Outdoor Safety Tips for Kids

It’s natural for kids to be curious, explore, and go on adventures. Before there were personal computers, and before the abundance of television content aimed at them, kids had outdoors activities to satiate their need for new and exciting things. Those activities were beneficial for them, physically and mentally.

But entertainment has mostly moved inside these days. Kids have smartphones, consoles, and computers they can use to explore the world. And while they may accrue knowledge from these things, they cannot get the full benefits of play without being physically active in an outdoor setting. Parents who want to rectify the problem have plenty of options at their disposal, including weekend camping trips. Here are a couple tips about children’s safety for the parent who want to their kids to enjoy more outdoors activities.

Be the Parent

You know more about the outdoors than your kids. Your kids might not always be aware of potentially dangerous things, and it’s your job to help them learn. The further you go from the relative safety of a city, the more important this becomes.

Apart from making sure your kids don’t wander off in the woods, you also have to carefully monitor their activities. Setting clear rules for what they can and cannot do is always important, as is explaining why they cannot do some things. Kids need to be aware of their surroundings, and they need to know that they can’t touch everything they see or go somewhere where they can’t see you.

Proper Hydration

As your outdoors trip takes your family away from the city, you will probably notice that the temperatures get cooler. But even with the cooler temperatures, your kids will still sweat while they are playing around. And if they’re doing something that really interests them, they can easily forget about drinking water.

But you shouldn’t. Don’t wait until you notice the signs of dehydration in your kids. If you’re camping, you should restrict your kids’ access to most of your camping gear, except the water bottles. You kids should have their own bottles, and they should use them regularly. When they forget, you should remind them.

Sun Safety

Children might not be aware that spending too much time in the sun can be bad for them. Even if they are, why should they care when there’s a whole world outside ready for exploration? Just like they might forget to drink water, kids might also forget to get inside during the hottest part of the day.

Mornings and late afternoons are the safest parts of the day to spend outside without getting heat illness. It’s important that you plan indoors activities for the time when your kids have to stay inside. When outside, make sure their head is protected from the sun, and their skin is protected by child-appropriate sunscreen.

Insects and Wildlife

You should think carefully before taking your kids to a place that’s teeming with wildlife. Most adults are not sure how to react when encountering undomesticated animals. Children are even worse at it. Kids can easily jump to the conclusion that the animal is friendly and try to pet it, which is never a good idea. Make sure your kids understand that, if they see any wild animals, they shouldn’t try to engage with them.

As for insects, there are more than a few repellent products on the market that are safe for use on children. You should research them thoroughly, and maybe even consult your kids’ pediatrician about the safest choices. But you should always remember to protect the kids from insects because they can spread diseases.

Taking care of a kid who’s fascinated with the outdoors takes a lot of work. However, with all the benefits outdoor activities have for your kids, the effort is more than well-spent. Before going on a trip to the outdoors, prepare well, prepare your kids well, and remember that you have to take of yourself as well.