Children love to be outdoors. Playing tag, being on a swing, playing ball… all of these and more are favourites when it comes to summer activities for children. Come summer, however, the soaring temperature becomes a great cause of concern for parents. They are worried about how to keep the child safe in the excessive heat. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke are all common during this period.

Read on for some handy tips on how children can be protected even though the weather turns very hot.

Indoor games:

First things first, with the sun blazing outside as far as possible, ensure that the children do not step out, especially in the peak hours. If you are worried that staying indoors means they will turn to the screen, here are some ideas for indoor games to keep them gainfully engaged. As you will notice, some of these indoor games also ensure that they get the much-needed movement:

Fort Building:

Utilize blankets, pillows, and chairs to create a cozy and imaginative fort for reading, storytelling, or simply relaxing. 

Board Games and Puzzles:

Engage in family game nights with board games like Monopoly, UNO, or Ludo. Puzzles and LEGO building can also encourage creativity and problem-solving. 

Creative Arts and Crafts:
Explore activities like drawing, coloring, finger painting, or making homemade crafts. Consider DIY tie-dye, shadow art, or even creating a summer scrapbook. 

Indoor Treasure Hunts:
Hide small prizes or clues around the house for a fun and engaging activity. 

Science Experiments:
Try simple science experiments like making slime, building a volcano, or exploring the properties of ice and water. 

Imaginative Play:
Pretend to go on a picnic, explore a jungle, or even create a puppet show. 

Indoor Olympics:
Set up a series of fun and engaging challenges like a couch cushion jump, a laser maze, or a mini-bowling game. 

Reading:
Encourage children to read books of different genres and explore the world of literature. 

Cooking and Baking:
Involve children in age-appropriate cooking and baking activities, like making homemade ice cream or cookies. 

Sensory Play:
Set up a sensory bin with items like dried beans, rice, or pasta to stimulate the senses. 

Indoor Picnic:
Arrange a cozy indoor picnic with snacks and drinks, and encourage children to help set up the picnic blanket. 

When children do need to step outside, here are some steps you can take to beat the heat:

• Ensure the children remain hydrated. Ensure you carry their water bottle or sipper with you whenever you go out. 
• Make sure that the children dress for the weather. Choose breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen that are kind to the skin. If the child isn’t sweaty, they are also likely to be less irritable. Activewear is also a great option that allows sweat to dry quickly. Make sure the child dresses in light colours and the clothes are not too tight fitting. It will also be a good idea not to load the child with too many accessories, except the essential ones, of course. Sun hats and sunglasses that offer protection from UV rays are key. In choosing the sunglasses also make sure you go with break resistant lenses,
• Use plenty of sunscreen that offers the right UV protection. Make sure you go with a brand that manufactures child friendly sunscreen that is suited to their delicate skin.
• Adequate rest in those days that the child needs to step out, is key. Ensure that once they are indoors, they can cool off and rest adequately. A cool bath or water mist can also be just what they need. 

Even after taking the above precautions, there’s a chance that the child shows signs of heat related illness. In such cases, it is imperative that you recognise these signs early. Here are some signs to watch out for:

• The child faints or feels faint
• Feels absolutely listless
• Develops a fever
• Does not urinate for several hours
• Develops nausea or vomiting
• Shows signs of increased thirst
• Has muscle aches or spasms

In the above cases, ensure that you bring the child immediately to a cool area. It will also be advisable to remove the child’s excess clothing and encourage the child to drink water or a cool liquid that has salt and sugar. Putting a wet cloth on the child’s skin will also provide relief. Do reach out to the child’s pediatrician if the child doesn’t feel better as he or she may need to be put on IV fluids. 

To Sum Up

Much as summer is a time of fun and frolic, it is also a time  to be careful with the child’s health. With some small precautions you can make sure that the child’s health isn’t compromised and they can make the most of the season and of the vacations.

Here is to a lot of summer fun, to summer activities for children, and to good health!For more such informative content, do stay tuned to this space. At Footprints we are committed to the holistic development of children. Their physical, mental and emotional health is of great priority to us. Little surprise then that Footprints Play School has emerged as a preferred parenting partner.