It’s only halfway through the summer and you’re already feeling burned out. Big City Moms is here to help! Check out some great ways to help you survive summer below.

Tip 1: Always use on your family a broad-spectrum sunscreen offering protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Big City Moms loves SPF 30+ Sunscreen Wipes from Supergoop, MD Moms’ Baby Silk sunscreen towelettes, Baby Blanket sunscreen with titanium dioxide SPF+50 and Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunblock Spray SPF 85+

Tip 2: Create anticipation for a special family trip or outing by starting a countdown calendar with a photo of the destination. Let kids pack their own backpacks with a few favorite items.

Tip 3: Packing must-haves: Baby powder  because it makes sand removal in hard to clean places easy and gentle and at least two water bottles per child- 1 for drinking and 1 for cleaning off sandy feet (or sandy food!)

Tip 4: Invent a new kind of sandwich. Buy several different types of breads and non-junk food fillings and let them create their own combos. Try atypical items like hardboiled eggs, avocado, sliced carrots and black bread.

Tip 5: If you’re lucky enough to hit the beach this summer, collect some shells with your kids and on a rainy day decorate them with paint, glitter glue, feathers, googly eyes etc. Then affix a magnet to the back and hang on your refrigerator to enjoy year-round

Tip 6: Play Frisbee basketball by hanging a basket from a tree limb or fence close to the ground. Give the kids mini-Frisbees and see who can make the most baskets.

Tip 7:Buy several pairs of inexpensive flip-flops and visit your local craft store (there’s a Michael’s on the Upper West Side) and spend the afternoon decorating the family’s new footwear with your kids.

Tip 8: Too hot or rainy to go outside? Check out Wonderopolis’ Web site and let the conversations begin! BCM loves the Animals section with questions like “Do Chickens Have Fingers?” and “Do Birds Really Get Angry?”

Tip 9:Always carry beach toys on your outdoor outings. Your kids will be just as happy digging in a shady spot in the dirt as they are in the sand.  Bath toys and plastic cups are also just as fun for scooping and pouring.

Tip 10: Make sure to pack a small first aid kit - you never know when your child (or you) will step on something sharp, get a skinned knee or a bite. Packing an antiseptic spray can also help with sunburn and take the ouchies away.