Preparing for a Healthy Summer Season

Keep your family safe by protecting your skin.

From SPF lip balm and makeup to sunscreen, you need to apply a layer about 15 minutes before you head outside. Once you’re out in the sun, don’t forget to reapply every two hours.

Whether you have gorgeous dark skin or beautiful light skin, you need sunscreen to protect and prevent skin cancer. If you think you’ll forget to reapply, set an alarm. Just make sure you follow the directions on the sunscreen bottle. You’ll never regret it.

Another way to stay safe this summer is to keep bug repellant and a first aid kit with you wherever you go. Going for a hike? Going to the park? The zoo? The indoor trampoline park? Wherever your journey takes you this summer, be prepared. Bug repellant is a life saver if you’re headed into nature. We want to preserve natural wildlife while keeping ourselves safe and healthy.

In additional to physical safety, it’s important to talk with your children about summer safety. Setting a curfew eliminates a lot of risks, but for older, working high school students, you might want to sit them down and have a chat on how to be responsible with their new freedom.

A lot of summer jobs are the first taste of freedom for high school students. They have a new sense of responsibility, which makes them feel independent. While this is a great new feeling and a way to slowly acclimate them to the world after high school, having boundaries is important.

Where will they go after work? Who is riding in the car with them? Is there drinking involved? Having open dialogue with your kids is important in establishing and keeping trust. Establishing trust with your kids can keep them from getting in trouble and help you determine rules and guidelines for them to follow.

Summer is a busy season. Without the structure of school, it’s our job as parents to provide structure for our kids. Make plans, have fun, and have a safe summer.