Parenting--Beach Style

I have spent the last two weekends at the beach with my family and noticed something that has me thinking: the beach is the BEST place to be a great parent. In watching what families do and how they interact while they're at the beach, it seems we should all move our daily routines seaside.

So what is it about the beach that we can take home with us?

1. No distractions. Sure, the occasional cell phone, Blackberry and iPod surfaces at the beach, but it's usually among the younger bathers. I noticed most parents were unwired at the beach, which helps us forget our daily worries and pay more attention to having fun.

2. It's okay to be a kid! Something about the beach brings out the kid in everyone. The beach surrounds kids and kids at heart with numerous opportunities for exploration and creativity -- building sand castles and forts, taking a walk to collect seashells, birdwatching, peoplewatching. Our beach even has a tide pool where you can collect hermit crabs. Plenty of creative materials and resources keeps kids busy and happy for hours, and promotes the whole family jumping in the fun together.

3. It's okay to make a mess! Of course, we don't want the kids getting sand in their eyes or mouths, but pretty much everything else goes. You don't hear parents saying "pick up those toys!" or "don't spill that water!" or "don't get your hands covered in mess!" The green light to make a mess is...gulp...the BEST way to let kids be creative and explore the world around them.

4. Physical activity. From swimming to walking to a game of catch or frisbee to cartwheels and handstands, everyone at the beach makes some time to get up and do something together.

5. Connectivity. The beach is usually a great place to catch up with old friends and their families, but is also a great place to meet new people. Whether it's a quick chat while in the water, kids sharing beach toys and helping to dig the biggest sand pit, somehow the simplicity and shared commonality of the place breaks down (even famoous New England!) communication barriers.

6. Fresh air. Somehow, the fresh air makes everyone breathe deeply and relax.

7. Even ground. Huh? This may be the best thing about the beach for parents: we're all starting from the same place. Mom and Dad usually don't end up resenting one another for anything at the beach because there are fewer opportunities for one to be "outdoing" the other. How does that work? How often have we ended up at odds because someone did the lion's share of the parenting while another did something else that had to be done? At the beach, no one has to clean or run errands or fold laundry or cut the grass or fix the broken whaetver it is. Mom and Dad can both feel good sitting back and taking a break while the kids play. Or they can share the opportunity to jump in and play together.

So, while I'm going to try to get back to beach as much as possible before the end of summer, I'm also figuring out ways to take the lessons of the beach home with me.