Vacation ideas for children under the age of three? Beaches!

Always remember KISS. Keep It Simple S_____! Vacations with children under the age of three should always be simple. And I can not think of anything simpler than spending time at the beach.

Children love the beach.

Walks in the water, splashing, sitting in the waves, running through tidepools.

Digging in the sand, building sand castles, filling holes with water, carrying sand in buckets, 'drawing' in the sand, and burying our legs.

Collecting sea shells (or driftwood), playing games with balls, and maybe a night campfire (check local laws).

Many things can make a week or even just a few days at the beach a wonderful time for young children, and their parents. Don't try to do too much, but play games at night before bedtime.

To make the vacation great remember to bring:

1. Sun tan lotion - use it liberally. Also - play on the beach early in the morning and later afternoon. Use the midday for naps (long are great) and having the kids help with very simple lunches.

2. Toys - like pails, balls, shovels, scoops, hand rakes, plastic toys that can shape sand for sand castles. Make sure the toys are plastic.

3. Chairs and an umbrella for shade.

4. Nets for collecting things. Simple books to read about the beach, ocean animals, fish, and similar topics.

5. Games for the evenings and indoor times.

6. Bring a first aid kit with bandages and creams. Lotions such as aloe vera can help with chafing from swimsuits. I recommend wearing the swimsuits wet for a period every day for over a week before the vacation.

Most importantly - keep it simple and have fun.