There is nothing better than watching your kid have fun with the friends playing their favorite sport. For many of us, those sports take place outdoors in the middle of summer. It’s HOT! I’ve personally spent nearly every weekend of July and August baking in the sun at my son’s travel baseball tournaments.
This year is so different. Friggin Covid! Many of the ballparks don’t have concession stands open (and the icy drinks you can get from them) and of course you can’t congregate under any shaded structures that are already in place. Stay 6 feet away people! So, basically we are left on our own to figure out how to keep cool. Here’s the best ways that I’ve found to beat the heat in 2020.
(This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.)
1. Easy to set-up tent. We made the mistake of getting a not so easy to set-up tent, lol. After an embarrassing half hour of trying to get our janky tent to stay up and 2 people tripping over the strings, we ended up just trashing it and left it at the field’s garbage can.
Another family on our team has this tent. It’s awesome! It’s quick and easy to set up and take down, big enough for several chairs, strollers, and kids to be under, and, the best part- it comes with a shade sheet. This is KEY. The sheet adds so much extra shade when the sun isn’t directly overhead.
(It comes in different sizes. I highly recommend the 10×10 size so you can share the shade with other families on your team.)
Note: If you don’t want to share your shade, or if you want something easier to carry, these dual chairs with umbrella and cooler is a great option!
Now, if you REALLY don’t want to sit close to anyone, at the every least, get yourself a chair with built in shade!
2. Cooling Towels. These are sooo awesome. You just pour some water on it and it then put it on your body- neck, head, shoulders, etc. As the water evaporates, it cools you down. They are lightweight and easy to carry around with the little bags these ones come with. I keep one in my sons baseball bag for him and I keep some for myself and the girls to have while we watch. When it dries out, just pour some more water on and it’s cool right away.
3. Large water jug. This is for your player but I wouldn’t hesitate to have one for yourself/family in the stands too. Fill this baby right up to the tippy top. Put plenty of ice in there too. On these long, hot tournament days, you will need soooo much more water than you think you will! And with Covid, many snack shacks aren’t open for drinks. In fact, you may want to bring a couple of these! (You can also use it to pour some water onto your cooling towel!)
Bonus Tip: You can personalize these with a Cricut! I recently got one and I love it. I have made a few team shirts already. If you don’t have one, I guarantee some other mom or dad on your team does.
Bonus Tip #2: Pretty much all of these items can be ordered in different colors options. It makes it fun to have everything in your team colors. You will be the ultimate fan!
4. Fan. (Haha, speaking of fans, amiright?) This has been a huge lifesaver for me on days when I can’t sit still and stay in the shade. I am linking the exact one that I have (originally bought for my daughter’s stroller when she was a baby) but there are a lot of great options out there. Just make sure you get one that doesn’t need plugged in.
5. Spray bottle (with or without fan). I’m linking one with a fan because that’s what my kids prefer to play with. So, this one is as much for you as it is for any of your kids that are being lugged along to their siblings games. My girls and their friends will play with these all day long. It keeps them cool and it’s good for yourself too. (This is something else that you may want to get more than one of. Definitely get one for each of your kids unless you want to break up fights over it all day.)
I hope that helps you if you are planning a season of summer sports! Good luck to your team and send me a message if you think there’s anything else I should have included!
Related: How to keep your kids and their teammates entertained while you wait out the rain
