Summer time is vacation time. Many families plan their annual holidays to coincide with this time of the year; after all, there is nothing like cool hill-station air to beat the raging fury of summer. However, for those not holidaying in the hills, there are still ways to enjoy a thoroughly comfortable and fruitful summer vacation with children. In this articleThings to do indoorsOutdoor activitiesFoods that coolSummer wearCooling your homeThings to do indoors With no school to attend or daily homework to race through, vacations become a time when children can spend the days doing what they like to do most—playing. However, except when it is cooler in the evenings, it is not always advisable to allow children to play outdoors. The solution lies in helping children find ways to have fun inside the house. Instead of letting them laze in front of the television, encourage your children to play board games such as scrabble, carrom, draughts, snakes and ladders, or chess. Jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, and other puzzles are also just perfect for those sultry summer afternoons. Make use of summer vacations to develop your childrens creative talents. Get a roll of drawing paper, pencils, and a box of crayons and watercolours, and encourage your children to express themselves on paper. Alternatively, get them interested in modelling clay. There are ready-to-make clay sets available, which provide hours of fun for children. Contrary to popular perception, most children love to read books and you can develop their love of reading by buying good books appropriate for their ages. Outdoor activities Help your children beat the heat with water. A swimming pool is just perfect for a hot, searing afternoon. Throw in sprinklers, floats, and beach balls, and let your children have a splashing time. You can even devise games by rigging a net across the pool for volleyball, or a competition to fish out treasures strewn around the pool. Evenings, when it is cooler, are a great time to take children to the beach. They will enjoy making sand castles or playing with the surf at the waters edge. Enrol your children in a nature club. Your children will love to go on nature trails or treks, meet and interact with other children, and come away with a lesson on environmental conservation in the process. Do not forget to add sunscreen to their backpack. Foods that cool During summer, your children need foods that are light and cooling. It is important that you guard against dehydration by giving them plenty of fluids to drink. Instead of sodas or aerated drinks, encourage your children to have fresh coconut water. You can also make refreshing lemonade by mixing fresh limejuice with cold water and adding some salt or sugar. Fresh fruit juices and milkshakes are another healthy option that your children will enjoy. Encourage children to eat more fruits. If your child is reluctant, make an attractive platter by slicing pre-chilled fruits such as watermelons, apples, sweet limes and oranges, and arranging them in an attractive manner. Avoid heavily fried foods or spicy foods, as these will only serve to generate more heat. Summer wear Minimalist is the word that best describes summer fashions for kids. Loose cotton clothes will help children stay cooler and prevent conditions such as prickly heat from affecting their delicate skin. Encourage your children to pick lighter colours that will reflect heat. Ideally, cotton hats and caps should form an important part of your childs summer apparel. Substitute leather shoes with light canvas sports shoes and at home allow your children to move about barefoot or wearing flip-flops. Cooling your home Of course, fans or air conditioners will help you make the interiors cooler and more comfortable for your children during summer. However, another simpler and effective way to do this is by closing the blinds and curtains on your windows. Fixing reflective solar film on your windows can also help lower the temperature in your home by as much as seventy percent.
Summer time is vacation time. Many families plan their annual holidays to coincide with this time of the year; after all, there is nothing like cool hill-station air to beat the raging fury of summer. However, for those not holidaying in the hills, there are still ways to enjoy a thoroughly comfortable and fruitful summer vacation with children.
With no school to attend or daily homework to race through, vacations become a time when children can spend the days doing what they like to do most—playing. However, except when it is cooler in the evenings, it is not always advisable to allow children to play outdoors. The solution lies in helping children find ways to have fun inside the house. Instead of letting them laze in front of the television, encourage your children to play board games such as scrabble, carrom, draughts, snakes and ladders, or chess. Jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, and other puzzles are also just perfect for those sultry summer afternoons. Make use of summer vacations to develop your children's creative talents. Get a roll of drawing paper, pencils, and a box of crayons and watercolours, and encourage your children to express themselves on paper. Alternatively, get them interested in modelling clay. There are ready-to-make clay sets available, which provide hours of fun for children. Contrary to popular perception, most children love to read books and you can develop their love of reading by buying good books appropriate for their ages.
Outdoor activities
Help your children beat the heat with water. A swimming pool is just perfect for a hot, searing afternoon. Throw in sprinklers, floats, and beach balls, and let your children have a splashing time. You can even devise games by rigging a net across the pool for volleyball, or a competition to fish out 'treasures' strewn around the pool. Evenings, when it is cooler, are a great time to take children to the beach. They will enjoy making sand castles or playing with the surf at the water's edge. Enrol your children in a nature club. Your children will love to go on nature trails or treks, meet and interact with other children, and come away with a lesson on environmental conservation in the process. Do not forget to add sunscreen to their backpack.
Foods that cool
During summer, your children need foods that are light and cooling. It is important that you guard against dehydration by giving them plenty of fluids to drink. Instead of sodas or aerated drinks, encourage your children to have fresh coconut water. You can also make refreshing lemonade by mixing fresh limejuice with cold water and adding some salt or sugar. Fresh fruit juices and milkshakes are another healthy option that your children will enjoy. Encourage children to eat more fruits. If your child is reluctant, make an attractive platter by slicing pre-chilled fruits such as watermelons, apples, sweet limes and oranges, and arranging them in an attractive manner. Avoid heavily fried foods or spicy foods, as these will only serve to generate more heat.
Summer wear
Minimalist is the word that best describes summer fashions for kids. Loose cotton clothes will help children stay cooler and prevent conditions such as prickly heat from affecting their delicate skin. Encourage your children to pick lighter colours that will reflect heat. Ideally, cotton hats and caps should form an important part of your child's summer apparel. Substitute leather shoes with light canvas sports shoes and at home allow your children to move about barefoot or wearing flip-flops.
Cooling your home
Of course, fans or air conditioners will help you make the interiors cooler and more comfortable for your children during summer. However, another simpler and effective way to do this is by closing the blinds and curtains on your windows. Fixing reflective solar film on your windows can also help lower the temperature in your home by as much as seventy percent.
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we have planned not to go any where this summer. but your article has guided me well, how to spend summer at home. yes, i agree with you, there are lots of thing that can be done in summer in our own house and all the family member will definitely enjoy.
oh, it is so sad as kids to be on vacation and be home. but this article makes me feel less sad about my homebound kids and be more in the want to be creative and try out new things with them mood.thanks
i feel getting hot everyday and my kids get very restless and hot. i feel like taking them out of mumbai. can anyone suggest a nice not-expensive holiday?
hello fellow parents, myself very tired this summer...don't know how you ppl manage in this hot city (myself in mumbai). my kids are at boarding school at ootie and send me such cool photos. i am very happy and feel ekdum thanda just looking at them enjoy.
very nice article. but nothing exceedingly innovative yaar! i've done all those stuff as a kid (now i'm a teenager). i have some more ideas - building a tree house or tent house outside - starting a book club - bird watching. ther are tons of things actually. it depends on the child's creativity. but very good tips about clothing and foods. i hate aerated drinks!
What is your favourite way to help your children beat the heat? Do your children prefer lounging at home or exploring the sunny outdoors? Do you find it difficult to keep your children away from TV when they are indoors? What are your favourite summer activities with your kids?