Summer brings sunshine, outdoor adventures, and plenty of opportunities for family fun. But with all this excitement comes the need for extra vigilance to keep our children safe. Here’s a guide to ensuring your kids have a safe and enjoyable summer break.

Sun Safety: Protecting Delicate Skin

The summer sun can be harsh on children’s sensitive skin, and that can lead to problems today and down the road. Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every two hours, and more frequently if swimming or sweating, and seeking shade during peak sun hours (10 AM to 4 PM) is the best way to protect their delicate skin. Dressing children in lightweight, light-colored full coverage clothing and accessorizing with wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses offer comfort and protection. And, make sure they are staying hydrated with water and low-sugar sports drinks and limiting sugar filled sodas!

Water Safety: Making a Splash Safely

Water activities are summer favorites but require extra careful supervision. Children should never be left unattended or unsupervised near water, even for a moment. Even if your child knows  how to swim, having them wear proper-fitting life jackets for water activities and enforcing clear water safety rules, such as no running near pool edges and no diving in shallow areas, will be valuable guidelines for water safety 

Keeping Kids Engaged: Balancing Fun and Structure

Maintaining a healthy balance of daily activities can help prevent boredom and promote development all summer long. Work with your children on creating a flexible daily routine that combines physical activities, creative time, educational opportunities, and rest. Summer is a great time to limit screen time and go on adventures to local museums, nature centers, visit local libraries and enroll in their summer reading programs, or to just explore your city in a new way! 

Keeping Track of Your Child: Peace of Mind with Technology

Today’s parents have powerful tools to help monitor their children’s safety while still giving them appropriate independence. The Inspyre, powered by Acuma Health, app by SmartMonitor, with these powerful but passive monitoring capabilities, is particularly useful for summer safety:

How Inspyre, powered by Acuma Health, Can Help Keep Kids Safe

The Inspyre app, installed on your child’s smartwatch, offers several features that are invaluable during summer break:

• Live Geo Location Tracking: Know exactly where your child is at all times, whether they’re at a friend’s house, the community pool, or summer camp
• Safe Location Settings: Define zones like your home, the neighborhood playground, or grandma’s house, and receive alerts when your child enters or leaves these areas
• Activity and Motion Tracking: The Inspyre app tracks activity and fast, rapid movements and sends notifications that provide timely and meaningful insights on activity levels and patterns, wakefulness, and sleep.
• Heart Rate Monitoring: Stay informed about your child’s physical condition, especially important during hot summer days
• Scheduling Reminders: Set alerts for sunscreen application, medication times, or when it’s time to head home—all appearing directly on your child’s watch
• Emotional Check-ins: The app’s unique feature allows children to report how they’re feeling, helping parents stay connected to their emotional wellbeing

Balancing Freedom and Safety

Summer is a time when kids naturally crave more independence, but safety remains paramount. The Inspyre, powered by Acuma Health, app can help strike this balance, allowing children age-appropriate freedom while giving parents peace of mind.

By combining traditional safety practices with innovative assistive technology like the Inspyre, powered by Acuma Health,  parents can create a summer environment where kids can explore, learn, and grow—safely and happily.

Remember, assistive technology enhances, but doesn’t replace, parental supervision. The most important safety tool remains your attentive presence and open communication with your child about safety rules and expectations.