Holidays by the sea and days at the beach are a real challenge for parents of small children. They must be extra vigilant, guarantee their safety in an environment conducive to danger (drowning, sunburn, sunstroke, sand). But that was without counting on the “reverse beach day” technique.
There “upside down beach day”said “Backwards Beach Day” in English, is a technique used by some parents to enjoy family holidays by the sea, while minimizing the inconveniences linked to the young age of their children. Invented by influencer mom Kelsey Pomeroy, this technique recommendsorganize the day at the beach in reversewith the activities carried out in a different order from that which we are used to adopting (hence the name of the technique).
Thus, the activities that are usually done at the beginning of the day are found at the end, and those at the end of the day are done in the morning. A revolutionary technique which, at first glance, has nothing extraordinary, but whose advantages are numerous for parents and for young children. A hassle-free stay, head in the clouds, feet in the water! We explain to you.
What’s next after this ad
Holidays by the sea: what is the “upside down beach day”?
Generally speaking, families go to the beach in the morning to take full advantage of the day and “make the most of” their time spent at the water’s edge. They have breakfast, then go to the seaside, come home to shower, then go out to a restaurant for dinner. When the children are already grown, the option is quite suitable. But when it comes to toddlers, that’s not necessarily the best idea. “It’s (even) the totally opposite schedule to what works for young children”explains Kelsey Pomeroy to our colleagues at HuffPost.* Mother of two young children aged 1 and 4, her own experience allows her to offer a more appropriate alternative.
Rather than going to the beach in the morning, she advises going later in the day; after the kids’ nap, More precisely. Here is her schedule for a typical day: in the morning, she does easy and simple activities with her toddlers (walk in the park, private swimming pool in the hotel/apartment/villa rental). At noon, it’s lunch at the restaurant with the whole family. In the early afternoon, all the siblings go home to allow the little ones to take a nap. Once they are awake – that is to say around snack time – it’s time to go! The end of the day takes place at the sea, dinner is on the beach, in a bucolic picnic atmosphere. Children play in the sand watching the sun go down. A new organization that would give parents-vacationers all the keys to really appreciate the idleness of summer…
What’s next after this ad
An advantageous organization for the whole family
Thus, according to the words of this mother, going to the beach too early in the morning can transform the stay at the sea into a real ordeal! Here are her reasons.
- Because everyone has the same idea.
Families often go to the beach in the morning to make the most of the sunny day, the fine sandy beach, the breathtaking view of the sea, and to swim as much as desired. Result: the beach is crowded. Everyone is in the same place at the same time, so what is supposed to be relaxing becomes stressful. By reversing the schedule for the day as recommended by Kelsey Pomeroy, we avoid peak hours and the slots of great affluence; whether at the beach, or in the associated tourist places (restaurants, museums, cultural places). We go there at times when people are not there, when the places are less frequented; so we ensure maximum peace of mind!
- Spending a day under the sun is good… But not necessarily for young toddlers.
Indeed, if on the one hand, it allows us to fill up with vitamin D; on the other hand, the UV index is at its peak. Thus, when we go there at the start of the day, we are obliged to be extra vigilant to protect children from the sun: we multiply the cumbersome equipment (umbrella, headgear), we multiply the moments devoted to the application of sunscreen (every hour, at least)… In short, the mind is far from calm.
Adopting the reverse beach day allows you toavoid hours when this UV index is highof limit sun exposure for babies and to protect them as well as possible from associated harm (skin, eyes). We have less mental load, and we are more serene.
- If you go to the beach in the morning, you run the risk of having to deal with more nervous children.
Indeed, they will not have been able to take their daily nap. Conversely, if you go there around 3 p.m., after letting them sleep, the children will be less tired, more rested; therefore less irritable, less upset and less difficult for parents to manage.
- Going to the beach in the morning complicates the departure.
For children who struggle with “transitions”, who are always scrambling to avoid coming home, going to the beach at the end of the day can be particularly effective in overcoming their stubbornness. : “For little kids struggling to complete an activity, they can visibly see the sun go down, and know it’s time to go to sleep”explained the content creator.
This organization is ideal for walks along the beach, walks in the water, building sand castles, collecting beautiful seashells. On the other hand, it is much less suitable for swimming in the sea and/or the ocean… Indeed, visibility is less optimal at the end of the day, and the lifeguards supposed to ensure our safety and avoid drowning are often no longer there during our walk. As miraculous as it is, the upside down beach day isn’t for everyone.
Freelance journalist
Open-minded and in love with life, Emilie likes to decipher the new phenomena that shape society and relationships today. Her passion for the human being motivates her to write…