Well, well, well…according the the United Nations, today Adelaide is the hottest city in the world, predicted to reach a top of 46 degrees! The week as a whole has been a very hot one and the educators at Flinders have been using all their tips and tricks to ensure the children (and educators!) are cool and well during this heat wave.
Children often don’t realise how hot they have become and need keen eyed educators to help them maintain a healthy body temperature. For this reason, children are considered a vulnerable population group during extreme weather events such as we have had this week. At Flinders, we keep a regular eye on the daily temperature and forecast for the coming week in order to plan effectively and adjust our routines as needed.
This week we implemented a range of “keep cool” strategies across the Houses;
- only going into the gardens in the early mornings and late evenings
- moving any outdoor meals indoors
- having water play and using the heat as an opportunity to explore ice
- making frozen fruit and yoghurt pops
- respecting that our bodies might need an extra rest
- drinking lots and lots of water
In order to support the children to maintain high levels of involvement when inside, educators have been complementing these approaches with lots of special, educator supported play experiences.
This multifaceted approach has enabled children to stay as cool and involved as possible. We are so proud of all the children, who have adapted so well to this necessary change in routines.