Getting Your 15 Minutes Outside on Hot Days

Today’s post is part of “Your Green Hour Survival Guide,” a series which I hope will provide you with inspiration to make getting outside every day a habit.

The thermometer hasn’t even hit 80 degrees here and already the explorers are complaining that it’s too hot to go outside. Seriously?!

Since we’ve got a few months of hot weather ahead of us – much of it to be spent outside if I have anything to say about it – it’s time to put together a plan to beat the heat. I’d love to hear your strategies, too!

Dress for the weather.
I knew it was a must to wear a hat and sunscreen. Turns out light, loose-fitting clothing with breathable fabrics like cotton are a good idea, too.

Plan your playtime wisely.
Stay inside during the hottest parts of the day. Aim to be outside in the early morning and in the evenings. And when you do head outside, stick to short intervals of play (think 15 to 20 minutes at a time).

Drink up.
Drink before, during and after you play outside in hot weather. Water is the drink of choice (sports drinks are helpful for high intensity activities and extreme heat). And since the kids won’t probably remember to drink once they get playing, take regular water breaks to make sure they’re covered.

Play in water. A lot.
We don’t have a pool to cool off in, so we depend on simpler forms of water fun in our backyard. A run through sprinklers, spray water bottle tag, and sponge play are favorites at the moment.

Another great option if you’ve got the time is to venture out to local splash pads and swimming holes.

Seek out shade.
No matter how well you plan, there will inevitably be times when it’s unbearably hot at the crack of dawn. Those days are all about finding shade.

If you don’t have any in your backyard, create some. Last year we bought an inexpensive shade cover to give the explorers a cool place to play. (Unfortunately, it nearly blew away during some exceptionally windy days this winter and needs to be replaced.)

Use parks to your advantage.
If you depend on your neighborhood park for outdoor play, don’t let the summer chase you away. Check out these tips for keeping cool this summer at the playground from Michele at Fun Orange County Parks.

Rely on some secret weapons.
I like to have a few tricks up my sleeve to relieve the kids’ heat out on the trail, and these same tricks work great for backyard fun, too.

• Spray the kids with a spray water bottle full of ice water. Head, face, arms, legs – it’s all good.
• Soak a towel, then place it inside a hat and put the hat back on your head. I know it sounds crazy, but this one really works. At least for a few minutes.
• Be forthcoming with the frozen and cold treats: ice cream, popsicles, cold fruit smoothies and more. The colder, the better.

While a little hot weather shouldn’t keep you from heading outside to enjoy summer adventures, be cautious in extreme heat. Watch for signs of heat stress and error on the side of less time outside rather than more.

How do you keep your kids cool outside on hot days?