Parenting in summer – our favorite time of year! We really enjoy having the freedom in our schedules to hang out with each other and with friends, go to the beach and to farmers’ markets, and soak up some sunshine. We tend to eat more raw food than hot meals as well.
Summer can become quite challenging when your children begin to declare boredom. They can start to get on each other’s nerves and in each other’s spaces with so much togetherness. And if the summer happens to be a hot one, it can be a quite the adventure to find ways to beat the heat.
Mixing things up with activities (such as summer camps) and cool treats to eat and drink while summer parenting can help smooth things out for your family. It’s always helpful to have a plan!
Top Tips to Keep Your Children Hydrated This Summer
We all forget to drink enough, even though we know how important it is! When thirst really sets in, my children tend to ask for the most sugary of drinks. I need to be prepared with healthy beverages on hand, such as fresh juices and iced teas. We love to make a mix of fruit juice and soda water. This comes close to enjoying a soft drink! Here are some tips on keeping your children healthy and hydrated in the hot summer months.
1. Fluids
We all know how important it is to get enough water. Of course, kids tend to drink water only when they’re very thirsty! Be sure to have water frequently even when you’re not thirsty. Remember, water doesn’t have minerals or carbohydrates in it. For proper hydration, the body’s electrolytes must be kept in balance. That is the reason for sports drinks containing so much sodium. We lose sodium through sweat, and sodium is needed to help your body hold water.
Children don’t need that much salt (though my son would beg to differ!) nor do they need the artificial color and corn syrup in these drinks. You can get healthy hydration that includes water, minerals, and some carbs. Try these inexpensive, home-made drinks:
Fruit Smoothies
These delicious mixtures provide both water and great flavor. Put a pinch or two of sea salt into one for electrolyte balance. Try freezing the fruit beforehand or add ice cubes for extra cold and added water. Give these fruit combos a go in your blender:
*Strawberry, watermelon, and peach
*Banana, peach, and strawberry
*Cantaloupe, watermelon, and grape
*Strawberry, kiwi, and pear
If you have smoothie leftovers, freeze them in ice cube trays to be added in the next time you make smoothies. You can also pour leftovers into popsicle molds. We do our best to waste very little, and that includes finding ways to re-purpose just about everything.
Slush & Slush Ices
Make yummy homemade slush using just your blender! Combine fruit juice or puree with ice cubes and blend it up. Or crush ice in your blender, scoop it into a cup, and pour fruit juice or puree over top. Voila! You now have slush ice! Try adding raw honey, agave nectar, or stevia to the blend if you or your child like it sweeter. Honey and agave will boost calories and energy, which will in turn give your kids a boost.
We use a Vitamix blender, as we can make absolutely everything with it – up to and including soups and nut milks. Use the slush leftovers as you would for smoothies – freeze into popsicles or into cubes.
Herbal Teas
Herbal teas with some added natural sweetener are such a great choice for kids. When my children need some calming, or before bed, I make them some chamomile or lavender tea with honey. Some children love mint tea, or fruity herbal teas like raspberry, cranberry, or orange. Simply brew, chill, and serve, or add a squeeze of lemon for pucker and added minerals. Try adding fruit juices to the teas – for example, iced cranberry herbal tea with some orange juice. So good!
Iced herbal teas can be frozen into popsicles or cubes too.
2. Drinks to Avoid
Did you know that caffeine stimulates the kidneys and acts as a diuretic? This actually dehydrates the body. Don’t get me wrong, I love my organic coffee! It also opens up bile ducts in the liver, but that’s for a different discussion. As for sugar … while some sugar or carbohydrate is an asset in hydrating drinks, excessive sugar can deplete the body of important vitamins and fluids. Excessive (refined) sugar is quickly absorbed, providing quick energy followed by a slump.
3. Foods
It’s not only fluids that will keep yourself and your children hydrated. You can eat juicy vegetables and fruits too. Here are some foods your kids can eat that will hydrate their bodies.
- Peaches, Papayas
Pears, Plums
Grapes, Nectarines - Lettuce, Cucumbers, Celery
Watermelon
Tomatoes
Other melons
Parenting in Summer with Cool & Healthy Summer Treats
We all want healthy summer treat options, don’t we? But it is so easy to jump for the ice cream. Frozen yogurt is a favorite around here. We also have an Old Skool ice cream bus that opens up for the summer, and we can get flavors like what I had as a kid – bubble gum, tiger, etc. Such a treat! For the days we decide not to venture out in the heat, we make our own at home.
Frozen Fruit
* Blueberries, strawberries, mangoes and grapes make wonderful snacks right out of the freezer. Blend them into frosty fruit smoothies, too!
* Chunky watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and pineapple are delicious frozen, and also make good smoothies.
* Sliced peaches, nectarines, and kiwis can be frozen on wax paper-covered trays. Then pull the slices off and freeze them in zip-top plastic bags. They are very good in smoothies or eaten right out of the freezer. We stock up at our local farmers’ market too – or whenever there’s a sale – and make our own freezer bags for smoothies.
* Frozen fruit-kabobs are so much fun to make! The kids love them. Thread chunks of fruit onto skewers and freeze on a wax paper-covered tray. Check out this great recipe for chocolate drizzled frozen fruit skewers from Carlsbad Cravings.
Cool Drinks
* Try freezing fruit juice or fruit puree into ice cube trays. Pour soda water over a glass full of them for a fizzy drink. You can find some super fun ice cube trays for kids here.
* Fruit sorbet has far less fat than ice cream. Put a scoop or two in a glass and pour soda water over it, and voila! You have a delicious sorbet float. We like to use mason jars, and we’ve also found some funky soda glasses that we love.
