The Dog Days of Summer- With Young Children

You've spent lots of quality time with your youngster this summer already- lots and lots- and there are still three weeks until school starts again? Welcome to the dog days of summer with a young child! Today's article is about what to do when it seems like your kiddos are too hot, bored, or (insert descriptor here), to make it through the day as happy campers. You both need to stay occupied, a change of scene, or perhaps both, to make it through the next few weeks. Here are a few things to try!

Take a hike- The forest has a magic way of calming down even the most restless of us- there is now even a big thing about tree therapy going around the internet. It has worked like a charm for my son and I- we go in a bit cranky, then we leave relaxed. Make sure to check the difficulty of the trails you use before you go- keep it to easy if you are a beginner or will be baby wearing.

Think cool- This may seem like a no brainer, but we've all been stuck in heat for too long (even if it was our own idea) and suffered the effects. A hot toddler at the zoo, amusement park, or even the beach- is a sad toddler. Dog days are a good time to avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day (the afternoon) or if the air quality is bad (code red). It might seem cliche, but let's just go over all our "cool" options- air conditioning, ice cream, popsicles, lemonade, water play. You get the idea.

Find your Zen- Being inside is the cool choice in the dog days, but the same old indoor activities can be difficult for young children who need constant monitoring. Be prepared- keep your home stocked with toys, books, art supplies, calming music, and movies. Come up with a list of places to go, friends/family to visit, and things you could do and stick to it. This is your mantra. When in doubt-

Go for a Drive- If you haven't tried this mom trick before, this may be the time to start! The drive itself can help calm the kids down- then you are suddenly somewhere different, and that could play to your favor as well. Even if you just go to the grocery store, on a dog day it could be the highlight of the day if you leave with ice cream.

One last recommendation for the dog days is to let yourself be aimless for a little while. No need to make an agenda or to try to squeeze in one more trip for the summer. Focus on getting through the day relatively unscathed. Definitely make time for self care as well- more on that topic next week! Stay tuned!