Kids' Safety & Snow Play

Last year, I waited too long in the season to buy snow boots for my son.  By the time I went to buy them, all of the nearby stores were sold-out. We ended up piling on layers of socks and using a pair of his rain boots. But, this year, we’re ready!  We all have snow boots, hats, gloves, and everything in between.

The only thing is… I’m not the biggest fan of playing outside when it’s about 30 degrees and the wind makes it feel even colder.  When I was a kid, I would be out in the snow all day, but now, after 15 minutes, I’m ready to come inside and get cozy.  But, I knew the kids would be begging to play in the snow today, and I wanted to make sure I was prepared

I was doing some online searching trying to find a 'golden rule' for the amount of time kids are allowed to play outside. I couldn't find a 'golden rule', but, from what I read, it seems like the main goals are to keep your kids happy, safe, warm, and dry.  Younger kids need to have regular breaks inside so that they can rest and stay hydrated.

Did you know you should be putting sunscreen on when you’re out in the snow?  Even when it’s cloudy, ultraviolet rays from the sun reflect off the white snow on the ground.  So, it’s important to protect your skin from the UV rays, just like you would at the beach. You may even want to get those sunglasses out again.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has some great winter safety tips that will help keep you up-to-date on everything you need to know to keep your kids safe in the snow.  Just remember to have fun and take lots of pictures!

P.S.  Just in case your child asks "What is snow?"  There is a website called Weather Wiz Kids that has the answer.

Photographer: Tina Phillips / http://www.freedigitalphotos.net