Tips to Beat the Summer Heat and End the “It’s Hot” Whines

Summer means the kids are home and you finally get quality time with them. The first few weeks always go well, but the super-hot weather hits and you cannot – possibly – hear another “It’s hot!” whine. No matter where you live in the U.S., the summer months can get toasty. If you live in an area where the mercury rises above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s particularly crucial you find ways for you and the little ones to beat the summer heat. Here are some tips that might help.

Tips to Beat the Summer Heat and End the “It’s Hot” Whines

Stay Hydrated

The most important thing to do all summer long – aside from wearing sunscreen when outdoors – is to stay hydrated. You and the kids should avoid sugary and caffeinated beverages. Rather, stick to what nature intended all creatures to drink, water. Yes, the kids can have their juice cup in the morning with breakfast, but try to encourage them to drink water throughout the day. This helps keep their body temperatures down and makes them less susceptible to the heat and any related illness.

Stay Indoors

When the going outside gets too hot, retreat to the indoors. In fact, the Office on Women’s Health recommends staying out of the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This time period is when the sun’s rays are strongest, and that means you and the kids have a greater chance of overheating and getting sick, getting sunburns, or otherwise becoming very hot and uncomfortable. If the indoors is air-conditioned, why not head inside and have some family fun in the cooler air.

 

Protect that Cooler Air

 

Make the most of your air conditioning by helping it to run more efficiently. Have it checked and maintained in the spring, and then purchase ceiling and standing fans if you don’t already have them. Close the house up and draw the curtains in the morning before it gets too hot inside. This keeps the sun’s rays and hot air outside. Run the fans helps circulate the indoor air. Even with the AC on at a higher set temperature, the air circulation helps you feel cooler.

 

At night, open up when the sun sets and the outdoor temperatures drop and use the standing fans to draw the cool air in. You can also limit indoor heat by taking cooler showers, switching your laundry temperatures to cold and air, and cooking outdoors instead of inside. Think about what you do that might heat up your home’s interior and then find a way around it. For example, cook the dinner side dishes in the microwave and grill the meat outside.

 

Escape the Heat

 

If you don’t have air conditioning or it becomes too much of a fight to keep the kids active indoors, escape the heat. Who says the family can’t take a day trip somewhere cooler? Check with Cleveland local insurance agents to make sure you’re covered in the event of an emergency or illness and get in the car, hop on a train, or take a bus to a fun excursion in the mountains where the temperatures aren’t as hot as they are in the city.

 

If you can’t increase your elevation to cool off, head to the beach, the lake, the river, or a local watering hole. Jumping in the water means instant refreshment, and it also keeps the kids active and away from the television or computer and video games. No natural body of water? Don’t sweat it – pun intended. Check out your community pool or water slide. Or, if you have a neighbor who has a pool, suggest a pool party for all the kids.

 

You can beat the summer heat and prevent whines. All it takes is cool, summer activities, and staying indoors when the mercury threatens to break the thermometer.