Keep You and Your Toddler Cool in the Summer Time

I think when the heat hits 33 degrees in the middle of the night, we can officially say that it's summer time. Summer time in the Philippines is all about finding ways to escape it which usually means a trip to the beach or the mall. But we can't always go to the beach or mall for respite. That could easily rack up the household bills and smart working mommies don't need the additional expense!

So, what can we do to survive this heat? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Create a pool.

I think this is our number one go-to option to cool down. You don't even have to buy an inflatable pool. The good old batya will do for your little one! We set up ours in the middle of the garden and my son will splash around there happily--the entire day if we let him. It doesn't even matter if he is already too big for his baby bath tub. As long as he can somewhat submerge himself, that's really just all he needs.

I remember my own childhood when my brother and I would "swim" inside a drum full of water. I say you can never be too old for these things. Why not throw on some swimsuit and join in the fun and splash around the garden as well?

2. Level-up version of number 1: Go to your local neighborhood pool.

Well, instead of going to the beach and ending up spending for toll and gas, why not just keep the expenses down and go to the local pool? Private subdivision pools usually range from prices around P50 to P200, with special discounted rates reserved for homeowners. We usually go in for an hour or two in the morning and spend the rest of the day napping.

3. Make ice candy.

In other English-speaking countries, they call it popsicle. In the Philippines, we call it ice candy. You can turn basically any drink into ice candy by pouring it into a plastic container and allowing it some time to freeze. You can always opt to have a healthy version of this by including whatever fruit is in season. Though it can get messy eventually, it's a quick, cold snack on a hot day, and most kids love it.

4. Eat outside.

No, not eat out. Just eat outside, like literally. Some houses aren't that well-ventilated, so if meals times feel a little stuffy, why not bring it out into a shaded portion of the garden or an open terrace and have a picnic? Maybe the fresh air can make meal times more enjoyable.

5. Snack on cold items

If we can only have meals served to us ice cold during summer, I think that would really help keep temperatures down. The next best thing though is to simply have a juicy tropical fruit sitting in the ref and snack on it. This works best for watermelons and pineapples, but another fabulous snack that can be served cold and isn't necessarily a fruit is what is locally known as singkamas, a.k.a the Mexican turnip.

Do you have other low-cost ways to keep cool during the summer? Leave in the comments below!