Age 3 and 5 ... first ever trip to seaside ... tips please!

[Challen]

What to take
Wat unexpected events to be prepared for (uh, apart from rain!)
Good snack ideas
Windbreak/parasol neccessary or not
How many towels
What toys ie just traditional spades and buckets or beachballs etc too
Would you take a potty or let them wee in the sea, rather than trundle off looking for loos?

etc etc

Windbreak - we were really surprised at how useful this was.

Towels - we only have one for anyone that's swimming.

Best option for UK holidays is a wetsuit - not a shade suit - you can even get cheap ones in some motorway service areas now - they can be in and out of the water all day and not get cold, even if its windy (and not burn under it either)(factor 50 the rest regularly).

we've managed just with buckets and spades although the cheap ones always break - we have some nice short hand diggers (like the scoop of a jcb) that are easy for small hands and also effective and don't break.

Clothes pegs for drying swimsuits (attach to windbreak/parasol/deckchair).

Huge net bag to put beach stuff in (then the sand falls off on the way back to the car)

Carrier bags for wet cossies.

Beach shoes/crocs: there is lots of rubbish on the sand nowadays, and a piece of glass in a foot ruins the holiday.

Windbreak great - serves to help as a location aid even if not breezy.

We use picnic blankets to sit on.

I would expect them to spend more time on beach than in see but ball is a good alternative/addition to bucket and spade.

Mine also love searching for creatures so a little net is useful although depends on if beach has pools to do this and yours may be a little on the young side.

Ours are 2 and 4 and when we go we take: uv tent, picnic throw, towel, spare set of clothes, wetsuits, hats, sun cream, water, picnic, buckets, spades, frisbee. change for car park (expensive) money for ice creams. If we go with gps, also chairs, windbreak and kite. Honestly I used to go to the beach with a towel, a book and sun oil!

And if it's the first time, be prepared for them to hate it

Be ready with all that the previous posters have said, but also be ready to bail out if no one's really enjoying it.

snacks - things like grapes, cut apples, stuff that can be de-sanded easily, but tbh, most will get sand on and eaten anyway!
spare clothes x 2 for each child, at least pants and trousers anyway.
either towels or poncho thingys, just one for each child.
money for ice creams / coffee for you (as already said, but essential!)
a flag for the sandcastle.
bat and ball.
if it is a large beach, and there are pools of water/rocks with water by, sit near here and the kids will spend ages in it and be less interested in the sea after the initial excitement, you can keep an eye on them without having to get into the sea/run after them constantly.
wind breaks are a must if it is going to be windy. makes the difference between hell on earth and a great time.

Sun hats and some shade is essential. Plenty of drinks too. Don't try and get all the sand off before you get in the car. Just get as much off as you can and put them straight in the bath when you get home, followed by easy tea and bed!

Small paddling pool tp try yo keep them nearer to you, eventually.

To try to........