Routines can help reduce your stress.  They are comforting for children.  And its easier to choose the healthier options if they are habits.   Here are some routines and habits to help make your summer healthier:

• Try to set a wake time, regular meal and snack times, and a bedtime. Try to stay within one hour of your schedule as a guidelines.

• Put a box or basket near the door for the sunscreen, sun hats, sun glasses so they are always easily in reach.

• Swap out the sweet drinks – keep a jug of chilled or infused water in the fridge

• Did you know that your child – and teen! – needs 60 minutes every day of vigorous exercise? Make daily movement part of their daily routine

  • Limit Screentime. Keep internet-enabled devices in common areas.Make sure you are fully up-to-date on safety issues and parental controls on all apps/games your child uses

•  Every summer in Ireland we have preventable tragedy.  Make reviewing water safety before your teens go out to swim a routine, and have health

• Safety discussions are not one-and-done. Know more about your child/teen’s routine. Your child is traveling (virtually) far beyond your estate on their phones with friends. They are travelling far faster on an e-scooter and encountering more traffic on bikes.

  • Frank discussions about substance misuse – including nicotine/vaping, “whippits”, and alcohol?

  • Have you talked to your child/teen about rules of the road for bikes and e-scooters? Make helmets and road safety routine.

  • Bookmark some resources to make your job easier. Try:

    • Snack/Food ideas:  SafeFood

    • Be up -to-date on road safety laws, especially for teens and e-scooters at RSA

    • CyberSafe Kids and Webwise can get you up to speed on the safety of all those apps your kids are using

    • Water Safety Ireland

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