Summer season kids wait for all year — and parents do, too! Finally, school is out, the days are long, the weather is warm, and you get to fill your days with swimming, travel, cookouts, and all kinds of outdoor fun. What’s not to love? Thus, this is a go signal for parents preparing sun safety for kids.
Still, as much enjoyment and memory-making as this season bring, here’s one word of caution: Hot weather and long sunshine bring unique risks for children. From sunburn to dehydration, the dangers of the season require certain precautions to keep everyone having fun. Here’s what you need to know.
Smart Summer Fun, Sun Safety for Kids
Soaking up sunshine the smart way means taking precautions against ultraviolet (UV) rays. Not only can kids get bad sunburns, but even a few of those bad sunburns are enough to increase a child’s risk of skin cancer. If you can keep your children inside during the hottest parts of the day, you can spare them the strongest, most harmful sun exposure.
Here is some other key sun safety for kids tips for:
- Apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15
- Wear a summer hat that covers the head, face, ears, and neck
- Wear pants and cover-ups with long sleeves, when possible
- Use sunglasses
- Seek shade under an umbrella, tree, or tent when possible
- Drink plenty of water and keep bottles on hand to prevent dehydration
- Before playing at playgrounds, always touch surfaces to see how hot they are
Here’s a guide on how to apply sunscreen.
Likewise, stay alert for signs that your kids could be overheated: goosebumps; cool and clammy skin; headaches; dizziness; increased sweating; increased thirst; irritability; nausea or vomiting; muscle cramps; and an elevated body temperature.
If you notice these symptoms, take action: Immediately bring your child to a cool place (air-conditioned, if possible), provide cool drinks and apply a cold, wet towel to the skin.
Check out: Best Instant Cooling Towel
Wet and Wild Protection for Summer Season
Whether you’re at a pool, lake, river, or ocean, there’s nothing like getting in the water on a hot summer day. When your kids are swimming this season.
Here’s how you can help them stay safe:
- Use life jackets when boating
- Have any child who doesn’t know how to swimwear personal flotation devices in the water
- Always have adults carefully supervising kids in the water
- Prevent bathroom breaks (and bacteria) in the pool by giving your kids regular opportunities to go to the bathroom
- Keep rescue equipment nearby, such as safety rings, rope, and a first aid kit.
If you have a pool at your house, make sure to safeguard against accidental drowning, too. Fences should be at least four feet tall to prevent small children from unauthorized entry. You can also install an alarm that sounds anytime someone enters the water.
Proactive Bug-Bite Prevention
You know how it is when you’re enjoying the backyard on a warm summer night, and suddenly the bugs hit.
Protect your kids from bug bites by applying insect repellent every time you go outside.
Likewise, skip any perfumes, lotions, or other sweet-smelling products that might attract insects.
Keeping Fireworks Fun during Summer Season
From the Fourth of July to a family barbecue, fireworks appear often in the summer. While everybody loves a magical display, you want to prevent injuries: More than 10,000 Americans go to the emergency rooms for fireworks-related accidents each year!
Here are a few tips to remember:
- Read instructions carefully
- Never let young children touch or light fireworks
- Be especially vigilant with kids under 15, who are most likely to be injured
Conclusion
Having fun during summer with the family is the most memorable event that gives a yearly excitement and worth awaited event for the family
Whether your kids are at home, at camp, in the pool, or on vacation, summer fun requires the right sun safety for kids.
Use the tips above to keep your children safe this season, so you’re all free to enjoy this time of year to the fullest!
If you’ve enjoyed and learned from this article, we are happy to give you more parenting tips for your family fun activities on this page; 7 Family Activities to Overcome Winter Woes
Check out also our article on making DIY Bubble Recipe that kids would love.
My name is Andrea Thompson and I’m a home based freelance writer. I’m 23 years old, married to my best friend, and mother to a wonderfully independent and opinionated 3 year old girl and step-mother to a sweet seven year old boy. I live in a tiny, little town in Kentucky, where I spend my free time fishing with my kids.
Writing has always been my passion, which I followed through high school, and for a while in college. Life happened, and once I discovered we were pregnant, I switched directions; opting for the healthcare industry because of the stability.
Finally, years later, I was in a place where I could leave the day job that never truly made me happy, and pursue my dreams. I’ve built, and am still building, my writing career from scratch. But, I’m passionate and I’m good at what I do. And, in the end, I can prove to my daughter that she can do anything she wants with this life.