The lazy days of summer are finally here! Have you been having fun with your family so far? We’ve been enjoying the nice weather and taking advantage of not having such zany schedules.
My favorite part of the summer is to embody the “lazy” from the “lazy days of summer” motto and attempt to find ways to convince my family to embark upon that journey with me. Far from becoming couch potatoes, slowing down is more of a state of mind…a way to refuel and take some time to just go where the wind blows and unclog our minds from the months of road dust that our more hurried lives had deposited.
The unique elements of the summer are the prefect backdrop for this much needed change of pace, but also need to be considered for their powerful seasonal characteristics. To get you on your way, here are my Lazy Summer tips:
Lube up! The sun is stronger this time of year and puts everyone at risk for burning so lube up everyone liberally (2 months and older) with sunscreen SPF 15 or higher.
Always hydrate. Heat illnesses are serious and can creep on kids and adults quickly. Keep everyone hydrated and if anyone seems overly tired or looks dehydrated, seek care immediately.
Zap those bugs. Biting bugs can carry infection so be sure to use DEET bug spray 10-30% for children 2 months of age and older.
You only have one head so protect it! If someone is in motion on a bike, skateboard or even jet ski, they need to protect the head. Having a “no helmet, no bike/skakeboarding/etc policy” and wearing a helmet yourself goes a long way in reinforcing this rule.
Swim smartly. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all kids 4 and older take swim lessons. However, this isn’t a replacement for adult supervision near water but a way to assist children in becoming more water safe as they get older and stronger.
Unplug! Use the summer to unplug and get outdoors. Untethered by technology, you’ll all see the world differently and find yourselves unwinding in ways impossible to during the school year.
Mowing is for adults. Lawn mowers injuries are incredibly serious and avoidable. Kids younger than 12 should never operate push mowers and kids under 16 should never operate ride-ons. And, kids should never ride on mowers with anyone else…ever!
Move and groove every day! Take advantage the long days of summer to get everyone moving more and every day. You may even find a few activities that can carry over into the next school year.
Eat for the season. The summer is a goldmine for wonderful, fresh fruits and vegetables that make eating new and exciting, even for kids. Take advantage of that to find new, healthy foods for your family that can carry over into the fall and winter, and help balance out the yummy summer ice cream treats.
Remember to focus on fun and family! Family time can be a precious commodity in the school year so grab it while you can this summer and just go for broke with fun being the only rule.
Here’s to a fantastic summer!
