July 3rd the Dog Days of Summer Begins!

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us soon. July 3rd is the beginning of the "Dog Days of Summer" when the days are the hottest and the humidity is enough to make the strongest person drop. Dog Days got its name from when the "Dog Star" Sirius raises before the sun. It typically runs from early July to early September when summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere. Regardless of how it got its name, it is important to make sure you have plenty of cool summer activities to do to help beat the heat and humidity.

Most the activities my family and I enjoy to help beat the heat include water. Boating is always good but not everyone has access to a boat, little lone the lakes or bodies of water to enjoy a boat on. In our hometown, we have access to many lakes and lakefront activities for little to no cost. Other then boating, another of our favorites is taking a paddleboat out for and hour or more. Here it is really quite reasonable, $5.00 an hour and the paddleboat holds four. Children under 16 have to be supervised by an adult and the park district supplies the life jackets that must be worn while enjoying this activity. If you are not up to paddling a boat around a lake, many lakes offer a swimming area. Check with your local parks around your area to find a spot to take the temperature down a few notches.

While at home, my family enjoys a dip in a pool. My children are smaller so a large pool is not required, and at this point to them, water is water! They will play in it all day in it if I would let them. Then there is the good old stand by, the Slip and Slide. They make so many different models of it now days and the kids really enjoy this as well. The only down fall of this one is the track it leaves in your yard and the mud puddle it can create. It also requires the water to be running constantly which can become costly. Sprinklers are good as well and can be used to suit two purposes, water the grass, as well as cool the kids. I just make sure I continue to move it while they play and when all the grass is watered, it is time to shut it down. I am not big on squirt guns but water balloons are a lot of fun for my boys. You can go to your local dollar store and get them cheap. Allow them to fill up a couple buckets worth of them and have at it!

All time is not just spent outdoors though. How do you keep the kids cool when it is to hot for them to go outside to play, yet the fans are not cutting it anymore and it is too expensive to run the air? One of my boys' favorites when it gets like this is to be able to play in the tub. Mind you, you cannot make it appear as if they are taking a bath, so swim trunks are on, and toys go into the tub just as if they were outside! Your kids are clean and cool and you are happy! Local indoor pools are great as well. Your local library makes a great retreat and is always air-conditioned!

At nighttime and the heat has yet to subside, allow your kids to take a cool shower before bedtime. It lowers the body's temperature and makes it easier for them to fall asleep. Baby powder sprinkled on them especially in the creases of elbows, knees, neck, back and anywhere on your child where sweat seems to accumulate the most, will also help cool your child; yourself as well. I hope this article finds your Dog Days of Summer filled with fun in the sun staying cool!