activities for kids

Safety in the Summer Sun

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Precautions should be taken year-round to protect young skin from the harsh effects of the sun. But this is especially important in the summertime when the sun is at its hottest. Aside from sunburns, heatstroke and dehydration are additional hazards to watch out for in young children. But with a few safety steps and by planning ahead you can avoid sunburns and the like.

The best way to prevent sunburns, heatstroke and dehydration is to stay out of the sun. But that isn’t practical or very fun. Buy sunscreen that is specifically made for children and be sure to apply it at least 30 minutes prior to going outside. This gives the sunscreen time to work. Once outside, reapply every two hours or more frequently if there is swimming or a sprinkler involved. There are many products that can be purchased to make this easier from colored sunscreen that goes clear after it is absorbed by the skin to spray brands to make application easier.

Once outside, a hat is still important. Ideally the hat will cover the face, ears and the back of the neck – all very sensitive body parts that are prone to getting burnt. Wearing a hat will also protect you and the kids against heatstroke. Have water available for each child when playing outside. The combination of them running around and the hot sun can quickly dehydrate little bodies.

Staying out of the sun from 11:00 a.m. until after 2:00 p.m. is the best prevention. This is the hottest time of the day and when the sun is at its peak. By avoiding the outdoors at this time of day you can prevent sun related illnesses. If this isn’t possible seek out some shade for the kids to take a break in. Avoiding the sun isn’t the solution it is being smart when you are out in it.

Charades for Kids

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The traditional way to play charades is to have slips of paper with all of the words or items that need to be acted out written down. But to make things easier for the kids and have them use their imaginations more have them decide what they are going to act out without telling anyone. This is a great game for outside or indoors on a rainy day. If some of the children are having a hard time thinking up ideas be prepared with a few back-up ones to whisper in their ear.

If you have enough people to play, charades can be played in teams, but it also works with single players. One person stands up and has to act out a word, object or saying. Depending on the ages of the children, objects are usually the easiest things for them to act out. There is absolutely no talking done by the person who is doing the acting (also called pantomiming).

As the child is trying to get the other kids to guess what they are acting out the kids yell out their guesses. It is okay for the actor to give an indication if they are right, wrong, or on the right track by hand and head gestures. If playing as individuals instead of teams, the first person who correctly guesses the object gets to be the next person to pantomime an object.

Some easy objects for kids to start with are helicopters, airplanes, rowboats, cars. Emotions or actions can be fun too such as laughing, being silly, scared, or crying. For older children they can act out a movie title. When a string of words is involved, it is easiest to tackle one word at a time. This is a classic game that is still around because it is so much fun.

Timeless Running Games – Part 2

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Some running games are best done in teams of four or more children per team. These are great activities for a summer birthday party of if a large group is meeting up at a local park. These games involve all of the children, and no one is going to feel left out.

Red Rover is a game made up of two teams with equal numbers on both sides. The two teams face each other in a line holding hands with their team members space about 20 feet apart. The first team calls over to the other team, “Red rover, red rover, we call child’s name over.” Once a child’s name is called, they run towards the other team trying to break the link of two children holding hands. If the running child is successful and is able to run through, he or she gets to return to their team. If the running child is unsuccessful and can’t break through the held hands, they then join that team. This continues back and forth until there is only one team left or a halt is called to the game.

Soccer is always popular, and everyone knows the basic rules. If there are no nets, make some with either rocks, natural posts such as trees or use outdoor toys. The same idea can apply to football, don’t worry if you don’t have the right kind of ball anyone will do – kids have great imaginations.

Or run just for the sake of running by having a relay race. You can use sticks as the batons or get more creative. Have the kids say silly word or a joke as the pass-off instead of physically passing something back and forth. Or it can be a getting to know you game, each kid has to tell their partner something about themselves for the pass-off.

 

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