Kids And Sport

Having just spent the day watching my daughter compete in a state atheletic championship it quickly reminded me of something we all need to remember when our child is invloved in an outdoor sport or playing games outside.

As a parent we all tend to make sure they take enough water and keep an eye on their fluid levels, where possible we make sure they stand in the shade if they need to wait bewteen events and that they are wearing a hat and sun screen (Slip, Slop, Slap - slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat - and often repeated phrase in our house) Yet we often forget about ourselves.

Taking today as an examle, while summer seems to be rushing toward us at an amazing rate, here in South Australia at least - today wasn’t overly warm so I didn’t really think too much about it.

It’s only now that I’ve come home that I’ve noticed a distinct sunburn on my arms and face, though naturally because I was concerened about my daughter and made sure she was covered she didn’t get sunburnt at all.

If, as a parent, you know you’re going to be spending any time at all chasing around after your children as they play and compete outdoors take a little extra time to make sure you’ve got yourself covered as well: take an extra bottle of water and hat, and when you’re smothering your child in sunscreen spare a bit for yourself at the same time.

Remember when you’re spectating you often spend more time standing in the sun than those competing do.