Throughout the month of July, Boston Children’s Museum is offering several outdoor programs to celebrate our Centennial.
Summertime is outdoor time for many of us, and the warm weather offers endless fun and excitement with so many activities available around the community. With all of this time spent outside, it is important to stay safe and healthy so that you don’t miss out on any fun!
The suggestions below are what we will also be talking about during our Tasty Tuesday program in July. A lot of them might sound like no-brainers, but familiarity with some of these day-to-day safety routines can cause us to forget why they are so important.
I hope everyone has a great summer with a lot of smiles and happiness!
Protect the skin from the sun.
If unprotected, spending too much time outside can cause sunburns or suntans, which increase the risk of getting skin cancer later in life. When children are outside playing, have them wear cover-up clothing, hats, and sunglasses as much as possible. It is really important to apply sunscreen every time you and your child are outside. Make sure to use sunscreen that has at least SPF 15 with UVA/UVB protection. Although you can buy water-resistant sunscreen, there is no “waterproof” sunscreen. So, make sure to reapply sunscreen throughout the day, especially after swimming or sweating.
Drink water.
Water is essential to keeping your body functioning properly. Drinking enough water helps reduce the risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses. The amount of water intake needs to be determined based on children’s age and weight as well as the level of activities that children are engaging in. Breastfed infants do not need additional water, and even most formula-fed infants are fine without additional plain water, although this should be determined with your child’s pediatrician. Due to the concern about added sugar and calories, juice or sport drinks are not recommended.
For children who refuse to drink, you can make it fun! Have your child pick a water bottle, make ice cubes in various-shaped trays, or you can even make ice cubes with fruit juice, which add some nice colors and light flavor without too much worry about sugar.
Pack appropriate food to avoid food poisoning.
Although food safety is very important in any season, food spoilage and food poisoning are more common in hot weather. So, if you are packing your lunch for a picnic or travel, make sure you handle the food properly. It is better to avoid raw or undercooked eggs, which include mayonnaise or other dairy-laden dishes. Make sure that meats are fully cooked, and keep food at the right temperature by packing it with ice (or even frozen drinks or water), insulated bags, and/or by using a Thermos.
What’s most important of all is to wash your hands before you cook and during cooking tasks. Using separate cutting boards and cooking utensils is also effective to avoid food contamination.
These safety topics are highlighted because they are the most relevant to visitors to our museum. For other kinds of situations that do not typically occur around a museum, such as water safety and/or fireworks safety, please visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website for:
Summer Safety tips
Sun and Water Safety Tips
Thank you, and I hope that you have a fun (and safe) summer!
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