* You can try mixing fruit purees with soda water for a refreshing drink that your kids will love. We like to make icy lassis too. This entails taking fruit such as mango, strawberry or lychi, and blending with some organic yogurt, ice cubes and natural sweetener. Find a yummy lassi recipe here from Wanderlust Kitchen.
Popsicles
Who doesn’t love popsicles? Making healthy ones is good for grown-ups and kids alike. A popsicle mold may be your best purchase!
Home-made popsicles are a great way to get fresh fruits and fruit juices into your kids – you can even sneak in a few veggies. You can freeze commercial veggie/fruit juice into popsicles, or blend carrots or some greens into your favorite fruit juice. Fruit purees can be frozen as popsicles as well.
Try pureeing fruit, yogurt, vanilla, and honey to freeze into creamsicles.
Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches
Frozen yogurt is lower in fat than ice cream, and often contains dormant cultures that will become active in your body. This is good for boosting healthy digestion! Soften some of your favorite frozen yogurt, then dollop some between two whole-grain graham crackers. Freeze for a few hours (or overnight) and enjoy! Pro tip: the longer they’re frozen, the softer the crackers will become.
Icy Granita
Make a refreshing granita by boiling together 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup evaporated cane juice for 5 minutes. While it’s cooling, puree 2 cups of frozen strawberries. When the syrup is cool, add the pureed berries. Stir, pour into a metal cake pan, and freeze. Scrape or “fluff” the granite periodically with a fork as it freezes. You can make granitas in all kinds of flavors, from coffee to chocolate to lemon. See how to make a delicious granita without a recipe.
How to Take Care of Your Children’s Skin in the Summer
Skin is our largest organ, and it is a vital one. Our skin health promotes overall health. As the saying goes, love the skin you’re in! Here are some tips on how to care for your children’s skin this summer.
1. Avoid sunburn. Wear sunscreen daily, and plan activities in the shade or indoors during the sun’s strongest hours (approximately 10am-3pm). If the potential toxicity of sunscreen concerns you, look for natural options. Be sure to wear a sun hat and light clothing that covers the skin.
2. Moisturize the skin. Summer heat and wind can really dry out skin. Moisturize your children’s skin after their evening bath with a high-quality, kid-friendly moisturizer.
3. Keep skin clean. In the summer, skin is exposed to poison ivy, poison sumac, and other rash-causing irritants. When your children come in from outdoors, make sure they wash their hands, legs, or any skin that has been exposed during their play time. Follow up with a moisturizer.
4. Insect repellent is important. Summer “bug bites” can torture the skin, causing itchy red bumps and swelling. Use a non-toxic children’s insect repellent when they go outdoors.
5. Loose cotton clothes are not only more comfortable; they are an effective barrier against skin damage from sun, insects, and poisonous foliage. Cotton allows air to circulate around the skin, helping to prevent heat rash as well.
6. Chlorine kills germs in swimming pools, but it is very hard on skin. Make sure your child showers after swimming. While tap water has much less chlorine than pool water, it is ideal to rinse your child’s skin in water that has been sitting out in an open container for 24 hours. This allows much of the chlorine to evaporate. We also use an ascorbic acid spray (<== this one is from Whole New Mom) on our skin.
Hopefully, these tips will help minimize the damage to your kids’ skin this summer.
5 Tips on Choosing the Right Summer Camp for Your Child
Even though it’s not yet time for it to happen, before you know it school will be out and your children will be looking for things to do. Have you considered summer camp? Here are tips on how to choose the right one for your child.
If your child has never been to summer camp, now is the time to begin thinking about it. Give yourself plenty of time to do research – this will ensure your choice is good for your child. Ask friends and relatives whose children have gone to summer camp for their suggestions.
There are a number of types of camp to consider. Resident camp is geared toward children ages 7 and older who will stay in cabins or tents. Day camp is generally for children 4 to 7 who aren’t ready to stay overnight. We have some fabulous day camps offered through our local recreation center. There are arts and crafts camps, climbing camps, swimming and hiking camps, and horseback riding camps. So many to choose from, but we find that we need to register very early as they fill up quickly!
Specialty camps concentrate on a particular activity. Special needs camps are for children with mental, medical, or physical limitations. There is usually a higher counselor/camper ratio to help ensure the safety and enjoyment for the children. Length of sessions can vary from between a few days to as long as the entire summer.
What do you need to consider when searching for a summer camp?
* Cost – If the camp costs more than you can afford, try saving up for the following summer.
* Location – Local camps may be the best choice if your child has never been away from home. They are often less expensive, too.
* Staff – This is probably the one of the most important things to consider. Is the camp director trained? How many staff members are there to campers (what is the ratio)? How do they hire counselors and what type of training are they required to take? How do the camp counselors interact with the campers?
* Activities – Be sure to get your child’s input. Since they are the ones who will be attending the camp, you want to choose one which has activities your child will enjoy. Some camps emphasize horseback riding, water sports, or outdoor survival skills.
My oldest loves horseback riding camp, my middle child loves climbing and skateboarding camp, and my youngest loves arts and crafts camp. If you find one offering activities your child enjoys, and it’s in your budget, write down the information to compare it with others.
* Facility – If possible, go to the camp before you make your decision to check out the facilities. Are they well maintained? How many children will be in each dormitory or cabin?
If you aren’t able to visit the facility, you may want to scour their website, if they have one. Quite often a website will answer any question you might have, contain photographs, menus, and schedules. Some will also have a virtual tour and map so you can get a mental image.
The above tips on how to choose the right summer camp for your child are the minimum to consider. It is well worth it to take your time comparing camps and you’re sure to find one that meets your child’s needs – food options play a large part in our decision making! Once you have the summer camp chosen, get the necessary paperwork handed in so you can secure your child’s spot, and may the journey into great memories begin!
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