Posts Tagged ‘summer’

Heading to the shore this summer? Whether you’re at the public pool or your own private island, brush up on water safety before hitting the waves. Some expert tips below:

Supervision: Even if lifeguards are present, do not permit children to enter the water without supervision. Parents with a child under age 8 should always be within arm’s reach. Water wings are no substitute for your watchful eyes and assistance. Any child wearing a flotation device in the water should be accompanied by an adult.

Rules: Have your kids follow them. For water park activities, be aware of special height and weight requirements, the depth of the water and your child’s swimming ability. Go down slides feet first, and know the water depth before diving.

Equipment: If you have a private pool, keep rescue gear and a phone nearby. Install a self-locking gate at the pool entrance to bar curious young explorers from gaining unsupervised access.

Safety Training: Learn CPR and first aid skills.

Beach Conditions: Allow swimming only when a lifeguard is on duty, and make sure kids swim in front of the lifeguard stand. Be aware of special conditions — rough water, high waves, an undertow — that can make frolicking in the surf more difficult. Teach kids that if they are caught in a rip current they should swim parallel to the shoreline until released and then head back to shore.

For more information, visit redcross.org.

City or suburb? Any growing family will debate the merits of subway versus SUV (sorry, hybrid).

“The City Kid and the Suburban Kid” is a modern take on Aesop’s classic, “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse.” With two similar-but-different stories in one, the book tells the tale of two cousins who visit each other over the summer. Naturally, after the novelty of new ice-cream parlors, parks and panoramic views, each realizes that the grass isn’t always greener.

But you knew that.

Available at oliebollen.com.

How many times have you found yourself unprepared when confronted with sun? Not only is your inner Girl Scout disappointed, but you worry about baby’s unprotected skin.

Throw some of the handy new Baby Silk sunscreen towelettes in your bag. The soft wipes (developed by pediatrician moms) are saturated with a gentle, sweat-proof, broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen that’s safe for young babies (one wipe will cover an infant, though you may want to double up).

When in doubt, sunscreen.

Available at mdmoms.com.

In those lazy, hazy days of summer, boredom can set in whenever camp, the beach or a play-date is not on the agenda.

Don’t let precious free time go to waste. Every Monday Matters is guidebook of simple activities families can do to give back to the community and raise social awareness. The list of 52 free (or nearly free) ways to make a difference will keep those whines of “I’m boooored” at bay. And there’s no time like the present: Help your kids get started on the weekly to-do list with one of these ideas.

Donate books. Go through your bookshelves and pull out books that you will never read again or have owned for more than 2 years and haven’t read yet. Call your local library, school, foster home or children’s organization to see if they need books.

Turn off the TV. Make a list of activities to do besides watching TV — reading, biking, swimming, walking, gardening or socializing with friends. Then start doing them.

Show your smile. Smile at everyone you see. Keep track of how many times you smile and laugh. At the end of your day of smiling, notice how you feel and whether people acted differently around you.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

That’s why artist Suzy Lee decided to go sans speech in her new children’s book, Wave. Depicting a little girl’s day at the beach, the story’s simplicity underscores a joyful tale of sun, sand and surf. And the beachy watercolor tones make it a perfect summer day’s reading.

Rather, viewing.

Available online at amazon.com.