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A Picnic with Baby
Tips for a Perfect Picnic with Little Guests
By Beth Hering
If home is where you hang your hat, a picnic is anywhere you spread your blanket. Picnics at parks often have the advantage of playground equipment to keep children entertained or paths on which you can take your baby for a leisurely nature stroll.
"Sophia likes to collect bugs and she likes to do some bubble blowing while picnicking," Braccio says. "She also likes feeding ducks, so a park with a pond is always good."
To add to the fun, bring along some simple things from home – perhaps a pail for collecting rocks, shells, pinecones and other treasures; a large ball for rolling or catching; and some toy cars to drive through the grass. Plastic items work well because they can be wiped off easily. Likewise, a few hearty board books to read under a shady tree can be a great way to give your child some quiet time when she becomes too hot or worn out from other activities.
While your child may be having so much fun that she doesn't want to leave the picnic, don't be surprised if the fresh air puts her in a great mood for the trip home and makes her fall asleep quite quickly that night. But before you pack up your gear, make sure to take some pictures of your special family outing. Just as the warm July weather seems to go away all too fast, so does childhood.
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