Children are a particularly sensitive group to hot weather due to their incomplete ability to regulate body temperature like adults. Children are more likely to lose water faster and are at risk of heat exhaustion if outdoor activities are prolonged.
One of the most important principles to cool down children in the summer is to stay hydrated. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children need to drink water regularly even when they are not thirsty, especially on high temperature days or when exercising outdoors.
Many parents currently tend to give their children too much soft drinks, milk tea or bottled fruit juice with the thought of "rehydrating quickly". However, experts warn that this is not an ideal choice to cool down. Drinks high in sugar can increase excess energy, the risk of obesity and affect children's metabolism.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), filtered water is still the best choice for children in the summer. In addition, unsweetened milk and whole fresh fruits are also more recommended than high-sugar juice.
In addition to supplementing water, summer diets for children should prioritize easy-to-digest, vitamin-rich and naturally rich foods such as vegetable soup, fresh fruit, watermelon, orange, dragon fruit or cucumber.
Foods rich in water and fiber help support fluid balance and improve digestion in hot weather.
A dish recommended by many nutrition experts for children in the summer is sweet potato soup with minced meat or winter melon soup with shrimp. These soups both replenish water and provide vitamins, minerals and protein necessary for development.
In addition to nutrition, children's living time in the summer is also very important. According to Mayo Clinic, children should not exercise outdoors during the harshest sunny hours of the day, usually from 10 am to 4 pm.
A common mistake today is that many families put children in air-conditioned rooms continuously with temperatures that are too low. Experts believe that the excessive temperature difference between outdoors and indoors can make children prone to respiratory infections or mild heat shock when the environment changes suddenly.
According to recommendations from the Cleveland Clinic, suitable air conditioning temperatures for children often range from 26-28 degrees Celsius, and it is necessary to maintain ventilation in the room.
