Don't Be that Person: 6 Rules of Beach Etiquette

It's 100 degrees outside, and families flock to the beach with the aim of spreading out, cooling off, relaxing, reading trashy novels and eating bad food. That's what a beach vacation is all about, right? And, oh yeah, maybe watching the children play.

I just came home from a long weekend at the ocean with close friends who spend a lot of time at the beach every summer. They said a lot of people get so caught up in the beach experience that they lose their manners. Simple etiquette goes out the window and next thing you know otherwise mild mannered families are kicking sand in each other's faces. Here are six to observe to ensure your next family beach vacation doesn't turn into an episode of Jersey Shore.

Observe personal space1. Observe personal space
Maintaining of minimum of three feet of distance from the nearest family is just good neighborliness. Nothing conveys hostility like planting an umbrella inches from another person's face. Sandy towels should be shaken off far from the crowds since no one wants sand in their chicken salad. And stepping around rather than on someone's beach blanket or towel is always appreciated.







Related: 20 fun (mostly free!) things to do with your kids this summer




Don't feed the seagulls2. Don't feed the seagulls
Some people think seagulls are graceful, pretty creatures; others think they are rats with wings. Don't made assumptions about which side of the seagull divide your neighbors are on by luring a flock of the pooping scavengers to your area with cheese curls.











Share (don't steal!) beach toys3. Go ahead and borrow beach toys, but ask first
It's common courtesy to let kids play with other kids' beach toys (often the best castles and the best friends are made that way), but it's best not to assume - ask first if Johnny can have a turn with another child's plastic bucket and shovel.














Related: 8 things I never thought I'd say... until I became a mom




Play nice4. Play nice
Common beach games like football, Frisbee, paddleball should be played where no one - especially the little ones - will get hurt. And best to leave cut throat competitiveness at home.











Remember, lifeguards aren't babysitters5. Remember lifeguards aren't babysitters
Some people think the presence of lifeguards means the kids can frolic while mom and dad can zone out - take a nap, head back to the condo, become totally lost in 50 Shades of Grey. Know this: The lifeguards' job is to rescue swimmers, not babysit them. Guards become supremely irritated plucking errant children from the water only to find the parents sitting away from shore in order to perfect their suntan.









Related: 12 tools to keep your kids safe by the water





Control your shade apparatus 6. Control your shade apparatus
To display a tent or umbrella and sit close to the water, common courtesy says arrive early to claim the desired space. Otherwise, there is a risk of coming across like the guy who wears a giant sombrero to a crowded movie theater then wonders why he keeps getting pelted with popcorn. If you opt to collapse your umbrella, remove it from its stand altogether and lay it in the sand. This way, you don't interfere with the sight line of the guy behind trying to mind his toddler on the shore. Most importantly, make sure your beach umbrella is properly installed. A careless installation combined with a strong wind can turn an umbrella into a dangerous projectile.



- By Jessie Knadler

For 12 things to know before taking your kids to the beach, visit Babble!

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Jessie Knadler is the author of the humorous autobiography Rurally Screwed (Berkley, April 2012) and coauthor of the preserving cookbook Tart & Sweet (Rodale, 2011). She lives on a small farm in beautiful rural Virginia with her soldier husband who recently returned from Afghanistan, bringing with him a stray dog rescued from Kandahar. The couple has a nearly 2-year old daughter named June who will probably spend a good part of her childhood doing farm chores and other excruciating character building activities.

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