Today we are talking about the best ways to entertain siblings during a long day spent at the baseball fields.
Youth sports are a commitment not only for the player, but the entire family, especially the baseball mama. My middle son plays for a travel baseball team and has for about 6 seasons now. It is commonplace in our family for weekends to be spent at the baseball field for the months of April, May, and June. We love watching our son play, but these weekends often make for long, hot days that aren't always the most fun for the two siblings in tow. Through the years we have perfected what to add to the sports wagon (if you know, you know), but it wasn't until my now 2.5-year-old came along that I had to really start considering what to take to the ballpark. Below we are seven ideas about how to entertain baseball siblings to ensure they are having a great time while you spend the day watching a little bit of baseball.
1. Sidewalk Chalk
I saw a group of kids with a big bag of sidewalk chalk last season and thought was a good idea! The kids coloring all sorts of pictures and even making hopscotch games to play. This is an easy item to grab that is inexpensive and convenient to transport, I take all the chalk out of container they come in and put them in a big zip lock bag and it seems to work a lot better than the bulky container they come in. This activity can be a little messy, but that is inevitable on days like this, so I just pack extra wipes and roll with it. Below is a link for a big tub of chalk!
2. Bubble Machine
We have multiple bubble machines, some handheld and some motorized and every one of them provides a full day of entertainment for my toddler and even my middle school daughter. This is again and easy to pack option and one that can be purchased inexpensively, just make sure to pack extra bubbles because they go quick.
3. Kinetic Sand with mini figurines
This is a good option for younger kids and has kept my toddler entertained for almost the whole weekend! We live in TN and those late spring and early summer games can start to get really hot, so, we often put up a tent and would prefer our kids stay in the shade, this is a perfect activity for those shade days. I just buy a large bag of kinetic sand, put it in a big Tupperware container, then bury mini figurines in there and let him dig them out and rebury them.
4. Jewelry Kit
When my oldest child comes to the games (she is almost 13 now, so she will skip some Saturdays) she doesn't enjoy sitting and just watching. One activity that is great for her is the jewelry making kits, she can sit for hours and make different bracelets and often makes them for the team baseball moms in our team's coordinating colors.
5. Mini water table
This item is admittedly more cumbersome to lug to the ballpark but provides extended entertainment on hot days. A lot of times we are stuck at the ballpark for an unknown amount of time on Sundays, pool play is on Saturday and is two games tops, but Sundays can last all day long and it is HARD to entertain for that amount of time. So, carrying a larger item or throwing it in the wagon when we are packing loads of other items is worth it to us if it cuts down on the whining and boredom.
6. Scavenger hunt
I first started creating these for my kids during Covid when we had LITERALLY nothing else to do and were desperate to provide entertainment in any way we could. This is a very simple activity and can be altered for the age of children. You could bring a pack of sticker stars, print off our document below, and watch as your kids run around enjoying finding common ballpark items and completing their hunt. I usually bring a few ring pops or a little treat for them to get after they find everything on their list.
7. Baseball team siblings
Hear me out on this one, whether you are looking at joining a new team or just starting out on your travel team journey you should also consider the other baseball parents and siblings. The travel ball season can get very long if you don't enjoy the people, this becomes a big deal because you will be spending an immense amount of time with these people. I can link 100 different items for you to buy but the best form of entertainment is other siblings for your child to play with. We have been on teams that became a second family, and also on teams that haven't had that same feeling, and I can assure you the former makes your experience much easier.
Today we talked all about ways to load your baseball mom bag with lots of items to help make the baseball season a little easier. Youth baseball can make for long weekends but if you make the right decision when choosing your team and plan accordingly it can provide so many great memories, not only for your player, but for the whole family. Below are a few other items that I always have on hand, they aren't necessarily entertainment items, but they are definitely convenient to have with you or to pick up at your local grocery store when you are traveling out of town for games.
First-aid kit
Cooling towels/ ice packs
Baby wipes
Spare outfit (especially for younger kids)
Mini fan with extra batteries
SNACKS
Indoor/Outdoor blanket
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