Tag Archives: summer;

10 Tips for Summer Safety

  1. Remember to bring along drinks, especially water. Try to get children to drink water every 20 minutes, when they are outside in hot weather.
  2. Pay attention to surfaces that can be hot against children’s skin, such as metal slides and other playground equipment in the sun.
  3. Safety around water is particularly important. A child can drown in just a few inches of water. Whenever you are near water you must never leave a child alone – if the phone rings, take them with you or let it ring! Always stay within arm’s reach when the children are in or near water.
  4. Young babies should be kept out of direct sunlight. Keep the baby in the shade or under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy.
  5. Dress babies in lightweight clothing and use brimmed hats.
  6. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, even if it appears overcast (cloudy).
  7. Try to keep children out of the sun in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest.
  8. Learn what poison ivy looks like and keep children out of it. A good rule to teach the children is “leaves of three, let it be.”
  9. Use insect repellent spray to keep away mosquitos and ticks. Ask your host parents before applying.
  10. Check for ticks when you bring children in from playing outside, especially if you’ve been in tall grass or the woods.

Photo: Scott97006 (Flickr)

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Preventing Dehydration in Hot Weather

Dehydration means that the body lacks the necessary amount of fluid. Infants and small children are more likely to become dehydrated than older children or adults, because they can lose relatively more fluid quickly.

Here are some steps to take to make sure children remain hydrated in the summer months:

  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of water. On hot days, children should drink significantly more water than usual, as they are losing more due to the heat.
  • Do not wait until your child is thirsty to give him water. By the time they feel thirsty, they are already becoming dehydrated.
  • If your child is resistant to drinking enough water, have other liquids on hand for your child to drink throughout the day.
  • Be alert to changes in behavior. A child may act confused or more irritable when they are becoming dehydrated/overheated. Get them into cooler temperatures and drinking more fluids.
  • Dress your child in lightweight clothing in the summer months, particularly if she’ll be playing outdoors in warm weather. You may also consider clothes that are well ventilated as they do not trap heat close to the body.
  • When there are heat and/or air quality advisories because the weather is dangerously hot, you should avoid taking the children outdoors. Check with your host parents for further guidance on this topic.

Remember to follow these tips for yourself too, so you stay well hydrated.

Photo: Darwin Bell (Flickr)

Au Pairs and their children enjoy reading books at The JNP Project

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In the month of July au pairs from Au Pair in America and their children met in downtown Annapolis at The JNP Project for a private story time.  Jane & Jake and all the undersea characters from Awesome were introduced to the children and they had a blast, and DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE!  The JNP Project™ [Jane Not Plain] is a movement nurturing character, courage, and confidence (healthy inner awesome self-esteem) in all boys and girls (5-12+), while helping them discover and make choices from their inner awesome!  We had so much fun reading, coloring, dancing, singing and exploring the first adventure that we plan on meeting here once a month for coffee and reading time.  The great thing was that the children remembered the story from the previous month and couldn’t wait to move onto the next book!  The JNP Project offers many on-line activities for childcare providers to engage with the children under their charge.  For more information on this great day visit http://thejnpproject.com/kids-summer-reading-fun-with-jane-and-jake-in-awesome/.

BEACH AND SWIMMING POOL SAFETY TIPS

water-safety1-150x150Since some of our au pairs and families are spending SO much time at the pool or the beach,here are some more safety tips for you to follow in order to stay safe.

Swim safely.

  • Take swim lessons if you don’t know how to swim. Sign your kids up for lessons as soon as they are old enough.
  • Swim near a lifeguard and never swim alone.
  • Don’t drink alcohol if you are swimming or watching children.
  • Use floating toys like water wings and noodles for fun – not for safety. Don’t use them in place of life jackets.
  • Watch out for rip currents. A rip current is when the water pulls you away from shore. If you get caught in a rip current, swim along the shoreline until you are out of the current, then swim to shore.

Watch children carefully.

  • Make sure at least one adult is watching when children are near or in the water.
  • Don’t read or use the phone while you are watching young children.
  • Watch all children in the water, even if they know how to swim.
  • If you have a pool, install 4-sided fencing that’s at least 4 feet high and separates the pool from the house or yard. Use self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward and are out of reach of children.

Check water and weather conditions before going swimming.

  • Don’t swim in lakes, rivers, or the ocean after heavy rain. Water is more likely to be polluted after a rain storm.
  • Check for signs or warnings about bacteria or other pollution in the water.
  • Get out of the water right away if you hear thunder or see lightning. Strong winds can also be dangerous.

Protect yourself and others from germs in the water.

  • Try not to get water in your mouth.
  • Make sure everyone is clean before swimming. Shower with soap. Wash your hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
  • Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area.

Protect your skin from the sun.

  • Wear plenty of sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15.
  • Put on more sunscreen every couple of hours and after swimming

This information was provide by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Filmsters Academy Summer Camp Program

Filmsters Academy Summer ProgramsThe Key School in Annapolis is offering a unique camp to children ages 11 to 18 on the art of film making.  In light of our recent volunteer efforts with the Annapolis Film Festival this past year I thought it would be great for host families to know of this amazing opportunity in our community.  For more information on signing your children up for these camps please visit their website at http://www.filmstersacademy.com/ or www.filmsters.com.  Registration is open now through July 1st but there is limited space.

Au Pairs Cool Off at a Pool Party

photo (17)photo (14)photo (13)In  June au pairs from Au Pair in America were graciously invited to the home of a current host family for a pool party.  Hamburgers, hotdogs, salads, chips and salsa, lots of dip and other great foods were available as we all relaxed in the the cool of the afternoon by the pool.  We spoke about summer fun activities and safety tips such as protecting children in and around the water and the importance of sunscreen protection during the hot summer months.