Beating the Heat

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Permalink Reply by CMerie on July 7, 2009 at 3:50pm

This will be our third summer here. The first two were spent in a third story apartment that was south facing. Talk about hot! This year we are in a house, and the summer doesn't seem as bad.

For the kids, I've realized that they are actually tougher than you think. The biggest thing is to keep them hydrated. We go outside in the mornings until it's too hot, and then we play inside. I come up with activities for the kids, and have a list on my fridge for different levels of my involvement for when I get desperate. I didn't realize until just recently how active this area is during the summer. You just don't realize it, because the activity is all inside. We also go outside in the afternoon to play in the pool.

One of the things we do is go to the library for Toddlertime. (They also have infant lapsit, and Preschooltime). Most malls have indoor play areas that are free, (bonus, you can get a walk in here when it's too hot outside). Chick-fil-a has a good play area. Also, Barnes & Noble has a train table in the kids section. I think there are a couple of indoor parks, but you have to pay an admission fee. We've yet to use these.

There is a newsletter that comes out every month called Active Moms (or something like that). We get our copy at the library. It lists everything that is going on in the valley for each day that month. There are also many parks that have splash pads that are free. The biggest thing is that you just have to plan a little more.

It will get hotter as the summer goes on, but you really do start to get used to it. Until you do, plan on doing your outside play in the mornings, and again, make sure you all stay hydrated. Don't plan on it getting below 100 until the end of October.

On the weekends, you can plan a day trip up north to the Flagstaff, or Payson, or Prescott area to beat the heat. We have done this sometimes just to play in the parks!

I would love any ideas you come up with as well!