Year after year, I cringe when the talk begins about the approach of summer. While I like sunshine just as much as the next person, I do not find comfort in the heat and humidity that comes along with Georgia summers. The worst part is the days the humidity feels unbearable, and having my kids refuse to play outside because they get so uncomfortable in the heat after a short time. According to The Weather Channel, today’s high is predicted to reach 93 degrees, and then soar to 99 degrees by tomorrow.
It’s a bit easier to brave the outdoors in the heat when you have access to a pool, lake or even a nearby community pool. In my case, I am at home with three children, and do not have those lovely amenities. To keep everyone in the house happy and cool, we have conjured up a few ideas to beat the heat.
Water Play
The kids have found joy in putting on their bathing suits, filling up their water guns and chasing each other around the yard until they are soaking wet. When the heat reaches the triple-digits, the kids fill up plastic buckets with water and drench each other. They love it! It provides laughter, fun and the best part is they enjoy the outdoors enough to play for a little bit.
Popsicles
It is crucial to stay hydrated while being outdoors in these high temperatures. Even if the kids have decided to just sit on the porch and color with sidewalk chalk, I offer popsicles throughout their play time to help keep them hydrated, along with bottled water or juice boxes.
Get Crafty
The kids have been putting their art and craft supplies to good use this summer. We climbed into their closet and pulled out every plastic tub filled with their creative supplies. The girls have been beading jewelry, making handmade cards and their favorite activity is painting. They have accumulated a stack of paintings that we plan on using for a variety of things, like handmade cards, wrapping paper and envelopes.
Movie Marathons
When all else fails, we pop some microwavable popcorn and dig through our movie collection for something to watch. It is a great way to hang out together on those days when everyone just wants to relax.
Dance
To prevent the kids from turning into total couch potatoes, we dance. Our Wii game, Just Dance, is perfect for those days that the kids want to burn energy but do not want to suffer in the summer heat. They’ll take turns choosing songs and dancing. It’s great fun for all ages.
Source:
The Weather Channel.com
