Summer is an exciting time for kids. It means running around outside under the sprinkler, building sandcastles at the beach with friends and cooling off with a refreshing ice cream. Keep your child’s summer untainted by sunburn by following these few safety tips.

Protect their skin

Sunburnt skin ruins summer fun. Teach your child early on how to be sun smart; then they can enjoy the benefits of a healthy Vitamin D dose and not suffer the associated pain of itchy, peeling and painful burnt skin. The first step is to engrain habits early. Make a routine, do each task in the same order every time. Sunscreen should be SPF 30+ and be applied at least 20 minutes before going outside and reapplied every 2 hours thereafter. Get your child used to wearing sunglasses from an early age and make it fun by purchasing bright colours, or let them choose their special pair. Lead by example and wear a broad brimmed hat. Retail stores stock a range of stylish items; you don’t have to look like a daggy parent to be sun safe. Again, let your child have some input in the hat purchasing process (within reason). Spending a little more on the spider man hat is well worth the extra 10 dollars if they are excited to wear it. Shelling out a little more money now may mean saving them from skin cancers later.

Responsible fun in the sun

It’s easy to play in the sun safely if you know how. Being in the sun at the wrong time can be the difference between a great summer play day and vomit inducing heatstroke. Dehydration can cause a myriad of problems. Prepare your children and have them drink plenty of water before they go out in the sun. Ensure they take periodic breaks to rehydrate and snack on water based fruit. If your child happens to get dehydrated during the day, make hydration fun and give them electrolyte ice blocks. No amount of diligent water consumption will keep your child hydrated if their essential salts are depleted. Limit time outside between the hours of 11am and 4pm or have your children play in the shade during this period. Don’t be fooled by cloudy skies, the majority of UV rays cut through cloud cover and your child could still end up with burnt skin. Get your kids in the habit of applying an after sun moisturiser such as aloe vera to keep their skin soft and hydrated. Grown your own plant for a fun holiday project.

Swim safely

Swimming in the backyard pool provides hours of entertainment and forms irreplaceable childhood memories. However, extra precautions need to be taken when spending sunny days in the pool. Sunscreen washes off in water, therefore more frequent applications are necessary. Body parts submerged in water are still susceptible to the sun. Check the pH level of your pool and have your children wear protective goggles to ward off all-too-common eye injuries sustained from pool chemicals. Invest in a pool cover, such as those at Fabric Solutions, to minimise evaporation, thus, reducing the need to use extra chemicals.

Implementing a sun safety routine will make it second nature for your little ones. Summer time will be a breeze and they will thank you later in life when they don’t have to go under the laser.

The post How to Keep Your Kids Safe From the Harsh Summer Sun appeared first on All Mum Said.

Put children in a swimming pool and you can be assured that they will have the greatest time and will create their own fun! Always make sure they are properly attired with swim shirts, sun hats, sunscreen and swim goggles. The same goes for any adults who are swimming in the pool; they should set a good example.

Pool Noodles

How cheap are pool noodles? You will certainly get your money’s worth with this purchase! Besides using them to hang onto or sit on, six pool noodles can be tied together to make a raft. Let the kids use their imagination to create other pool noodle creations and see how much fun they have.

Beach balls or rubber duckies

Start at one end of the pool. All players are given a beach ball or rubber duckie that they must push to the other end of the pool. However, no hands, feet or mouth can be used. The winner is the player who gets to the other end first, without cheating!

Marco Polo

No pool fun would be complete without the old favourite Marco Polo, which has been around for generations. One person is ‘it’. With their eyes closed, they must try to tag any of the other swimmers in the pool. If tagged, that person becomes ‘it’. Players must keep quiet so the ‘it’ person does not know where they are. However, the ‘it’ person can call out ‘Marco’ to which all players must respond with ‘Polo’. This gives the ‘it’ player a hint as to the others whereabouts. This game will have players shrieking with delight!

Pool volleyball or basketball
These games will keep the older kids entertained. You can purchase pool specific volleyball or basketball games or let the kids create their own with a ball, large bucket placed at the end of the pool or a line rigged up across the pool. The water makes the body lightweight, so these games are ideal for extra ball leverage.

What’s the time Mr Shark/Mr Crocodile?

The same concept as What’s the time Mr Wolf. Children group at one end of the pool, with the exception of Mr Shark, who has his/her back to the group. The group repeatedly asks “What’s the time Mr Shark?”. Mr Shark will say random times, until he pounces around with “Dinner Time!” Whoever he catches for dinner is out. The game then carries on until all players are eaten for dinner.

Pool games are a great source of fun for children of all ages. The only problem you may have is getting them out of the pool! Entice them with some refreshments to allow them to have a little time to rest and recharge. For health and safety reasons, always make sure your swimming pool is kept in optimum condition. Alliance Pool Stores can take care of all your pool needs. Throw in some pool toys like inflatable rings or sea creatures to give the kids a chance to just have some fun without any organised games. Pool games are also a great way for young ones to improve their water skills and confidence.

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