Beating the Florida Heat at the Playground

Florida playgrounds get genuinely hot, especially from late spring through early fall. A few practical notes:

• Best time of day — early morning or after 4 PM avoids the worst of the midday sun and heat.
• Reapply sunscreen — every 2 hours outdoors, more often if kids are in a splash pad.
• Hydration cues — offer water regularly rather than waiting for kids to ask; thirst often lags behind actual need.
• Heat exhaustion signs — watch for excessive sweating, dizziness, nausea, or unusual fatigue. Move to shade and offer water immediately if you notice these.
• Touch equipment first — metal slides and dark plastic surfaces can be too hot to touch safely by mid-day.

Look for the 🌳 Shade tag when browsing the parks directory to find playgrounds with more natural or built shade cover.