Summer is the most exciting time of year for you and your toddler. Longer days and warmer temperatures mean more time outside exploring. With all these exciting adventures come some new risks and dangers. Don’t put away the beach toys just yet! We have compiled some of the best tips to keep you prepared this summer. From too much sun exposure to bug bites, these tips will keep your family enjoying fun in the sun all summer long.
Top 10 Safety Tips for Young Kids:
Protect against the sun– Avoid being in the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. or try to alternate between the sun and shade.
Clothing– Dress your child in a hat, sunglasses, and clothing made with a tight weave to avoid over exposure to the sun when you are outside for long periods of time.
Use sunscreen- Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, even if it’s cloudy outside. You and your child can still burn if it’s cloudy outside. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.
Keep cool- Avoid heat exhaustion! Symptoms of heat exhaustion include fatigue, extreme thirst, muscle cramping, nausea, dizziness, and confusion. Children are encouraged to drink between 4 and 10 ounces of fluid for every 15 to 20 minutes of play outside.
Water danger- Children under the age of 4 should not be enrolled in formal swimming lessons. Always float with children within arm’s reach while in the pool. Drowning is the leading cause of death among toddlers. Get rid of all distractions and focus solely on your child while in the water. Don’t rely on water wings or inflatable toys to keep your child safe.
Avoid bee stings– Don’t put patterned clothing or fragrances on your child, it will attract bees. Don’t leave food and drinks out, if a bee lands on or next to your child remain calm and gently blow it away.
Avoid bug bites- Cover children with lightweight clothing and use mosquito nettings in strollers. Use insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing to keep the mosquitos at bay. Tick check your child when he or she come inside from a day outside.
Never wait in a hot car- It takes 10 minutes for a car to heat up by 19 degrees. Never leave a child in a hot car. Fatalities can occur at temperatures as low as the mid-50s because vehicles heat up so quickly. Children are at a greater risk for heat stroke because their bodies heat up much faster.
Avoid Injury- Make helmets a priority! Children should always wear a properly fittings helmet when riding a bike and don’t forget to fasten the chin strap. You should wear a helmet as well to set a good example for your child. Wear closed toed shoes to avoid injury from flip flops tripping up your child when riding a bike and at the playground. Only let your children play in playgrounds with several inches of a soft shock-absorbent material like gravel, wood chips or rubber mulch.
Fire Safety– At your child’s height, he or she is especially vulnerable to burns from the oven, stovetop, fireplace, barbecue grill, and fire pit. Be sure to turn all pot handles toward the back of the stove and be especially cautious with fireworks. Don’t let your child hold fireworks or sparklers. Make sure your toddler is wearing shoes to avoid burns from hot embers on the ground and keep lighters and matches well out of reach.
Learn More About Our Greenville, NC Daycare
Teaching summer safety techniques from an early age will help influence your child to practice safe summer habits in the future. Children, who begin learning healthy habits within the first few years of life, tend to maintain those habits throughout their life. To learn more about developing summer safety habits for your children or how safe summer practices can be taught to your child, contact our Greenville NC Daycare today. At Children’s Campus of Greenville, we understand the importance of providing children with the tools and guidance necessary to achieve maximum cognitive, social, emotional and creative development. We are currently enrolling for the toddler program and look forward to hearing from you! Please call us with questions at (252) 756-8200 or contact us to schedule a tour.
My husband and I signed our daughter up for daycare at Children's Campus in a desperate need. We had the opportunity to tour the center which we instantly fell in love with everything about it. Since our daughter has been attending Children's Campus she has done nothing but flourish in development. All of her teachers that she had been with since being here have been the sweetest and most caring, and that does not stop with the teachers as all of the staff at this center share constant love for the children. This is all evident by always being greeted with cheerful smiles, as well as witnessing everyone else being treated the same.
Laura L., Greenville
By spending time in my children's classrooms, I have witnessed the teachers' dedication and passion for working with children. Each day provides a stimulating experience in an atmosphere that fosters learning, as well as development of social, emotional, and gross and fine motor skills, all of which helps boost self-esteem. Each day when I drop them off I am confident Children's Campus provides a loving, nurturing , and attentive environment where my kids can play, learn, grow, and thrive!
