It’s the hottest time of the year once again, and it’s going to stay that way for a while now. When summer starts, be aware that the first couple of months will particularly feel like sizzling before gradually cooling down with the onset of the monsoon season. I hope many of you are by now already in tune with the scorching summer heat that accompanies sweat. Sadly, there is little choice.

There is no doubt in saying that kids and play are synonymous, come summer or winter, you are out and playing. The changing seasons have little impact on your energy and joyful mood, because it’s childhood — the most wonderful and carefree phase of life. As long as you are kids, you must remain active in physical games; however, the rise and fall in the temperature can severely affect all living things, regardless of how healthy they are. For example, in summer, the extreme heat causes our body to sweat profusely, which means you lose a lot of water even if you’re not playing or doing any physical activity.

To retain the lost fluids, you must drink plenty of juices, lassi and water. However, a word of caution: avoid drinking chilled drinks and consuming water immediately after playing outdoors when your body is still hot and exhausted as it may cause nausea or stomach cramps. To avoid this, you must cool down your body to room temperature first, then sip any beverage slowly.

Apart from keeping your body hydrated in summer, you must maintain a good hygiene routine. As I said earlier, with increased temperature, you sweat a lot, so much so that your clothes get soaked in it. Even though sweating is our body’s natural way of cooling down, if sweat is not washed off properly, it can become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria.

Bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments and are the main cause behind skin irritations, rashes, body odour and in some cases, skin-related illnesses including fungal infections and also those that transmit through dirt.

Take baths: Take a bath, once your play or physical activity is over, but remember to cool off your body at room temperature before going into the shower. Bathing not only refreshes the exhaust body but also washes away sweat, dirt and germs from your skin. Therefore, if not twice, maintain a habit of bathing at least once a day. Routine hygiene practices will keep you feeling fresh all day and also free from unpleasant odours that come when you sweat or wear sweaty and damp clothing. Always wear clean and dry clothes after taking a shower.

Fragrance is important: If your parents allow, you can ask if you could also use normal or child-friendly deodorants or antiperspirants to help combat that stink. Talcum powders are a good source of keeping one feeling fresh and the body fragrant for hours.

Your feet need attention, too! Some kids love wearing shoes and with shoes, they have to wear socks. While feet covered with shoes are saved from various weather conditions, there are chances that one may get fungal infections and foot odour if worn for prolonged hours in the hot and humid weather.

So, choose footwear according to the season and setting. In case of discomfort or pain in the feet, avoid that footwear immediately and inform your parents; after all, your feet bear the whole-body weight, they deserve better care from you.

Maintaining good hygiene is a crucial part of human life. Just like you can’t skip a meal, you shouldn’t neglect staying clean and neat. Making small adjustments to your playing and bathing routine can help you beat the summer heat and stay feeling fresh and energised.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 25th, 2024