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Going to the beach: a checklist

Keeping your family safe and happy during a seaside holiday is relatively simple, if you know what steps to take. Use our checklist to make the job easier.

• Check the weather forecast, tides and currents before you set off. Local information is available online from the Met Office (www.metoffice.com) and from bbc.co.uk/weather. Local tourist offices and newsagents in coastal locations keep tide timetables you can consult. The Met Office also reports sun index and the sea temperature, which through the year lags behind air temperatures. It is at its warmest for swimming during September and October when it reaches 17 or 18 degrees C around the South West coast and 12 to 13 degrees C in North East Scotland.

• Talk to your children about coastal dangers. Ask them what they think the biggest dangers are on the coast and who they would telephone if they were stuck on a cliff. I asked my children, and they replied sharks and sun stroke for dangers, and that if stuck on a cliff, they would telephone me, which I pointed out would be comforting but useless since I have no experience of rescuing anyone off a cliff and HM Coastguard would be better.

• Plan your day to take advantage of high and low tides and the weather. Some beaches disappear altogether at high tide, which can be dangerous if you become cut off. Activities like rock pooling or walking to an off-shore island may depend on low tide. Other beaches have a short tidal range and see little change.

• Only buy inflatables that have a good length of rope attached. That way, you can tether them or keep hold of them while children play. Winds are generally on-shore (moving toward the shore) in the morning but by afternoon, the land has heated up and a previously safe breeze can turn into an off-shore wind that quickly whisks untethered inflatables out to sea.

• Consider buying a UV pop up tent for little ones to rest or take a nap out of the sun. They cost around £50 from Kakadoo Kids (www.kakadookids.co.uk), which sells a full range of UV protection wear.

• Take your time packing. Run through a list of items for safety and fun in your mind and you won't be disappointed upon arrival, or have to shell out money on item at beachside prices. Some ideas for your packing list, aside from the obvious camera, towels and swimwear, include sun protection, first aid kits, balls and Frisbees, buckets and spades, snorkels and flippers, inflatables and water toys. Also great fun on wide empty beaches are outdoor game sets like volleyball, cricket and boules that come in a carry case.

• Know the facilities available before you go. Some beaches, especially those backed by sand dunes, set aside picnic areas and some have designated barbecuing areas. To check facilities at beach resorts, as well as the water quality and things like whether dogs are welcome or not, see the Blue Flag Beach Guide and the Good Beach Guide.

• Use Sea Smart Beach Bands for your children. The beach band is a simple wristband for children to wear, containing their parents' mobile phone number, designed to help with the problem of lost children. The beach band is hypoallergenic and can withstand immersion in water for over 12 hours. When you arrive, visit the local tourist information centre or coastguard station and collect Sea Smart Beach Bands for your children to wear. Some busy, big beaches operate lost children centres but for older children it is a good idea to agree a meeting place should family members become separated.

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