I know during this heat wave that has finally brought us what we know to be a New England summer, we have all been struggling to stay cool as well as keep our kids cool and safe. While central air, or air conditioning units in our homes may be blessings, we all do not have them, and even if we do, if your children are like my oldest, there is no keeping him inside the house all day long!
We have taken this heat wave opportunity to incorporate water games and activities into our staying cool regiment.
While visiting our Stop and Shop I was able to discover that the majority of their summer activity products for kids were half price, which made me decided we needed a couple extra things that were not on our list that night. (HaHa)
Just by incorporating our small kiddie pool, sand box in the shade, and the normal garden hose, I was able to provide entertainment for kids that aren’t even my own!
Remember though, with the hot weather comes the higher risk of our little ones becoming dehydrated. Which is much easier for children, especially young children. People do not think of dehydration as something that is serious, but it is, and can lead to more heat related illness like cramps, heat exhaustion, and even heatstroke.
A couple tips to help keep your little ones well hydrated are….
- Teach your children to drink before he/she feels thirsty.
- If your child is going to be outside for a prolonged period of time, for something like a sports activity, or festival, make sure they are well hydrated before heading out, and maintain their hydration levels while they are out.
- If your child prefers juice to water, make sure you dilute the juice with up to 50% water to help properly hydrate them. Juice can cause your child to become dehydrated.
- Limit things like caffeinated beverages, and those that contain high levels of sugar, they are known to cause dehydration.
- Bring snacks that will help to hydrate like watermelon, or grapes. Highly water-rich fruits.
- Pack an iced cooler with plenty of water and drinks.
- Drink lots of water yourself and lead by example. By being a good role model and showing your children it is important to stay hydrated, it will in turn help them to not become dehydrated.
With that being said, overall, just have fun!
Let us know what you and your family is doing to stay cool with this heat wave!
