Have you noticed; summers are much hotter these days than they were when you were a kid? With increasing global warming, we see a lot of extreme weather conditions throughout the year.
But still summer is the most awaited season for kids. Lots of sunlight to play in throughout the day & lots of activities to do. Kids are always excited for summer.
With summer break going on you may use the following summer safety tips to keep kids safe in this summer heat.
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Keep them hydrated.
Children can lose their body fluids too quickly in this hot weather. Make sure they drink plenty of water.
If your child is less than 6-month-old, breastfeed them more often. Keep an eye on pee count to make sure they are hydrated.
For older children keep offering them water thought the day.
Carry water bottles whenever you go out for any outdoor activity including shopping, library visits, playground, cycling, walking etc.
You can also offer coconut water, fresh fruit juices, Lemonade, Sugarcane juice etc.
Fruits with higher water content like watermelon, cucumber can also help to keep them hydrated.
Avoid sugary soft drinks. They provide no nutritional value and are associated with lot of harmful aftereffects.
In India, most people store water in clay pots during summer. Due to the porous nature of clay, water inside the pot gets cooled.
These ‘matkas’ or earthen pots are traditionally used in India for their unique properties and other health benefits. While fridge water is too chilled & water at room temperature is too warm, this ecofriendly method of water storage provides perfectly chilled water.
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Avoid going out during the hottest time of the day.
Avoid sending kids in Sun when sunrays are the strongest. Especially in late morning & afternoon hours from 10 am to 4 pm. Though, these hours may vary from place to place. In Texas summer, going out on playground at 4 pm wouldn’t be a good idea. Whereas in other countries 4 pm may sound as a perfect timing.
Make sure kids are indoors or playing in the shade under your observation.
Make most use of the early morning & evening hours. Usually in summers days are long, so you will have extra sunlight in the morning & late evenings.
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Use Sun Protection
- Sunscreen
Sunscreens are mandatory for summers. Even if the kid is playing in shade, do apply sunscreen. Reapply it every 2 hours.
It is recommended that children should wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Choose water resistant sunscreen if planning to visit pools.
- Hats
Hats can provide some shade to a child’s face & head when playing outdoors.
Combination of sunscreen and a sun hat should give them better protection.
- Umbrella
You can carry an umbrella while being outdoors with young children. It will give extra protection against the sun.
- Sunglasses
No summer pic is complete without sunglasses. Sunglasses can provide protection to eyes as well as area around the eye. Make sure to choose good quality sunglasses for yourself as well as for your kid.
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Prefer Light colored clothes.
It is advisable to wear light colored cotton clothes in summer.
- Light colors reflect sunrays & prevent clothing from being warm. While darker colors tend to absorb sunrays and make clothing warmer.
- Cotton clothes allow our body to breathe and keep us cooler.
- Soft, lightweight loose clothing allows air flow around the skin. Tight clothes may stick to the body and would become uncomfortable after some time.
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Keep Indoor spaces cool & comfortable.
Ensure the home temperature is cool & comfortable for kids. Keep the air well ventilated.
Use fans, AC, coolers to keep indoor space cooler. Make sure kid’s bedrooms are comfortable for them to get good sleep.
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Play with water.
Plan for activities where kids can play with water. Plan visits to swimming pools. Visit the splash pad in the nearest park. Visiting Water park is a good idea too.
You can buy an inflatable water pool for kids to play in while at home.
You can also buy a water gun to play around.
Take them fishing or kayaking if kids are old enough.
With these tips, let’s make sure that the summer heat is not taking away holiday excitement from kids.
let’s make summer holidays enjoyable & safe for kids.
Take care.
