The First Signs of Summer with Little Tikes

Summer is the UK’s favourite season. For me, I start to feel summery when the weather gets warmer and my winter clothes get relegated to the back of my wardrobe in favour of t-shirts and summer dresses. The lighter evenings also signify the start of the summer season for me and I enjoy making the most of the longer days. However, according to a recent survey, most Brits consider it to be the start of summer when the month of June begins.

The survey of over 2000 people carried out by Little Tikes, found that despite the Solstice on June 21st being the official start of summer, the majority of UK residents class the first week of June as the start of the holiday season. In fact, just one in ten considered the start of summer to be Solstice week and some didn't consider it summertime until the schools break up for the summer holidays.

63% of Brits stated that summer is their favourite season of the year. However, less than a quarter (23%) said that warm weather heralded the start of the season for them. So despite us having the hottest May in decades, many people still didn't consider it as being summer for them.

For one in ten Brits, summer officially starts with the smell of cut grass, whilst for others, it is the smell of the first BBQ of the season (for us it's a vegan BBQ), the sound of children playing outdoors, the first spray tan of the year or even, the Queen’s Birthday. An unlucky 3% of Brits know it’s summer when their Hayfever symptoms kick in. A further 3% believe the season starts when they book their official summer holiday and begin to look forward to sunbathing on a tropical beach.

Almost half of those asked, didn’t feel they spend enough time outdoors during the summer months although they would like this to change. So this summer, Little Tikes is calling on all Brits to make the most of the season by spending time together outdoors. 

Little Tikes offers a full range of outdoor play products – from playhouses, sandboxes and water tables to the iconic Cozy Coupe. All of my children have enjoyed playing in the classic Crazy Coupe cars over the years! This season they have also launched the new Fun Zone range, which features toys like Splash Face, Dual Twister, Tumblin’ Tower and Drop Zone - for water-play with a twist, keeping the kids (and the grown-ups) cool this summer!

You can shop the full Little Tikes range at https://www.littletikes.co.uk.

Garnier Ambre Solaire Sun Protection for Kids

Summer is at last here and the sun is doing its very best to shine. We've had some lovely warm days so far this year, so I'm hopeful that 2017 might actually give us the summer we have all been hoping for. With this is mind, it's really important to make sure we have appropriate sun protection for our families to keep everyone safe from harmful UV rays. When it comes to children, their skin is very delicate and vulnerable, so it's important to make sure they are well protected when out in the sun. Garnier Ambre Solaire have a range of sunscreens designed especially for kids' skin, which are hypoallergenic and tested under paediatric control.

We received a selection to sample, which includes their top sun protection products for kids and babies.

Ambre Solaire Kids Sensitive Anti-Sand Sun Cream Spray SPF50 is a unique sun protection spray with a sand repelling action. It's perfect for the beach or sandpit as it helps avoid that itchy sand feeling. It is water resistant,non-sticky and absorbs instantly. The spray mechanism works continuously at all angles making it easy to use, even on wriggly kids!

Ambre Solaire Easy Peasy Kids Swim Protection Spray SPF50 is great to apply before hitting the beach or the pool. It is very water resistant and has a moisturising formula to protect delicate skin. It offers very high protection against sun-induced skin damage. The Ambre Solaire Easy Peasy Trigger Happy Spray SPF50 has a trigger action spray applicator for speedy application. It is very water resistant and instantly absorbs into the skin.

Ambre Solaire Sensitive Advanced Baby in the Shade SPF50 sun cream is a formula that is hypoallergenic, free from perfume and parabens and especially designed for babies' delicate, sensitive skin. It is enriched with a mineral filter for advanced protection against UVA and UVB rays. It gives extra protection to babies who are shading from the sun, and gives reassurance to parents, knowing that their little ones are properly protected. It comes in a convenient 50ml tube that is perfect for popping into your handbag or baby changing bag.

Whether you are on holiday or playing in the garden this summer, it is so important to keep children's skin protected from the harmful effects of the sun. Always make sure sun protection is applied 20 - 30 minutes before going outside and topped up immediately before leaving the house or hotel room, and then reapplied regularly.