Keeping cool, mom!
Tips on how to keep cool on hot summer days.
(Image: Shutterstock)
Summers in South Africa can get be awesome but they can get quite hectic. With temperatures soaring up to 35 degrees this week and everyone wilting like flowers it's a good idea to keep the kids cool and out of the maddening heat.
Here are some tips on how to protect your kids in the heat:
1. Sunblock
There will be times when you just can't avoid being out in the sun, so make sure to cover your little ones from head to toe in a high SPF. Kids skins are so much more sensitive than adults.
2. Hydrate
Your body sweats to keep cool, you're losing a lot of water. So put a few bottles of water in the fridge and send them with your kids to school and have some in the fridge when they get home in the afternoons.
3. Cool clothes
Ditch the jeans and dark colours and bring out the shorts, light colours, skirts and dresses. Also make sure your kids have hats on when they're going to be in the sun.
4. Just keep swimming
Stay out of the sun between 12 and 3, when the sun as at it's hottest but after that lather up the sunlight and take them swimming, turn on the sprinkler or let them loose with water guns.
5. Stay indoors
Open the windows, shut the blinds and curtains and turn on the fans. Or if you have an AC, use that.
We asked our Facebook fans how they keep their kids cool in the heat. Here are some of their tips and advice:
Pop them in the fridge. - Jennifer Crocker
Lol Jennifer. My little girl prefer cooling down in the dogs' water bowl instead of her swimming pool. Otherwise I give her n bottle with cool water to play with inside-she loves it. Or I put the sprayer on the paving under the tree and let her sit and play under it. She loves water, so I have many options. - Johanie Willemse
Water guns and one for mommy as well ;) - Carole Steffen
Pool, aircons, fans and ice cream. - Debbie Bowley Haylett
Keep them indoors, even @ school, under a/c & fans! - Doray Sass
How do you keep your kids cool in a heatwave?