Essentials for a day out with 3 children ages 6, 5 & 3?

[Fatetodate]

Looking for a list of suggestions no matter how specific, when packing for a day trip out!

Depends where you are going

Spare clothes for youngest, wipes (just tiny packet) tissues, tiny medical kits, snacks and water bottles. I always have mibi colouring books and pens lurking in the bottom of the bag.

Surely by this age you know what they need.

Patience for you!

And then snacks, spare clothes, it really depends on where your going and the kids. My kids have trouble queuing so if I'm going somewhere with particularly long ques I would have some "fidgety" toys in my pocket .

When DD was little I always kept buckets and spades, a towel and a change of clothes in the boot in case of an impromptu seaside trip (which we often did, this was not completely random).

In my car- spare set of clothes, jackets for all weathers, small bag of “cafe toys” that only come out in a restaurant, travel potty/bags that go with it, umbrellas.

In my rucksack- emergency lollipops, two small sandwich bags of first aid. One has paracetamol, calpol sachets, bite cream. One has plasters/dressings/antibac wipes, nappy sack for disposal. Spare pants and socks for both, small rolled up baby change mat for sitting on in winter or travel towel in summer, tissues, hand gel. That stuff lives in there all the time- on the day I add snacks and lunch and water bottles. Also have a mini caribiner on the zip now to attach coats to without them overfilling the bag itself.

Antiseptic and bite cream, more wipes than you think you could ever use, more food than you think possible, and entertainment for queues / when sitting in cafes waiting for food.

Also take a good look at the weather forecast so you have rain kit / sun hats / warm clothes as appropriate, i find my DC when together a lot less tolerant of having the wrong clothing because as soon as one is cold / wet they all jump in even if they don't normally feel it.

Depends on where you're going but generally -

Wipes
Small first aid kit or plasters and paracetamol for you
Water
Food

For a car journey

Learn some games you can play in the car
Story podcast

My car boot always contains a blanket, picnic mat, a frisbee and a ball.