Despite a relatively cool June and early July, hopes are high that the sun will come out in time for the summer holidays. But young children can find it hard to cope with extreme weather temperatures. Young children can quickly overheat, especially if they are travelling, and can make keeping to nighttime routines challenging. And children that are too hot can quite quickly become grumpy with siblings and friends.
Help is at hand! You can get quite creative with what’s around the house for those melting moments… Charlotte Cryer, Head of Acorns Early Years at Ashville College, has some interesting ideas to help mums and dads through the warmer weather.
· Set up a splash play area: In a waterproof area, put a small amount of water in a large but shallow container such as a baking sheet or pan. Give your child toys or clean sponges to tap, splat and stir the water. Besides being super fun, all that splashing and grasping different toys and items is great sensory play.
· Set them to work! Set up a ‘sink play’ zone at your kitchen sink. Fill a sink or basin with water, some dish soap, a few drops of food colouring, and plastic dishes and spoons. Your kids will have a blast mixing up potions, ‘washing’ the dishes, and scooping up and pouring out water. Throw in a couple of ice cubes and it becomes a whole new adventure! Older children can stand on a chair at the sink. Parent tip: put a couple of towels underneath/around them if you’re inside!
· Try ice cube painting: Fill ice cube trays with water and different food colourings, and use the frozen cubes to ‘paint’ on paper. The creativity will flow as they use their imagination and stay cool.
· ‘Paint’ with water: Another painting idea involves using clean brushes and rollers, a bucket of water, and your driveway, fence, or balcony. There will probably be just as much water on them as on their ‘canvas’, but that’s okay!
· Make a chilly dinosaur dig: Young archaeologists will enjoy an exploratory dig through icy terrain. Simply fill a bucket of water with some plastic dinosaurs or other toys, freeze it in layers, and let your child chip away at it with a spoon or toddler-sized hammer. Remember to outfit them with some goggles to protect their eyes during this activity.
Playful ways for older kids to stay cool · Aim and toss: Wet sponges to make reusable ‘water balloons’ and let the kids run around and throw them at each other. Unlike water balloons, these are reusable: just dip in a bucket of water to recharge.
· Give them a fun (wet!) chore: My car always needs washing, which is great when there are eager kids around. Give your child a bucket, soap, sponge, and the hose and they’ll have a ball getting the car sparkly—while soaking themselves in the process. Granted, it might only be the bottom half of the car that gets cleaned!
Other ways to find relief on scorching summer days include keeping a spray bottle filled with water in the fridge for quick spritzes throughout the day, and oh, so much ice-cream!
However you decide to beat the heat this summer, remember a few important rules so that everyone stays safe and healthy:
· Babies and young children are at a higher risk of dehydration, so remember to offer liquids often, and keep all children out of extreme heat and direct sunlight.
· Always supervise your child around water, even a small amount. A child can drown in less than 2.5 cm of water, which is enough to cover their nose and mouth.
Our experienced and enthusiastic Early Years Foundation Stage practitioners at Ashville have bags of ideas to find new, fun ways of learning and to keep our youngest children entertained and engaged throughout the year! The best way to find out more about Acorns Early Years, which includes Reception, is to visit us in person. There are limited places remaining for September 2024 entry. To arrange a visit, please complete our enquiry form and a member of the Ashville team will be in touch with you shortly.
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