Summer Safety for Kids: Essential Tips for a Fun and Safe Season

Summer Safety for Kids

Summer Safety for Kids: Essential Tips for a Fun and Safe Season

Summer is a season filled with sunshine, outdoor adventures, and family fun. But while kids are enjoying the warm weather, parents and caregivers must prioritize summer safety for kids to prevent accidents and keep everyone healthy and happy. From sunburns to bug bites, and playground mishaps to water hazards, summer brings unique challenges. Here are practical tips to ensure your children have a safe and enjoyable summer break.

1. Sun Safety is a Must

Children’s skin is especially sensitive to the sun’s rays. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to all exposed skin, even on cloudy days. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating. Dress your kids in lightweight, long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses with UV protection. Encourage playtime in shaded areas during peak sun hours, usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

2. Stay Hydrated

Hot temperatures can quickly lead to dehydration in children. Make sure your kids drink water frequently, especially during outdoor play or sports. Avoid sugary drinks and sodas, which can contribute to dehydration. Keep reusable water bottles handy and remind children to take frequent water breaks.

3. Water Safety Awareness

Whether it’s a pool, beach, or backyard splash pad, water safety is crucial. Always supervise children around water, no matter their age or swimming ability. Enroll kids in age-appropriate swimming lessons to build their confidence and skills. Ensure your home pool is surrounded by a fence with a self-latching gate and keep life jackets available for inexperienced swimmers or boating activities.

4. Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are real dangers for active children. Watch for symptoms like dizziness, nausea, excessive sweating, or confusion. Dress kids in light-colored, breathable clothing and schedule outdoor activities in the cooler parts of the day. Let them rest in shaded or air-conditioned areas regularly to cool down.

5. Insect and Bug Protection

Mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects are more active during the summer months. Use child-safe insect repellents when outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas. Check your children for ticks after playing outside, and teach them to avoid tall grass or brush. Keep your yard trimmed and eliminate standing water to reduce mosquito breeding areas.

6. Playground and Bike Safety

Ensure that playgrounds are well-maintained and age-appropriate. Supervise children on slides, swings, and climbing equipment to prevent falls and injuries. When biking, skating, or scootering, children should always wear properly fitting helmets and protective gear. Teach them traffic safety rules and make sure bikes are in good working condition.

By taking a few extra precautions, you can ensure a safe summer for kids filled with fun and learning. From sun protection and hydration to water and playground safety, these simple tips can help your family make the most of the season without accidents or stress. Stay safe, be prepared, and enjoy every sunny moment!

Pin me!

Summer Safety for Kids: Essential Tips for a Fun and Safe Season

You may also like:

Teaching Kids About Electrical Safety

Teaching Kids About Electricity

We have many new items in our shops.  Check them out!

Abundant Family Living Store

eBay

Etsy

Brave Books

Mary Kay

Road ID: Keeping Older Children Safe

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The Road ID App

When my children were younger, I thought I would lose some of my “overprotective” tendencies when they grew up.

I was wrong.

I didn’t hover over my children 27/7 or try to solve all their problems in life.  I tried to teach them to take care of themselves, but I always worried about their safety.  I think most of us can admit that by the time our children reach their 20s, we worry about them just as much as we did when they were babies.  Our concern over our children’s welfare and safety never goes away.

My daughter is a runner.  Until she reached college, I didn’t let her run on the roads by herself.  I only allowed her to run with a friend during her high school years because she had to run the roadways for cross country and soccer training.  She is 20 years old now and runs alone but it worries me sick.

She is a thoughtful, sweet girl who appreciates her mother’s worry so she found an app called Road ID and told me to download it to my phone.  This app is awesome!  The Road ID App is something that, in my opinion, can provide parents with a tool for monitoring their older kids while they are out running, walking, or maybe even biking.  My daughter uses it when she runs and I can keep track of her every move.

Here is how it works.

When my daughter begins her run, she activates the app and I get a text message like this:

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

I am writing about keeping our kids safe so, in the interest of my daughter’s safety, I have blocked out personal information.  No matter where I am, I get this text message when Brianne begins her run.  I know she is on the road so I can click the tracking URL provided and track her every move.  For example, during this run, I clicked the URL and this is what I saw:

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

When I clicked on the tracking URL, I could see a map which points out Brianne’s most recent location.  The road ID app refreshes automatically every minute.  If she doesn’t move at all, I know something is wrong or if she moves much too fast, as if she may have been forced into a car, I will know that too – AND, I can see a map and pinpoint her location.  I can see the map as long as the app is active and a potential attacker/kidnapper doesn’t know I’m tracking her.

When my daughter is running, I check the Road ID app every few minutes.  That way, I know what road she is on every minute of her run.  When she gets back home and is safely in our driveway, she pushes a button and I get another message letting me know she is safely home.  Yay!

Our Summer Family Fun Link Up!

Summer is a time when families are outside and traveling a lot more so safety should be a top priority, no matter how young or how old your family is.  We are not traveling this summer but we are spending a lot of time at parks and pools.  What is your family doing this summer?  If you’re a blogger and you are writing about summer family fun or ways to keep your family safe during outdoor activities, link up your posts below!  We want to see your tips for summer family fun!

Your 30 Summer Family Fun Cohosts

Barb of A Life in Balance
Mitzi of Written Reality
Jen of Making Our Life Matter
Candi of A Day in Candiland
Steph of A Grande Life
Laina of The Art of Living Fabulously
Reesa of Momma Lew
Bethany of The Southern Couture
Paris of My Big Fat Happy Life
Brenda of Schooling a Monkey
Stefanie of Making of a Mom
Katie of A Mother Thing
Heather of Divas Run for Bling
Stephanie of Stuck in Your Rut
Laci of Sequins in the South
Kristia of Family Balance Sheet
Wendy of The Art Of “Why Not?”
Nichole of Sweet October
Angie of Joyful Journey
Lux of About Life And Love
Nikki of Tikkido
Shirley of Intelligent Domestications
Rhonda of MultiTaskingMaven
Holly of While I’m Waiting…
Lisa of Syncopated Mama
Tina of Abundant Family Living
Vicki of Five Spot Green Living
Kim of Life in a House of Testosterone
Liz of Motherhood Muse
Sofia of FUN WITH A MESSAGE

This InLinkz account has expired. You can still view the linkup here.