Parents have plenty of options to keep kids active during summer break
May 23, 2016, 11:04 AM
The end of school can be a welcome break for kids, but for parents, the task of keeping the little ones active during summer break is just beginning.
Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, said parents should not stress over making a pick, because there’s a lot of options out there that can not only keep kids entertained, but keep them healthy as well.
“The nice thing is, if you can pick activities that you can play with your kids, you’ll get physical activity to,” she said.
There are many ways you can get your kids to be active when it’s hot outside.
“Swimming is always a good option, parents always need to remember to be water safe,” she said. “Getting them into program activities, maybe during the day where it’s air-conditioning, so like gyms, YMCAs those types of activities.”
There are also many activities that parents can do when it’s cooler, she said. For example, bike rides are always good early in the morning or after the sun goes down.
However, Christ said its important to take precautions before any outdoor activities.
“When dealing with the summer sun you always want to make sure that you’re applying sunscreen,” she said. “You apply it liberally, you apply it often and you follow the directions for the sunscreen.”