During the summer, kids have a lot less supervision than they’re used to. Because of this, it’s important to emphasize summer safety with your children, teaching them to stay safe when the seasons change.
This is a guest post in collaboration with Alycia Coloma.
If you want to make sure your kids are prepared for the summer, here are seven summer safety tips to keep in mind.
Summer safety tips for kids
1. Be careful when swimming
Swimming is a dangerous activity even if you have years of experience. As a parent, it’s important to teach your kids to be careful when swimming and to stay where you can see them. It’s also your job to keep an eye on your children while they swim. That way, you can help out if they’re in danger. If your kids are swimming at a public pool, make sure there’s a lifeguard on duty.
2. Protect your skin
The sun can do a lot of damage to your skin, and that damage can accumulate over time and cause serious issues. Make sure your kids are protecting their skin during the summer with sunscreen. Kids’ caps are also a great way to keep the sun out of their eyes and face, which are the two most sensitive areas when it comes to UV ray exposure. If your kids like wearing sunglasses, that’s not a bad idea either.
3. Stay hydrated
The extreme heat of the summer can lead to dehydration, so keeping your kids hydrated during the hot weather is an absolute must. Dehydration can lead to serious health issues in some cases, and minor dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue, and more. Try getting a water bottle for each of your kids, and make sure they’re drinking enough water each day throughout the summer.
4. Avoid bug bites
For the most part, bug bites aren’t a major problem. However, some bugs can spread diseases and cause skin irritation through bites. It’s best that your kids avoid bug bites, so make sure they’re using some sort of insect repellent before playing outside with friends. One thing to keep in mind is that some insect repellents have dangerous ingredients, so read the label first. If they do get bitten, use something like Biteaway.
5. Watch out for heatstroke
When you have kids, knowing the signs of heatstroke is an essential part of summer safety. Heatstroke can lead to a variety of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, loss of appetite, and fast breathing. If you notice several of these symptoms in one of your children, make sure they get medical help as soon as possible to treat the condition.
6. Wear a helmet
It can be tough to convince kids to wear a helmet while riding bikes, scooters, and skateboards, but that’s another rule you need to enforce when it comes to summer safety. Head injuries can cause serious damage, so wearing a helmet is worth it, even if it’s a little uncomfortable. You can always take your kid to a bike shop to pick out their own helmet. That way, they’re more inclined to wear it when they ride.
7. Play Safely
From horsing around in the house to playing on the playground, encouraging your kids to play safely is especially important during the summer. There are a lot of kids around when school is out, and you don’t want anybody to get hurt. While you can’t always enforce the rules, you should have a talk with your kids about being safe during the summer.
Convincing kids to take it down a notch and be safe during the summer is difficult, but there are plenty of things you can do as a parent. If you want to promote summer safety, talk to your kids and make sure you keep an eye on them when you can.
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