Picnics are such a fun way to enjoy food casually, and kids particularly love the fun that goes with eating outdoors. Whether you’re planning to picnic at home or abroad this summer, these practical picnic ideas for the perfect day out, will help keep the focus on the fun and family time that it’s all about.

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From planning where to have your picnic to making the picnic stress-free, we hope these tips help you plan the perfect picnic!

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Practical Picnic Ideas for the Perfect Day out with Kids

#1. Plan the Place

Before you leave, make sure to choose the picnic site. Pay attention to the nearest amenities on route in case nature calls!! Bring equipment suitable to the site i.e. fishing nets, buckets & spades etc.

You could also bring some Lego in a storage box/freezer bag for some quieter play, and fairy wands/toy swords in the forest can create a very imaginative afternoon!

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#2. Invest in a Cool Bag

This will ensure that food will keep chilled to the picnic site and also back home as left-overs. Left over chicken skewers makes a great stir fry for the following day’s dinner.

Tip: freeze juice cartons and tuck them into your cool bag, they’ll keep everything else cold and be defrosted by the time you arrive.

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#3. Keep it Simple

Bringing finger food means you don’t need to think about cutlery. Pack juice cartons or chilled water bottles, so you don’t have to worry about cups.

#4. Feed the Children Before You Leave

I know this may sound odd, but younger kids, particularly, get so distracted by what they see and hear in the outdoors, that their senses start to explore and they forget all about their tummies.

Feeding the children before you leave takes the worry away, and everyone can enjoy the snacks as they wish.

#5. Pack Practical Snacks & Food

It pays to be sensible and pack practical snacks that you know the kids will eat. Here are some of our favourites:

• Chicken Skewers cooked in the oven. These are easy to do, and give a BBQ feel! They don’t require knives or forks and can be seasoned to your personal liking.
• Garlic Bread made from leftover French baguette. Make the garlic butter by chopping garlic and mixing into butter in a food processor. Slice the baguette and put a knob of the butter into each incision. Put in the oven to toast and melt the butter. For kids who don’t like garlic, just add a knob of butter without the garlic.
• Seedless Grapes. These are easy to eat and there’s no clean up. Freeze them before your picnic for a delicious cool snack. Grapes also have water in them which helps keep kids hydrated.
• Carrot Sticks. Again easy to eat and healthy.
• Home-made Flapjacks – can make a nice & easily transportable dessert.

You might also enjoy some of these picnic recipes

• Homemade Lemonade
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Homemade Sausages
• Chicken Legs with Ginger & Lime
• Muffins – Breakfast Berry, Healthy Carrot & Savoury Ham & Cheese 

#6. Preparing the Picnic

Have the children help with preparing the picnic – you will be surprised how much they can learn just by doing these simple everyday tasks. Remember learning is fun.

Have patience… sometimes these things take time!  By doing such problems in a concrete way, children will grasp it and remember for much longer than by doing it on paper.

• They can help to wash the fruit and vegetables. Older children can help to cut and younger children can tear – these exercises are very good for children’s motor skills.
• By counting out items such as napkins, children can practice maths. Ask the children how many more napkins are needed in order to have enough for everyone. This type of maths problem is in the curriculum for children approx 7-8 years old and is quite complex.

#7. Relax & Have Fun

For your own sake, don’t over complicate your picnic. Picnics are all about relaxing and chilling out so make sure to keep things as simple and stress free as possible. The kids will enjoy running around and playing outdoors, so sit back and enjoy.

Have your say! Any other cool picnic ideas that worked for your family? Let us know in the comments below.