I am one of those “crazy” women who thought that my husband and I should have our two tiny people within two years of each other. As a result, we now have a 3-year-old little girl and a 1-year-old little boy. And we happen to live in one of the hottest, most humid cities in the South. Which means we have to be very creative on how we have fun through the summer. Here are some tips for surviving the HOT summer in Columbia.
Breathable Clothing
If you want your toddlers to survive the steamy summer heat, breathable clothing is VITAL. I personally like the Cat & Jack line at Target for shorts and tanks, which seem to be the only things we can wear out during June-August.
For shoes, we like Toms, Saltwater sandals, and Natives. All of these are durable enough to withstand grass, cement, and splash pads. If you shop for them on diapers.com, you’ll find they are reasonably priced. There are always some good coupon codes available too!
The Pool
Find a pool to go to for a few hours during the week or on the weekend. We happen to live in a neighborhood that has a pool, but if you don’t, think of a friend or family member who has a pool or lives near one. Think condos, apartment communities, neighborhoods, YMCA’s, gyms, etc. It provides a few hours of cooling off and will tire them out so they take a nice long nap after!
Popsicles
Invest in popsicles or in popsicle molds and make them yourself. There is nothing like watching your kids enjoy an icy treat in the hot summer sun. It teaches them speed and efficiency on how to take full advantage of eating the whole popsicle as opposed to having half of it melt on them.
Water Play
Let the kids run around in the sprinklers or the hose, or any other form of water. I cannot emphasize this enough. You will be watching them like a hawk, but they will enjoy it immensely.
Extras
Make sure they have some access to the shade for activities like sidewalk chalk and bubbles and ensure they are well hydrated. Chop up some cold watermelon, sit under an umbrella and soak up their squeals and giggles as they run carelessly through the sprinklers.
Summer ends far too quickly, so enjoy it!