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Summertime
Splash
By
Michelle
Donaghey
Summertime..ahh.
After a long
winter, it's
a great to
finally be
able take
the kids and
head out for
a relaxing
hot day at
the beach,
pool or a
water park
with big
slides- the
bigger the
better!
While it may
be tempting
to just grab
the kids,
stuff
bathing
suits and
towels and
head off for
a day full
of aquatic
fun, taking
time to plan
ahead can
make the
difference
between a
happy,
joyous and
free or a
horrible
summer
memory.
Beaches-
Relaxing
with a cold,
cold can of
soda on a
beach
blanket with
the radio
playing your
favorite
station.
This is a
good start,
but when you
have a
family in
tow, it is
best to
bring along
more than
the suit,
blanket,
radio and
some
sunblock.
What to/not
to pack.
For
starters, a
good choice
is a Frisbee
says Joni
Jones of the
Indiana
Dunes
National
Lakeshore.
This
versatile
toy can be
used for
games or
just for
throwing
back and
forth. Even
one child
can have fun
with one,
playing in
the sand
using it as
a shovel. If
it does get
windy, keep
away from
the
shoreline!
Leave kites,
baseballs
and bats a
home. A
better
choice for
balls might
be a
beachball,
but they
have a
tendency to
blow away
when the
wind picks
up.
It may be
tempting to
bring Fido
or Fluffy,
but the
beach is not
the place
for a pet.
Pets can
pick up all
sorts of
problems if
they drink
the water or
eat things
left on the
beach.
Besides,
most beaches
have the
rule that
the pet must
be leashed
which isn't
much fun!
A rolling
cooler
complete
with drinks,
preferably
juice boxes
or bags are
better than
cups and
sipper cups
which should
be left at
home. They
are bulky
taking up
more space
than
necessary.
Fruit is a
good snack
choice,
particularly
because it
is
biodegradable.
For meals,
sandwiches
are good and
peanut
butter is
best because
you don't
have to
worry about
food
poisoning.
Pack a
small, empty
plastic
garbage bag
that you can
put all the
trash in.
Don't ruin
it for
everyone by
leaving your
garbage on
the beach-
besides, if
you are
caught, you
will
possibly be
fined.
Take along a
few old
vinyl
tablecloths
or buy some
throwaway
ones at the
local dollar
store. Leave
these in the
car for
sitting on
when
traveling
home in wet
suits. While
they may not
be as
comfortable,
they will
keep your
car cleaner
and drier!
If you are
going to a
state park
or beach on
a local
lake, call
ahead and
find out the
rules before
you go.
Sometimes,
cans are not
acceptable
nor are
glass items
and some
beaches do
not allow
food or
drinks.
Small grills
may be
allowed at
some while
others do
not.
Before
letting your
kids loose
to have fun,
be sure that
anyone who
does not
know how to
swim has a
lifevest
that is
approved for
usage, not
water/swim
wings,
Styrofoam
donuts or
rafts notes
the American
Academy of
Pediatrics.
Do not take
a risk and
think just
because the
beach seems
shallow it
is. If there
is a
lifeguard or
beach
attendant,
ask him or
her about
the water
drop-off,
possible rip
currents
which can
occur on
windy days
and if there
are any
hazards to
be aware of.
"Always swim
directly in
front of a
lifeguard.
Bathers
should stay
near
lifeguard
stations
where there
are posted
currents and
surf
conditions,"
says Jones.
Some beaches
will be sand
in one area,
and muck in
another. Do
not trust
kids or
adults for
that matter
that swim
alone will
be safe-
always stick
with a buddy
system,
particularly
at a beach.
People
should also
realize that
lifeguards
are not
baby-sitters.
Be sure to
slather on
the sun
lotion every
time they
swim and/or
every three
hours or you
may pay for
it later. .
At the end
of the day,
gather
everything
up on the
blanket and
roll it like
a sleeping
bag and
place it in
the trash
bag you
brought
along. That
way, if sand
is in your
blanket, it
stays there
and not in
your car!
POOLS
Shimmering
water, clear
as a bell-
that is
heaven to
dive into
when the
temperature
is high.
Whether it
be the local
park or a
backyard,
summertime
is the time
for these
man-made
water holes.
Phone first
and ask
questions!
Planning to
visit a
local pool?
The rule is
always
phone-first.
While the
pool may
have their
hours
listed,
often they
do not list
when there
swim lesson
times are
which
coincide
with their
hours.
Before your
day is
ruined
because you
went when
lessons were
going on,
call.
Besides, you
can find out
if they have
lockers to
rent or for
free and
much
admission
is. Also ask
if water
toys and or
life
preservers
or water
wings are
accepted-
some pools
allow them
while others
may not.
At the
pool
It's a good
idea to
leave the
purse in the
car hidden
from view.
Buy a small
money holder
that hangs
around your
neck that
you can put
change in.
Pin your car
key into
your bathing
suit and
mark your
towel with
your name
with a
laundry
marker- your
towel may be
unusual to
you, but at
the pool,
three other
people may
have the
same towel.
And don't
forget the
sunblock!
Diving
boards are
tempting to
kids of all
ages, but it
is best for
only kids
who are good
swimmers to
use them. It
also may be
tempting for
you to teach
your kids to
dive, but it
is best left
to the
professionals.
If you
really want
them to
learn, find
out about
lessons.
