Parenting Advice From Joy Berry: Beating the Summer Heat
It’s hot. It’s muggy. And the kids I’m passing on the sidewalk are cranky. So it goes without saying that their parents are cranky too. Heat plus cranky kids plus cranky parents is a recipe for disaster. And no matter where I am outside my apartment, I find myself holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
It’s time for a change in the hot summer weather. But since we mortals have no control over any fact of nature, it’s time for a change in attitude and maybe even a change in plans.
Any kind of work or other activity that children perceive as “no fun” needs to be set aside in deference to pleasurable activities that can take place in air-conditioned environments or outdoors around plenty of water. Parents who don’t have access to a pool of some kind—even a wading pool—need to consider other creative uses of H2O.
Some of these options include outdoor activities such as the water features at local parks, water balloons, water pistols, water painting (on flat surfaces or each other), playing with old, sopping-wet towels (my daughter used to create “outfits” out of wet towels; my son used to create games). Activities like these can be turned into friendly competitions or be done just for fun. The only consistent “rule” for all water activities is to stay as wet as possible from head to toe.
Of course water activities don’t need to be confined to the outdoors. Bathtubs can be turned into play stations that can accommodate all of those messy activities that no one would consider doing around carpet, rugs, and furniture. Finger painting and all of the various modeling compounds are just two activities that come to mind.
When the tub activities are done, the child can be showered off. However, instead of being dried with a towel, smaller children can be carried outdoors to dry in the warm sun.
“Sounds crazy!” you might say. But crazy to me is trying to power through intensely hot weather with kids in tow. Trust me, it’s better for everyone when parents throw in the (wet) towel, and try to enjoy the heat instead of trying to beat it. Smile.
