Summer Sun Safety for Kids

Hooray for summertime! We all look forward to afternoons spent by the pool, trips to the park and beach days. What do all of these things have in common? Sun exposure, that’s what! Now, the sun is certainly not something we should fear. It helps our bodies produce Vitamin D and is proven to boost mood, but too much of it can lead to skin damage and other health problems. Now is the time to teach your kids about sun safety and what they can to do make the most of sunny days without compromising their health.

Here’s what you can do to help your children develop good sun safety habits:

• Dress them in lightweight, light-colored clothing (Did you know that there is even clothing made specifically to block UV rays?)
• Lather on sunscreen with at an SPF of at least SPF 30, even when it’s cloudy. Experts recommend putting sunscreen on about a half an hour prior to sun exposure and reapplying approximately ever 2 hours. (note: Infants under 6 months should not wear sunscreen. Instead, make sure they’re covered up with protective clothing).
• Invest in a good bottle of waterproof sunblock, as water intensifies the sun’s effect on skin due to reflection.
• Try to minimize the amount of time spent in direct sunlight between 10AM and 4PM, as this is the period when the sun’s rays are the strongest and most damaging.
• Make sure all family members wear sunglasses! People often forget that the eyes are as prone to sun damage as the skin.

But what if it’s too late for all that and your child gets a sunburn? While prevention should always be top of mind, there are ways to ease the pain of sunburn.

• Encourage them to drink more water than usual
• Run a cool bath
• Use lotion with lots of aloe on all affected areas of the skin
• Give them ibuprofen or acetaminophen
• Avoid any sun exposure until skin has healed

Also, be aware of the signs of severe sunburn and/or sun poisoning. Symptoms like nausea, headache, fever and light-headedness warrant a trip to the doctor.

Summer activities are the best, but make sure that your child enjoys them without skin damage this season. If your child is spending their days in childcare or at summer camp, talk to the care provider to ensure that they too follow proper sun safety habits for outdoor activities. At Apple Tree summer camp, our teachers and center directors are meticulous about smart sun protection for campers. Call or contact us today to enroll in summer camp!

 

5 Options for Summer Child Care and Summer Camp

For parents who work  outside the home, summer can be an awkward time when it comes to finding appropriate and affordable childcare. The good news is that parents in this situation have lots of viable options at their fingertips. The one (or ones) you choose will be largely dependent on the amount of care your kids require (time), their ages and your budget. We’ve highlighted 5 possibilities for summer childcare that just might fit the bill for you and your family this year!

Babysitter/Nanny

Having a dedicated in-home caregiver during the summertime is the ultimate ideal for many parents who feel more at ease knowing that their child is spending time in familiar surroundings when they aren’t home. Many college students home on break offer their time and services for this purpose. Pros: Kids stay where they are familiar, fewer transportation costs, dedicated care for your children alone. Cons: You provide the food and snacks, kids may not get out as often as they would at camp or elsewhere, can be cost prohibitive.

Shared Sitter/Nanny

Getting together with a group of other parents for shared in-home childcare is a great way to go for those who want to pool resources and caregivers. Kathy Murdock of EveryDayFamily.org explains the arrangement: “Several working parents in my neighborhood got together and hired a local high school girl. She will sit several children at once. She is certified in CPR and took a babysitting course through the local Y…she switches houses each week; the ‘host house’ pays for the lunches that week for purchasing sandwich stuff and drinks.” Pros: Less expensive than a personal babysitter, children are better socialized, better compensation for sitter likely. Cons: Less one-on-one attention for each child, often requires that kids of varying ages get along well (sometimes a challenge!).

 Specialty Camp

What does your child enjoy doing? Playing soccer? Acting in plays? Painting? Whatever it is, you can bet that there is a summer camp for it.  These camps are often less expensive than full-bodied summer camps because of the narrower scope of activities. Pros: Specific focus and community for the child, generally less costly. Cons: Sometimes have shorter hours, can be boring for kids with a wide variety of interests.

Sleepaway Camp

I’m sure we all have fond (or not so fond) memories of going away to summer camp, sending notes home to the family and coming home in August with lots of new pen pals. Overnight camps are great for kids with little to no separation anxiety and great for parents who need a break. Pros: All meals and laundry are taken care of by the camp provider, kids form especially close relationships with camp friends. Cons: Can be more costly than day camp.

Day Camp

A good daytime summer camp is the perfect solution for many parents.  Day camp is a good middle ground between a home-based babysitter/nanny and sleepaway camp and in terms of hours of care during the work week, is often about the same as the regular school year. This provides both parent and kids with little schedule adjustment. Pros: Same care hours as the school year (in many cases), structured fun. Cons: Sometimes more costly than a shared sitter.

 

Now’s the time to make your decisions regarding summer childcare. If you live in Chesapeake, Suffolk or the surrounding Hampton Roads area, we invite you to consider Apple Tree’s daytime summer camp, International Spy Academy. Our summer camp runs from June 16 to August 29 and will be full of fun, age-appropriate educational activities, field trips and “espionage.” Visit the summer camp page for more information and call your nearest Apple Tree Learning Center location to register.