Children are
not
developmentally
ready for
swim lessons
until after
their fourth
birthday
according to
the A.A.P.
which also
notes that
whenever
infants or
toddlers are
around
water, an
adult should
be within
arm's
length,
providing
"touch
supervision."
"Never leave
children
alone in or
near a pool,
even for a
moment,"
says the
A.A.P.
WATER
PARKS
Everybody in
the family
from little
tikes to
grandma can
have a good
time at a
water parks.
Offering
thrill-seekers
exciting
rides,
little ones
big water
shooters,
slides and
ships and
seniors lazy
rivers,
water parks
are a
popular
destination
in the
summertime.
What to pack
But while it
may be
tempting to
just put on
and wear
your bathing
suit all day
and evening,
it's a good
idea to
bring along
a change of
clothing
along with
the towels
when
visiting a
water park.
Leave the
big purses,
bags and
beach toys
at home. If
you wear
glasses and
absolutely
need them to
see, get an
elastic
holder
specially
made to hold
them on your
head tightly
though on
most
attractions
you will
need to hold
them. Don't
wear bathing
suits that
have zippers
or buckles
as "they can
scratch the
fiberglass
and could
possibly cut
you" says
Chris
Landgrave of
Deep River
Waterpark.
Leave water
wings at
home and ask
for life
jackets if
you feel
your child
needs them.
"You should
also bring
sweatshirts
or something
you can put
on your
little ones-
they tend to
get cold
when they
get out of
the water,"
Debbie
Childress of
Splash Down
Dunes.
Don't forget
the
sunscreen
even if the
day is not
sunny. "Even
on cloudy
days, the
sun's rays
can pierce
the clouds
and reflect
off the
water," says
Robin Innes,
Director of
Public
Relations
for Cedar
Point in
Sandusky,
Ohio.
Before you
hit the
slides and
rapids and
lazy rivers,
take
everything
you are not
going to
need and
lock it up
in one of
the park's
lockers. If
you have
long hair or
any of your
children do,
it is best
to secure it
with a
elastic
band. Clips,
barrettes
and combs
look good,
but are
easily lost
on many
water park
attractions!
Wear booties
or swim
shoes. Flip
flops are
OK, but they
can have a
tendency to
get lost in
the water
and can be
trip hazards
in wet
areas.
Riding the
rapids,
catching the
wave pool
Parents and
children can
do most of
the
attractions
at water
parks
together.
"Riding a
family-sized
raft through
a twisting
course is a
great memory
maker,"
notes Innes
who adds
that
families
should have
a central
meeting
place chosen
in case they
lose track
of each
other. A
good age
when
children can
do a park
alone is 13.
Parks have
rules that
children
cannot leave
without an
adult and
all parks
have
assistance
when
necessary to
help find a
child. "They
are usually
located
within a few
minutes and
for some
reason,
small
children
when lost
often feel
they need to
head for the
car. Front
gate people
are told not
to let any
small child
walk out
unattended,"
assures
Childress.
Don't force
a child to
ride down a
slide unless
he or she
really wants
to. "If the
child is
tall enough
(44 inches
or taller at
Indiana
Beach), let
the child
decide- do
not force
them,"
advises Tom
Spackman of
Indiana
Beach. "Some
kids are
tall enough,
they are
just not
brave
enough. Like
yourself,
they will
know if they
want to go
or not,"adds
Childress.
When all
else fails,
ask
questions of
park
personnel
that work a
particular
attraction
says Innes
who says
"they can
tell you
which ride
is fastest
and which
one may have
surprise
curves."
Taking a
break
Plan ahead
for breaks
depending on
your
family's
energy
level. "It
really all
depends on
how many
times you
can climb
the stairs
how many
times or how
much you
should take
breaks.
There are
shady areas
an pavilions
to get out
of the sun
and indoor
playlands
with ball
pits and
tunnels at
our park
where
parents can
take
children to
get out of
the sun.
Parks also
often have
small shops
where you
can purchase
souvenirs of
your day.
If you have
flexibility
in your
schedule,
eat your
meals at
non-peak
times to
avoid lines
say all
parks
personnel.
Peak times
are from
noon until
2:30 p.m.
Carry in a
water bottle
you can
refill for
quenching
your thirst
and taming
your hunger
pangs.
Not every
day is a
totally
sunny day at
a water
park, but do
not let that
ruin your
time! Take
time out to
see if there
is an arcade
on the
premises,
shops or
have a spur
of the
moment
picnic or
snack under
a shelter.
"Summer
storms
usually only
last 1/2 to
1 hour and
then usually
the sun
comes out"
says
Childress
who says "in
no time you
will be back
to having
family fun!".
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Michelle
Donaghey
is a
freelance
writer
and
mother
of
two
boys,
Chris
and
Patrick,
who
are
her
inspiration.
She
lives
in
Bremen,
Indiana
just
south
of
South
Bend,
home
of
Notre
Dame.
When
she
isn't
writing,
Michelle
can be
found
in
her
perennial
flower
garden
or
working
on
small
home
improvement
projects.
Michelle
has
written
for
parenting
publications
including
Metro
Kids,
Atlanta
Parent,
Dallas
Child,
Great
Lakes
Family,
Family
Times
and
Space
Coast
Parent
and
websites
including
iparenting.com.
No
part
of
this
article
may be
copied
or
reproduced
in any
form
without
the
express
permission
of
More4Kids
Inc
©
2005 |
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