Play Safely All Summer with Banana Boat! {Giveaway}

One of the trickiest things about summer is keeping your kids entertained. For older kids it can be difficult because they are used to being in school for hours every day, and suddenly have more free time than they know what to do with. But even for younger kids, like Shane, it can be difficult. Here, we have to be very creative about our activities. It is HOT, so we tend to want to stay inside. But this Summer, my goal is to get outside as much as possible.

One of the most important things we do in the summer {and really, year-round, but particularly now} is apply sunscreen. Shane & I burn easily so we are always sure to lather up before going outside.

Banana Boat collage

The new Banana Boat Natural Reflect sunscreen is a great choice because it’s dermatologist tested & is gentle on our sensitive skin, and they even have a Kids version {Banana Boat® Sunscreen Kids Natural Reflect Tear-Free Sting-Free Lotion} & Baby version {Banana Boat® Sunscreen Baby Natural Reflect Tear-Free Sting-Free Lotion} to choose from for kiddos. They’re all SPF 50 and water resistant, and are Oxybenzone-free & Paraben-free as well. Plus, it’s made by Banana Boat, an already loved & trusted brand in sun protection!

We loved the sunscreen- Shane loves that it is a cream {he’s afraid of the spray kind} & I love that it was easy & quick to rub in, which is especially important when you are trying to apply it to a toddler who is super excited to go outside & just can’t wait one more second!

Banana Boat has come out with a fun guide called 101 Days of Summer Play. It literally features 101 ways to get outside & play this summer, with ideas like:

1. Solve this, Sherlock! Choose similar items and hide them throughout the backyard. Develop creative clues to help the children find the hidden objects, then have them compare each one and figure out the theme of the scavenger hunt.

14. The world is your canvas. Pin an old sheet up on a clothesline to make your own custom canvas. Feel free to use hands, twigs and grass as paint brushes and let your inner-Picasso shine.

37. Popsicle social. Squeeze ripe oranges for fresh orange juice and freeze in popsicle trays. Once they’re ready, enjoy this ice cold treat outside in the warm sun.

Last week, our friends invited us over for a pool party/pizza & popsicle social and since that’s one of the ideas in the guide, we decided to make it a Banana Boat Natural Reflect party, too!

Gift Bags

We headed over to our friend Carol’s house who was kind enough to open her pool to all of us. I set out goodie bags filled with some great Banana Boat swag: the new Natural Reflect sunscreen, a Banana Boat Frisbee, and a coupon.

Pizza Party

We had some yummy pizza, and a few of the kids had popsicles. We had a bit of a technical difficulty with the popsicle maker, so it didn’t turn into the popsicle social we had planned on, but I think the kids were too distracted playing to even notice!

Collage 3 on bottom

We went swimming {which I didn’t photograph because a camera & a pool full of toddlers is just asking for a voided warranty} &the kids played for hours! They brought toys outside to play with & just played with each other. It’s so cute how after growing up together, they can finally have conversations with each other!

Since our pool party, we’ve used a few other ideas from the guide, like #12- Play outside with your dog & #20- Take the Lunch Table Outside. I was surprised by how many of the ideas Shane can do- I expected it to be just for older kids but most of the activities can be done by younger kids but will still be fun for older kids!

If you want to download the free guide, be sure to head to Banana Boat’s Facebook page! While you’re there, make sure to take the pledge to encourage your kids to play outside every day this summer! You can even share your favorite summer memories on their page for a chance to win fun weekly prizes & a grand prize family vacation!

sarapic_trans

&To be sure you’re playing it safe in the sun, Banana Boat has a great list of tips from natural living expert & mom Sara Snow:

Be prepared: When spending a day outdoors with my family, I make sure to have a cooler stocked with lots of water, some juice & snacks like fresh fruits & veggies {oranges, watermelon, carrots & cucumbers are some of our favorites} for the day.

Apply early & often: Whether you’re spending just a few minutes outside or taking an all-day bike ride in the park, remember to apply a gold ball-sized amount of sunscreen 30 minutes before heading outdoors. Look for a sunscreen with broad spectrum UVA & UVB protection, like Banana Boat Sunscreen Natural Reflect Lotion, that is water resistant. And always reapply every two hours or after swimming!

Seek shade: As much as I love the sun, I also have to remember to find shade, especially during the height of the afternoon. When we head to the pool I look for chairs in the shade and if we’re heading to the park all day, I find a spot under a tree to take a break and each lunch when the sun is at its hottest.

Always wear sunscreen: Wearing sunscreen on a daily basis is important for everyday protection against the sun’s rays, even if you’re not spending the entire day outdoors. So get kids excited about sunscreen {and used to applying it} so they’ll use it on their own when they go away for camps or to spend the day at a friend’s pool.

WIN IT: Ready to try Banana Boat’s Natural Reflect Lotion? One lucky reader is going to win their own kit, with a bottle of the new sunscreen & a Frisbee to get you outdoors! Just use the simple form below- Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Susie’s Note: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of BananaBoat® Sun Care and received a party kit to facilitate my review, party kits to give to my guests, and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Play Safely All Summer with Banana Boat! {Giveaway}

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