School’s out, and the days of summer are anything but lazy! For busy families, keeping the kids entertained, not to mention safe, during the break can be a real challenge. Every parent wants their child to enjoy the summer months safely and reasonably, right down to making memories while on the annual family vacation. Here are some tips to keep the fun going and the stress to a minimum.
RESPECT THE WATER
Arkansas has abundant natural beauty, including miles of shoreline along rivers, streams, and clear lakes. Throw in all-American pool parties that pop up during the hot summer months, and it makes an ironclad case for swimming lessons. In a recent article, Dr. Claire McCarthy, senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing, summarized the issue: “The main thing parents should know about swimming lessons: all children should have them.”
The rationale for learning to swim is twofold: to take advantage of one of the most healthful forms of exercise and to stay safe in and around the water. The New York Times reported last year that among children ages one to four, drowning is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and the second leading cause of death among kids ages five to fourteen. Overall, about eleven people die from drowning every day on average in the United States. Arkansas ranks high on the list of states in the number of drowning deaths per 100,000 residents, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Families who don’t live near water or who don’t own a swimming pool are not immune from tragic outcomes resulting from children not knowing how to swim. Water-related activities common to Arkansas, such as boating and fishing, lend to their share of accidents, as do unlocked pool gates in the neighborhood. “The most important reason [for learning to swim] is that swimming is the only sport which can save your child’s life,” proclaims an article on Swimming.org.
Check out the following local organizations for enrolling your child in swimming lessons:
Marvin Altman Fitness Center-Fort Smith, (479.441.5469)
Bullock Aquatics, Fort Smith, and Van Buren, (bullockaquatics.com)
SAFETY ON WHEELS
There’s nothing more all-American than kids on wheels during the summertime. Many parents today remember fondly the freedom their bike or skateboard gave them to join with friends and get around the neighborhood. The allure of mountain biking also surrounds today’s generation of kids in Arkansas, as seemingly every community looks to improve quality of life by opening new trails.
Cycling and skateboarding are as popular as ever, so every parent should know and enforce safety rules with their kids to prevent serious injury. As the National SAFE KIDS Campaign notes, bicycles injure more children than any other consumer product next to motor vehicle-related injuries.
Head trauma is the most common injury in accidents involving bikes, reports Johns Hopkins Medicine, making helmets a mandatory piece of equipment. Yet, the site reports more than half of kids don’t wear a helmet when riding, which significantly increases the likelihood of injury or death from head injuries. The organization’s website reports that “It is estimated that eighty million Americans ride bikes of many different types. Children and adults should always wear helmets when riding bicycles.”
According to SAFE KIDS, bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as eighty-five percent. There has been a fifty-four percent reduction in the number of bike-related deaths since 1999.
Johns Hopkins recommends the following when choosing a helmet for use with wheeled vehicles, including skates, scooters, and bikes:
• Choose a model approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Snell Foundation, or the American Society for Testing and Materials.
• Choose a model constructed of a hard outer shell and an absorbing liner at least one-half inch thick.
• Ensure the helmet fits comfortably and snugly, sitting on the child’s head in a level position. A proper-fitting helmet should not rock from side to side.
• The helmet should have a chin strap and buckle to keep the helmet in place.
Additional safety equipment, including knee, wrist, and elbow pads, is strongly recommended for scooter and skateboard riders. The lightweight and free-rolling motion of these vehicles can quickly get out from under the rider, causing them to fall backward or try to catch themselves, not to mention the usual wipeouts from uneven surfaces or attempting to do tricks.
Other safety precautions run along the lines of common sense, such as ensuring the child can handle the vehicle, adequate adult supervision, especially for beginning riders, use of bicycle training wheels for younger kids, outfitting vehicles with reflectors or lights to maintain visibility in low-light situations and avoiding riding or skating in the street.
Consult the experts at these local retailers to set up your child for safety.
Champion Cycling, Fort Smith (championcycling.com)
Roll on BMX and Skate, Fort Smith (facebook.com/rollonbmx)
The Woodsman Company, Fort Smith (thewoodsmancompanyar.com)
ROUGHING IT, REFINED
Camping out is an excellent way for children to get to know the natural world and for families of all sizes to reconnect with reduced distractions by screens and technology. Studies have shown that kids who grow up going camping with their families develop a better appreciation for the environment and conservation.
There’s also no denying the benefit of fresh air and Vitamin D from hiking the forest trail or paddling in a lake (see swimming lessons above). However, like any other activity, camping with kids requires some advance planning to ensure things go smoothly. Being in nature means being ready for just about anything—from weather to wildlife—and chalking it up to being part of the experience.
If you are new to camping, or it’s been a while since your last trip, a trial run is always a good idea. Spending a night under the stars at home will give the youngsters a taste of what’s to come. In addition, it offers parents a practice run at setting up a tent, cooking outdoors, and building a “campfire” in the backyard firepit. It also gives insight into what pieces of the family’s camping equipment might need replacing.
Choosing the destination is vital to a good family experience. Depending on experience, locate a kid-friendly site that offer amenities such as bathrooms and hand-washing facilities (especially if you’re tenting), playgrounds, and bike paths.
Spend a little time before the outing to plan meals and what to bring along. Mother Nature is fickle, so pack in layers and bring enough for an unexpected change of clothes. Planning and prepping meals ahead of time, including snacks, can help keep kids full and reduce the time parents spend on kitchen chores.
Typically, enjoying nature doesn’t involve the constant use of electronics, which can be an adjustment for some kids. Consider old-school entertainment such as hikes, scavenger hunts, canoeing or kayaking, looking for wildlife prints, or collecting and decorating rocks to keep them engaged and entertained. Star gaze, sing songs, or tell stories around the campfire, and be prepared for uncooperative weather by bringing board games or a simple deck of playing cards.
Finally, camp safety regarding fire, water, critter encounters, and wandering requires well-laid-out rules. Bring a well-stocked first aid kit to handle the bumps and bruises that can accompany your adventures. Arkansas abounds with camping sites statewide through its gorgeous state parks (arkansasstateparks.com), which help ease camping even for beginners.
Contact the following area state parks, all within a ninety-minute drive from Fort Smith, for more information to create an unforgettable family outing.
Lake Fort Smith, Mountainburg (479.369.2469)
Devil’s Den, West Fork (479.761.3325)
Mount Magazine, Paris (479.963.8502)
WORDS Dwain Hebda
IMAGES courtesy Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism
