Things To Take Care Of While Your Child Play In The Sun During Summer Vacation

by Niraj Jayaswal Content Writer

Summary

Unlike adults who can take care of themselves on their own, children need someone to guide and help them. One of the greatest challenges that parents have to face nowadays is to take care of their children while they are playing out in the sun. Children are very sensitive and can get easily affected by the scorching heat of the sun. As such parents have to be very careful and take all the precautionary measures to ensure that their children are safe and sound. Even the best play school in Delhi lay emphasis on indoor activities and games during extreme summers. However, we cannot simply neglect the importance and benefits of outdoor activities for the physical and mental growth of our child. In case of any queries or suggestions, you can easily consult a pediatric dermatologist. All the related information is also easily available online. Some simple steps can help you and your child to avoid any unnecessary complication and help them to enjoy their summer vacations to the fullest.

Article

Summer vacation is a time that all the children eagerly wait for however, apart from the various fun activities and games, summers also bring along various diseases and challenges. Some parents believe that stopping their children from going out in the sun can help to avoid these however this is not true. Instead of stopping your children from going out during summers, you can rather take some simple measures to take care of your child.

Hire a summer babysitter for your child who'll accompany your child whenever he/she goes outside and makes sure that your child is well hydrated and safe. Babysitters and nannies very well know how to handle children and tend to their needs in summers. This especially proves to be very helpful for new parents who do not have much experience with handling small children.

Newborns and toddler should be kept out of direct sunlight. Sunscreen can be used on children above 6 months of age. Make sure that the SPF is greater than 15. This should be applied on the face, arms, neck and legs 15 minutes prior to going out in the sun. Apply sunscreen after a gap of 2 to three hours. Avoid sunscreens that contain parabens, oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone etc.

Clothing is very important. Make your child wear clothes that allow their skin to breathe and at the same time prevent their skin from coming in contact with the direct sunlight. Choose dark shades of red, blue and green as these do not absorb sunlight. Hats and caps can serve as excellent barriers against direct sunlight. Cool and comfortable clothing helps to avoid skin irritation and rashes.

Prevent your child from going out during the peak sun hours i.e. from 10 am to 4 pm. Plan early morning or late evening play.

Most of the parents ask their children to play in shade believing that this would help to provide relief from the direct sunlight but the reality is that children can get sunburns even while playing in shade. Also, such areas easily attract insects and microbes thereby increasing the chances of infection and allergies.

Keep a note of the weather index. If you are planning to take your child out for a picnic or trip, choose a comparatively cooler day based on the information provided by the weather index.

A nutritious, healthy and balanced diet is also extremely important. Fresh veggies, fruits and food products rich in antioxidants are highly recommended. Watermelon is made up of 92 per cent water content and is rich in vitamin B complex and antioxidants that help to flush out any type of toxins. Watermelon juice, as well as chunks, can help to keep your child well hydrated. Apart from this, tomatoes, coconut water, cucumber, pineapple, barley and cumin can also prove to be very helpful.

Taking regular baths is very important. Playing out in the sun naturally means a lot of sweating and dirt which can give rise to skin allergies, infections and diseases. Avoid using fragrant soaps and lotions. These contain chemicals that can harm your child's delicate skin. You can your calamine lotions instead.

Children tend to easily get dehydrated during summers, as such, it is important to make sure that your child is taking enough fluids in the form of water and fresh fruit juice. You can even make nutritional summer smoothies and shakes that will not only help to keep your child hydrated but also give them all the energy they need for playing out in the sun.

Use Aloe Vera gel in case of sunburns or redness. You can freeze cubes of the gell in an ice tray and rub it over the affected area to give instant relief. In case the discomfort persists, seek immediate medical help.

Proper hygiene plays a key role in avoiding unnecessary infections. Dirty and sweaty hair can promote the growth of lice and dandruff and also lead to chronic scalp infections. It is better to keep your child's hair short or else make sure that the hair is tied neatly in a braid. Frequent hair wash is extremely important.

Conclusion

Hence you do not need to worry about sending your children to play outdoors during summers as these simple tips can help to ensure their safety by protecting them from the scorching heat. It is very easy to find good play schools near you in Delhi that offer a variety of summer based programmes like summer camps and swimming lessons that not only add to the fun but also help your child to learn new things. You can even plan outings with your child. Take them out for an ice-cream or small family picnics during evenings. Plan new games and activities for your child and check on them from time to time. In case of sunburns or allergies, consult a dermatologist immediately. Take care of your child's diet and clothing. Avoid dehydration.