As a parent or guardian, there’s nothing seasonal about caring for or worrying about your kids. It comes with the territory, and it never goes away.

And yet the changing seasons present their own unique challenges – situations you’d be much less likely to face any other time of year. And that’s true of summer just as it is fall, winter or spring.

So, from the home security team here at Now Security Systems, we offer these 4 child-safety tips for everyone’s benefit:

Going to the Playground.

Before walking to driving to your favorite playground, fill a backpack or similar conveyance with the core essentials:  sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, sunglasses, a hat, band-aids, an antiseptic, water, and snacks.

Playground equipment.

Once you’ve arrived, visually inspect the swing sets, jungle gyms, and other trappings to ensure they’re securely anchored in good repair – especially if you don’t often visit this playground. Look for a cushioned surface beneath and around play spaces that consists of sand, rubber mats, pea gravel, or wood chips. Also, limit the amount of time your child spends in direct sunlight, even if they’re lathered up in sunscreen. And don’t forget to touch the bare surface of metal slides. If they’re too hot, they can burn bare little legs.

Visiting a friend.

If your child is allowed to have a playdate at a friend’s house with or without your presence, you’ll want to know as much about the lay of the land as possible. How much direct supervision will there be. Is the host child sick or suffering from a communicable disease or cold? Are there certain foods or beverages your child is not allowed to ingest? How about pets – does your child have known allergic reactions. We all want to encourage the social side of your children, but without putting them in harm’s way.

At a public pool or lake.

It all starts with setting very clear and rigid ground rules. First, remind your kids not to dive or jump into shallow water, run on wet surfaces, or engage in any roughhouse near or in the water. Do not allow your child near or in the water without adult supervision, even if a lifeguard is on duty. Bring an extra supply of sunscreen with you to reapply when they come out of the water, even if the sunscreen claims to be water proof.

What about when your kids get a little older and gain extra measures of independence – do you stop worrying about their safety then? Of course not, and that includes in and around your own backyard pool. Tweens and teens still need adult supervision, no matter how much they might protest. One additional way to keep an eye on them is with one or more outdoor video surveillance cameras carefully and constantly monitored by Now Security Systems so the proper action can be taken at the first sign of trouble – especially if your own attention is even temporarily averted.

For more information or a free in-home security evaluation, contact Now Security Systems today.