Summer is the time for fun in the sun, and if you have a family you need to keep in mind that too much of a good thing isn’t always healthy and the sun is a perfect example. Too much sun can burn your skin, and kids are more susceptible than adults. Sunburn can cause skin cancers, and will also age your skin much faster than if you spent your life in the shade. What’s the solution? Sunscreen, and lots of it as often as required. If your kids are playing in the water you should make sure the sunscreen is water repellent too, and reapply it each time they towel off as the towel can remove the protection as well as the water.
Two things we often forget about when we’re playing in the sun are also vital to our wellbeing: our eyes. Our eyes can be damaged by too much sun, too! It’s important that you teach your kids to get in the habit of wearing sunglasses when their out and about, so the sun doesn’t damage their eyesight. Of course this seems more important in summer when the sun is blazing, but if you live in a cold climate where you get a lot of snow the bright reflection of sun on snow can also cause damage to your eyesight.
Just any sunglasses won’t do when it comes to protecting your eyes. Make sure you purchase glasses with full UV protection to maximize your eyesight safety when you’re playing in the sun. The same goes for your kids; while you may have a hard time keeping them in sunglasses it’s a good idea to instill the habit while their young.
Of course, the sun isn’t the only thing you have to worry about in summer. Make sure your kids can swim, and make sure you use a quality insect repellent when you’re in an area beset with mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs that bite. There are lots of diseases that can be transmitted by an insect bite, and you don’t want your summer ruined by a trip to the emergency room!
