3 Ways To Keep Your Young Children Healthy This Summer

Summer is a great time of year for your kids to get outside and be active. However, you also need to make sure that you are aware of the health risks to your children during the summer and make sure that you take specific precautions to protect your children's health this summer.

1. Make Sunscreen Part of Your Routine

When you get up and get ready in the morning, making putting on sunscreen just part of getting ready, like brushing your teeth. That way, if your kids go outside, even for a short period of time, your kid's skin will be protected.

Make it a mandatory part of going outside to put on sunscreen as well. If your kids want to go to the pool, put the sunscreen on before heading outside. If you are going to the park, put on the sunscreen. Carry some extra bottles of sunscreen in your car and bag to apply on the go as well. Sunscreen is important, even when it is overcast, the sun can be intense. Sunscreen will protect your child from painful burns that will keep your child inside.

2. Go Outside When It's Cool

Schedule your day so that your kid's outside play time happens when it is cooler outside. Take your kids out to play in at the park or in the yard in the morning. During the heat of the day when it is hottest where you live, keep your kids inside with activities such as nap time, reading time, or arts and craft time. Then let your kids play outside again in the evening when it starts to cool off again. Avoiding the heat of the day will help ensure that your kids don't experience heat exhaustion.

3. Incorporate Healthy Snacks

Summer is a great time to get your kids to enjoy some healthy snacks. You can invest your kids in eating fruits and vegetables by planting and taking care of your own vegetable garden. You can also take your kids with you to the farmer's market or to a u-pick farm. Allowing your kids to connect with the food, see how it is grown, and where you purchase the food from, can help your children connect with and want to eat food.

Rely on vegetables and fruits for all of your summer snacks. Pack apples and nut butter for a quick snack. Cut up fresh fruit to help satisfy your children's hunger and thirst when playing outside. Give your kids celery, carrots, and bell pepper slices with hummus for a hearty afternoon snack. Help your children develop healthy eating and snacking habits that will hopefully carry over to the rest of the year this summer.

For more information, contact a company like Kids Choice Pediatrics.

Share