Get ready, hot summer ideas for all the family

Isn’t it so much easier to wake up when the sun is shining? Let’s hope it’s finally the start of summer. To make things family life a little easier here at Floorell we have come up with some ideas on how to make the summer as stress free as possible. The first rule is to get out in the garden and make the most of it. Think about it, drinks that spill on the grass are a lot easier to hide than ones that are spilt on your carpet inside. Things can be thrown around without hitting anything that can break, food that’s dropped can be left for the birds and you can top up your tan whilst your doing it all. So my advice is leave the cleaning behind, dig out your summer wardrobe and let the fun begin. All sounds good to me.

Eating alfresco…

One of the good things about summer is all the outside dining. Men seems to relish the role as caveman and ‘maker of fire’ so you can off-load the responsibility of cooking to him for a change. Disposable barbeque’s, disposable paper plates, pre-packed barbecue meats, re-washed salad - are all good ways to keep the mess ot a minimum. Bribes of Ice-lollies, fruit or ice-cream for afters is always a good way to get kids ot eat all their dinner and keep them outside until bedtime.

Everyones appetites seem to grow in the summer so instead of running in and out all day why not pack a cool bag (or bucket of ice if you don’t have one). Fill it with fruit, squeezable yoghurts, those stringy cheese straws things and drinks. That way everyone can help themselves and you can concentrate on your tan and monitoring the worm digging competition.

Kids love a picnic so why not have lunch in the garden? I usually make sandwiches just after the breakfast rush and leave them ready in the fridge. That way when they get to that niggly 12o’clock stage the food is ready and you don’t have to wrestle the biscuits off them. Crisps, fruit juices, chocolate biscuits and sandwiches all seem so much better when you’re sitting outside. The kids enjoy it and they get distracted by the garden.  Get them all to help you tip the rubbish away into pre-arranged carrier bags, so there’s no mess afterwards. Simple.

Kids love making things - so simply let them mash up some fruit, mix in some fruit juice and make your own ice-lollies. Melon balls always go down well - using a teaspoon scoop out round balls of a melon then freeze them. It’s a great way to get one of their 5 a day into them.

Activities

It’s good in summer to accept the fact that your children will get dirty playing outside. But as Persil says ‘Dirt is good’. Once you’ve covered them from head to toe in suncream it can only really go down hill from there can’t it? But instead of fretting, it’s so much easier to accept the fact they will look unashamedly scummy, but the good thing is there will be no arguments ta bath time as even they will realise they need a good scrub. Summer should be about digging for worms, making mud pies, planting herbs and eating half melted ice-creams. After all, we did it and there’s nothing wrong with us.

Paddling pools are a great way to let kids cool down - but be careful. kids needs to be supervised at all times. Even a few cm’s of water can be dangerous so make sure you drain it out after use. There’s some great products on the market now that spray water using the hose, they come in all different shapes and sizes. Water guns are good fun as are bucket of soapy water to wash down the garden furniture! Paint brushes and chalks keep kids busy just make sure it’s all washable as you wouldn’t want your decking/ pavements to be covered in your child’s art work - no matter how lovely it is.

Safety First

Create a safety box by the back door filled with hats, sun creams and sun block. Make sure they understand the importance of wearing sun cream and make sure they wear hats at all times.

Keep kids hydrated with water/ drinks all day so make them accessible and in an easy to reach place.

Create a play area in the shade for the hottest part of the day, if you don;t have one go inside for a while. Siesta’s in summer are always my favourite part of the day.

If you have a pond make sure it has the right guards around it if you have small children playing in the garden. don’t encourage children to play with the pond unless you are willing to supervise them the whole time.

If your garden has access to the street out the front make sure the children understand not to wonder off. If you have gates keep them locked.

If you have pets make sure they have plenty to drink and a shaded area to enjoy as well.

If you do have a BBQ make sure children are aware of the dangers of the fire and make sure it is put out properly. 

 These top tips were bought to you by Floorell www.floorell.co.uk