Summer with the kids – keeping it cool

Playing outside, splashing around in the cool water, enjoying ice creams – summer is here! The skies are blue and the air is filled with the smell of sunscreen as weeks of long and (hopefully) lazy days stretch out ahead of us. But sadly, no matter how hard we try, things may not go quite as smoothly as we would like – even during the warmer months. We run out of ideas for excursions with the kids, the heat becomes too much for the little ones to handle and then there’s the challenge of finding childcare for the long school holidays. But not to worry, our hot tips will help you keep a cool head, allowing you and the family to enjoy this summer to the max!

Tips for excursions

The sun is out in full force and you would love nothing more than to spend the whole day outside in the fresh air. But even – or particularly – when the sun is out, there’s a whole host of things to bear in mind to ensure the little ones have a good time too. Are there enough shady spots to hide from the heat when it gets too much? Has everyone brought enough to drink? Have you double checked that you definitely packed the sun cream? Don’t forget – sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours to top up its protection against the sun’s rays. Yes, family days out in summer can quickly become a bigger organisational challenge than we would like. So, instead of eyeing up far-away destinations that take up a whole day and need precision planning, why not opt for a location that’s closer by, allowing for last-minute changes in plans? Fortunately, there are already plenty of spots for little adventurers and brave explorers dotted around our kids & co daycare centres. Can we interest you in a little inspiration?

Local attractions near kids & co Europaallee Zurich

• Jucker Farm
• Langenberg  Wildlife Park
• Community centres in the city of Zurich
• Water games on Josefswiese
• water wheel Ziegelhütte 
• Glattpark near Glattbrugg/Opfikon
• Barbecue areas on the Sihl River (also easily accessible by bike)
• Silberweide nature station and adventure playground (very easily accessible by public transport
• Im Moos open air/bio pool, Schlieren
• City garden
• Uetliberg Mountain
• Skills Park in Winterthur (Sundays 10–12 is reserved for children aged 5 and under)

Local attractions near kids & co Wabern

• Gurten playground 
• Sikypark in Crémines

Local attractions near kids & co Wankdorf

• Schützenweg playground 

 Local attractions near kids & co Gümligen

• Füllerich sports centre (lots of room for older children)

Local attractions near catchment area of Bern’s daycare centres

• water playground «Gwunderwasser»
• Volg sensory pathway in Ins (different stops around a circular route, lovely barbecue site)
• Summer oasis on Krebsbach (great for swimming and splashing around)
• Egelsee
• EXPLORiT Kindercity 
• Robi playground in Rüfenacht 
• Elfenau playground
• Längmuur playground
• Gümligenfeldequestrian centre (for horse lovers both big and small)

Local attractions near  kids & Co Grandchamp

• Foxtrail  Lausanne (fun hike which involves looking for clues)

Local attractions near  kids & Co La Source

• Recreational area in Les Paccots (opposite Le Tsalé restaurant, playground with nature trail, zip line, fountain and much more)
• Wildlife watching in the Guin marshlands, FR (about 30 minutes’ walk)

How to beat the heat

As much as we all love summer, the heat can sometimes get a bit much for the best of us. It is also particularly challenging for infants and young children to regulate their body temperature during hot weather. The following tips and tricks can help make you and your little ones a little more comfortable during the hottest weeks of the year.

•  Check the back of their necks – babies’ hands and feet often haven’t yet developed proper blood flow, so the skin on the back of the neck gives a more accurate indication of whether your child is hot. It should be neither cool nor moist and sweaty.
• Now and then, or as necessary, use lukewarm (not cold!) showers or wet wipes to lower the body temperature.
• Rather than heading to a lido, move the afternoon’s activities to a forest, where – thanks to the trees – temperatures are more bearable and ozone levels are lower.
• Reserve airing out bedrooms and nurseries to the early morning and night. This ensures they stay pleasantly cool even when daytime temperatures are high.
• Don’t just rely on sunscreen – stay in the shade as much as possible and use UV-absorbing fabrics to give your children’s delicate skin that extra bit of protection.

 Incidentally, even if you think it might be a good idea, don’t store bottles or that afternoon’s lemonade in the fridge! On hot days, it’s better to drink warm tea than cold drinks because it helps to cool the body from the inside out. And of course, as always – be sure to drink lots of water! Ideally, children should be offered a small glass of water every hour. Drinking it can be combined with a little game.

 kids & co holiday programme

The children may be on holiday, but the parents aren’t. When it comes to childcare during the school holidays, summer can often present a considerable challenge for families. It’s a shame, really, because the warmer months should be as carefree and effortless as possible. That’s why, here at kids & co, we offer a varied programme for kindergarten and school children during select holiday weeks, allowing mum and dad to head to work without worrying. Now, nothing can stand in the way of a carefree and hopefully never-ending summer!

 Looking for holiday childcare?
Still need childcare for the summer holidays? Secure one of our last few places now and register your child with us today!