating in an extra curricular activity?