Most families look forward to summer vacation all year long. Summer means no school, no homework, no PTA meetings, and no rush to get out the door in the mornings to catch the school bus before it leaves. As a matter of fact, summer often means laxer bedtimes, fewer rules for watching television and playing video games, and parents being less strict about mealtime and what their children eat.
While summer is exciting and wonderful, the carefree season can impact children’s health if we’re not careful. While you want your kids to have the time of their lives before the grind of school begins again, you also want them to be healthy and happy. Here are a few tips to help you accomplish both this summer.
Get Outside And Be Active With Care
While you don’t want your kids to stay cooped up in the house attached to their devices all summer, outside activities should be monitored as well. Make sure that while your children are outside playing, they drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen. Skin cancer is a very real problem and while it might not affect your children immediately, they could have issues down the road when a doctor has to search for a skin cancer natural treatment for them. Make sure the kids get out and swim, run, and play this summer, but take the proper precautions when they do.
Start A New Routine
Every parent knows that a school-time routine isn’t really going to cut it during the summer months. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have some sort of summertime routine for them to follow. Whether this means consistent trips to the library on certain days or camp during the week, routines are important for children to feel loved and secure, even during the relaxed summer months.
Maintain A Bedtime
While it may be tempting to let the kids go to bed whenever they want and wake up when they are ready, it’s really not a healthy habit for them to get into. Remember, a tired brain is more likely to make choices such as sitting on the couch all day watching Netflix instead of getting out in the yard. Make sure that you implement a summer bedtime and stick to it for all of your sake. Learn more about bedtime routines.
Talk About Stranger Danger
Kids are out and about more during the summer months, making it easier for them to come in contact with strangers. Kids get excited and may forget your talks about stranger danger, so it’s important for you to remind them. This is important whether your kids are five or 16, as stranger danger can affect all children.
Remind Them About Pool Safety
Summer is the time for splashing around in the pool and enjoying the sun and fun that summer provides. Make sure that you remind the kids about the rules and safety precautions for being in the pool and never ever let younger kids swim alone or be in the pool unattended. Play it on the safe side and make sure you attentively watch your kids in the pool.
These are just a few of the ways that you can keep your kids happy and healthy during this upcoming summer season. Summer doesn’t mean there should be no rules, just that the rules need to shift a bit to accommodate the longer days and summer fun. Enjoy your family time!
How will you keep your kids happy and healthy this summer?
You forgot the best part of maintaining a bedtime for kids…you finally get adult time. Seriously though, I am glad you included such important information like protecting their skin from the sun and talking to them about adults who may want to harm them.
Love this! It’s my son’s first time being able to really enjoy summer, given he is only 10 months old, but still! I love the pool safety because my in-laws have a pool that I am excited for him to float around in but I definitely will read up on pool safety for babies! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Really good advice. We’re continuing to homeschool for about an hour a day, just to help with the extreme summer slide that will happen this year. Thanks for the post
Great advice and a great time to teach children these things - when there mind isn’t already filled with school work.
We tend to forget about basic safety issues for kids in the summertime when the whole family tends to spend more time outdoors and schedules are more relaxed. These are all great reminders for any family.
Good thoughts…and yes, that stranger danger talk needs to happen every month! LOL It takes awhile before kids “get it!”
Needful content. Keep creating content like this! Tons of love for you
I must admit the most challenging part of summer for me is maintaining a bedtime. I genuinely enjoy being with my son and we just stay up longer and longer. Luckily, my husband is good at reigning us in.
I love your reminders about keeping some routines and about skin cancer.
These are great tips to keep kids safe this summer! Thanks for the reminder.