Summer is a well-loved season for children because of how much freedom they have to do fun activities that other seasons keep them from doing. The weather is perfect for stepping outside and running around to play, after all!
Still, kids have quite a knack for getting themselves into sticky situations when left to themselves. As a mother, you want to do everything in your power to keep them from getting into trouble. No one enjoys seeing their child crying due to an injury.
Keeping them under your supervision is one important way to make sure they stay safe while playing, but it should not stop there. There are more ways to make sure your child safely enjoys the summertime.
Since they will be spending a lot of time outdoors, here are some things to keep in mind to make sure your kids get the fullest summer experience.
1. Have a fence in your outdoor areas
When they get too excited about playing outside, kids can sometimes forget that they should not step out onto the street. Aside from reminding them not to do so, a high industrial fence prevents accidents or injuries from occurring.
When you use a high fence, it keeps balls from bouncing out of your property and onto the road. It also serves as a visual and physical reminder to them of the borders of their play area, especially when their games require a lot of movement.
2. Give them plenty of water breaks
The warmer temperatures matched with the physical activity make your kids sweat more than they usually do. This means they also more easily get dehydrated as their bodies also overheat faster.
Keep this from occurring by requiring them to take water breaks in between activities. There is no exact way to measure when kids need a drink and how much water they should drink when they are doing physical activities, but having water breaks every 15 minutes is helpful. With a schedule, children can better remember the need to stay hydrated.
You should also be aware of symptoms of dehydration. When you see that your child has a dry mouth and is experiencing dizziness or is drowsier than usual, it is best to have them drink water to re-hydrate.
3. Keep them protected from the harsh sun
Too much exposure to the sun hurts your child’s skin. When they don’t get protection, they could suffer from ugly, uncomfortable sunburns.
One thing to do when your kids play outdoors is to introduce more shade to your lawn or backyard. Set up sunshades and canopies to minimize their direct exposure to the angry rays of the sun.
You should also have everyone put on sunscreen before going out to play. Use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and double-check if it is labeled as broad-spectrum, which just means that it offers protection for both UVA and UVB rays. Since your kids sweat a lot, water-resistant sunscreen helps the sunscreen stick even as they do their activities.
An extra precaution to take is to avoid being out in the sun when the sun’s UV rays are at their harshest, which is usually between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To make sure, your shadow is shorter than you when the sun is at its strongest.
4. Put away any safety hazards from your yard
Before allowing your kids to roam free in your yard, check first if there are hazards scattered in the area that could lead to injuries.
Put away all your gardening tools in storage that kids cannot touch. If you are using a grill or have any other tools that are potential fire hazards, make sure that they are out of reach from children and that you are present to keep an eye on them.
Another thing to keep in mind is to make sure that your garden has not just been treated with chemicals such as pesticides or herbicides when the kids play outside.
5. Let them wear the proper clothes for their activities
Make sure that they are wearing the right attires for whatever they are doing for the day. For example, if they are going biking, make sure that they have helmets and protective pads to avoid scratches. If they will be playing sports that require running, have them wear loose clothes and rubber shoes that allow them to move freely.
Your kids can best maximize the season when they play in a safe environment. With these practices, you will have peace of mind as they get active during their vacation.
