Being a mom of a 6 and almost 10-year-old I am well-versed in the world of sports and activities. I remember the time when I just couldn't wait till they were old enough to play on a team and find something they love to do. Ages 1 to 3 seemed to last forever but since my oldest son was 3 years old that's what we've been doing – finding their “thing”. We've done t-ball, karate, soccer, basketball, chess, piano, and swimming.
Some things were out the door almost as quickly as they came in like piano, karate, and basketball. Neither of my kids liked the yelling aspect of karate despite how much they love to pretend to be ninjas and just didn't take to the others.
My oldest found his love quite fast. As soon as he started t-ball we knew it was going to be his sport. He just had a knack for it and heck had been in training practically his whole life. He was always throwing everything around the house and loved to play the mommy go fetch game when he was little. He's now been playing baseball for almost 6 years straight and couldn't be happier. You know that means I've been to a TON of baseball games. Here are some of my must-have items for getting through any outdoor sport.
Snacks and Drinks
Snacks and drinks are a must especially if you have younger children watching the game too. I use to pack a ton of snacks just to keep my little one busy for a bit. Food is always a good distraction.
As for drinks, water is the best for those on the sidelines and playing unless you have some E-hydrate Protein On-the-Go pouches or drink mixes. Mom's Meet introduced me to E-hydrate and I have to say it boasts more benefits than water.
E-hydrate provides kosher hydration and nutrition products for both kids and adults that do not contain artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives. The drink mixes come in great flavors and give children an extra boost in immunity. That's something they all need while rolling around in the dirt outside. All with zero grams of sugar (sweetened with natural Stevia leaf extract), 15 calories, and only 1 carb!
The drink packets (10 for $9.99) give the water a nice flavor that almost has a carbonation effect to it. After pouring in your drink mix make sure to get the cap back on the bottle quickly. It fizzes and expands quite fast. E-hydrate KIDS Hydration Drink Mixes do not contain caffeine but do have more electrolytes than leading sports drinks. We don't need them too jittery while playing sports anyway plus if they do need extra energy E-hydrate KIDS Protein On-the-Go pouches can take care of that.
Adults get a boost of energy with their hydration to help keep those peepers focused on every move of the game even those that aren't nail-biters. Those four calories and 40mg of caffeine help a ton in early morning games too.
KIDS Protein On-the-Go pouches provide extra protein (10G) and electrolytes to help keep your kids energize, recover faster, and hydrate from being active in the great outdoors. They are great for when you are slammed with back to back games and can't get in lunch (70 calories). Super convenient too. You just pour water into the ready to mix pouch and you have an instant protein drink in seconds! The adult Protein On-the-Go pouches ($3.49 or three for $11.49) provide 25 grams of natural protein, 4 grams of sugar, with only 150 calories per drink. All the fuel you need to keep sweating it out cheering on your favorite player.
Sun Protection
Living in Texas, you can't get enough sun protection when you are outdoors. I like to keep a couple different kinds of sunscreen in my bag – one for the face and an easy to spray kind. I spray those of us on the sidelines as well as my star player. I also keep a hat in my bag because when I don't I end up burning the part in my hair. There's nothing quite like having a painful, red line going down the middle of your skull. Then I use Carmex to keep the sun from chapping our lips. Chapped lips don't just happen in winter! And don't forget the sunglasses either. It never fails that we are positioned perfectly for the sun to be directly in our eyes where we can't see a thing.
Keep the Bugs Away
A bug repellent is a must too. Weird little insects hang out in the grass and my youngest tends to find ant kills to step in. Plus mosquitos can smell me from a mile away. I don't want us to be someone else's lunch!
Portable Chargers
Portable chargers keep our cell phones from dying on long baseball days. Taking too many videos and pictures can eat up the battery pretty fast. And my younger son can kill it in no time playing games. I don't need the extra complaint of it dying in the middle of a game. He can be a real drama queen!
Stay Cool
I always keep a hair tie to put my hair up in a pinch. Either I get too hot or can't stand my hair blowing in my face. This saves me! My husband likes to add a cooling towel to our bag too. It keeps him cool while protecting his neck from the sun.
Keep Those Hands Clean
After most games the team provides a snack. I can't stand the thought of my son eating food with filthy hands that have just been sliding all over the field and catching who knows what. Hand sanitizer is my friend!
Extra Tip
Bring a ball! Having a soccer ball, tennis ball or heck one of those beach type balls at hand can be invaluable for children not playing the sport you came to watch. My son always finds other kids to play with and they always figure out a game to play when they have a ball. Keeps them entertained the whole time and lets me watch the game!
Remember to stay hydrated when you're watching your kids play ball with E-Hydrate. Use code “MOMSMEET” to get 20% off your first order and check them out on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
What's in your bag?
Disclosure: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.
I always carry loads of gatorades in my backpack whenever the husband and the kids go out for a game. I always make sure to prepare some snacks along the way. Your son looks adorable in the pic!