How To Keep Children Safe In Hot Weather

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How To Keep Children Safe In Hot Weather

As temperatures rise throughout the summer months, schools, nurseries, and childcare settings face an important challenge: how to keep children safe in hot weather while still allowing them to enjoy the many benefits of outdoor play and learning.

Spending time outdoors is essential for children’s physical health, social development, and emotional wellbeing. Outdoor activities encourage exercise, creativity, exploration, and interaction with nature. However, prolonged exposure to the sun and high temperatures can increase the risk of sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion, and other heat-related illnesses.

Fortunately, with a few simple precautions, schools and childcare providers can create safe and enjoyable outdoor environments throughout the warmer months.

Schedule Outdoor Activities During Cooler Parts of the Day

One of the most effective ways to keep children safe in hot weather is to plan outdoor activities when the sun is less intense.

UV levels are typically at their highest between 11am and 3pm, making this the period when children are most at risk from harmful ultraviolet rays. Where possible, outdoor play, sports, and learning activities should be scheduled earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon.

During the hottest part of the day, children can take part in indoor activities such as reading, arts and crafts, or classroom-based learning before returning outdoors when temperatures begin to cool.

Encourage Protective Clothing

Appropriate clothing can provide an additional layer of protection from the sun.

Wide-brimmed hats or legionnaire-style hats help shield children’s faces, ears, and necks from direct sunlight, while lightweight, loose-fitting clothing can keep them cool while covering exposed skin. Sunglasses that offer UV protection may also be beneficial when children are spending extended periods outdoors.

Schools and nurseries may wish to remind parents about suitable summer clothing and sun protection requirements before warmer weather arrives.

Create Plenty of Shade

Providing access to shaded areas is one of the most effective strategies for protecting children from excessive sun exposure.

Natural shade from trees can offer valuable protection, but it is not always available in sufficient quantities or in the areas where children regularly play and learn. This is why many educational settings choose to invest in dedicated shade solutions such as school canopies, shade sails, or covered outdoor learning areas.

Unlike natural shade, a canopy provides consistent protection throughout the day and can be designed to cover specific areas such as playgrounds, outdoor classrooms, seating areas, and entranceways. By creating comfortable, shaded spaces, schools can continue to make use of their outdoor environments even during warmer weather.

Keep Children Hydrated

Children may not always recognise when they are becoming thirsty, so regular reminders to drink water are important. Schools and childcare providers should ensure that fresh drinking water is readily available throughout the day and encourage children to take frequent water breaks, particularly during physical activities.

Providing refill stations and allowing children to keep water bottles nearby can help promote healthy hydration habits.

Apply Sunscreen Correctly

Sunscreen plays an important role in protecting children’s skin from harmful UV rays.

Parents can help by applying sunscreen before children arrive at school or nursery, while staff should ensure that sunscreen is reapplied throughout the day where appropriate and in accordance with the setting’s policies.

A broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF rating should be used, and particular attention should be paid to commonly missed areas such as ears, noses, necks, and the tops of feet.

Recognise the Signs of Heat-Related Illness

Symptoms may include excessive tiredness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, pale skin, or unusual irritability. If a child begins to show any of these signs, they should be moved to a cool, shaded area, encouraged to drink water, and monitored closely.

Having clear procedures in place can help staff respond quickly and effectively when temperatures rise.

Creating Safer Outdoor Spaces All Summer Long

Understanding how to keep children safe in hot weather allows schools and childcare providers to continue delivering valuable outdoor learning and play opportunities throughout the summer.

By combining sensible scheduling, protective clothing, hydration, sunscreen, and access to shaded outdoor spaces, educational settings can significantly reduce the risks associated with hot weather while ensuring children continue to benefit from spending time outdoors.

With the right precautions in place, outdoor environments can remain safe, comfortable, and enjoyable for everyone throughout the summer months.

Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install canopies and shade structures at schools, nurseries and educational settings to enable year-round Free Flow Outdoor Play and Outdoor Learning.
For more information please contact us

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