Good Housekeeping: Celebrate Summer 2022 Premium Section

CELEBRATE SUMMER! 50+

Save Money on Your Next Vacation

Ways to Have Fun With Your Family

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FRESH, FUN RECIPES!

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C E L E B R AT E SUMMER

Cover: Con Poulos. This page: Steve Giralt.

FOR MORE CUTE & EASY RECIPES, SEE P. 14

CATERPILLARS Fill celery stalks with peanut butter or cream cheese and top with grapes, blueberries or grape tomatoes for the body and head.

Use peanut butter or cream cheese to glue on candy eyes and celery or radish matchsticks for antennae.

FUN SUMMER AC T I V I T I E S T H AT W O N ’ T B R E A K T H E B A N K

Mike Garten.

From taking it easy while lounging poolside to breaking a sweat on a hike to trying a new craft project or whipping up a recipe featuring a delicious summer food, the potential for cheap family fun this summer is endless. With longer days, you have more time to pick up a new hobby, eat a new food, explore the town or simply catch up on all the things you’ve been missing out on during the colder months of the year. The best part is there are so many exciting summer activities you can do alone or with loved ones, you’ll never feel bored.

STARGAZE IN YOUR BACKYARD.

FLY A KITE.

RUN IN THE SPRINKLERS.

Lie on the grass or make your kiddie pool work overtime by filling it with pillows and blankets, and host your first family stargazing night.

When the winds are heavy, take your kids outside and teach them the secret to flying a piece of fabric in the air for hours at a time.

You can’t let the plants and grass have all the fun. Let loose and jump for joy through the water!

HOST AN OUTDOOR RELAY RACE.

PRACTICE YOUR FLORIST SKILLS.

ROAST MARSHMALLOWS.

Who needs the Summer Olympics when you can come up with your own summer games at home? Round up some supplies, such as clothes hampers, pool noodles and Hula-Hoops and create the best summer event your backyard has ever seen.

If you’ve got a garden full of flowers (or a nearby flower shop where you can get inexpensive blooms), try your hand at putting together some bouquets. Display them in your home or drop them on the stoop of your local friends who could use a bit of color to brighten their day.

No summer is complete without a round of ooey gooey marshmallows smooshed between chocolate and graham crackers. Buy a firepit for your backyard and get roasting.

MIX UP SOME FUN SUMMER MOCKTAILS.

EXPERIMENT WITH GRILLING CORN.

DANCE IT OUT.

You almost can’t imagine a perfect summer without thinking about a fruity drink in hand. Whether it’s a colorful punch or a fruity spritzer, go wild working on some new beverage creations.

Sure, corn is delicious any time of year, but it’s really a summer food staple.

Get creative with corn toppings and seasonings like pesto, bacon and buffalo sauce. You might discover your next barbecue hit!

Put on a playlist of your favorite songs and get the family together to bust your best moves.

VACATION FOR LESS

It’s time to hit the road! Save money (and your sanity) whether you’re flying, driving or riding the rails to your getaway.

RV rental companies offer “housekeeping” kits that stock you with all the comforts of home: If you’re traveling by cookware, bed linens RV TRAILER and other items. But some companies, such as PLANNING YOUR TRIP Join up If you camp more Cruise America, divide the packages — so you can than twice a year, KOA’s Rewards Program is worth have them fully equip the kitchen, for example, but the $33 annual fee (koa bring your own linens to .com). Members get 10% cut down on expenses. off at campgrounds plus Empty water tanks perks such as discounted before you drive You’ll roadside assistance and get better gas mileage, camping gear. Go lowtech when you buy or rent and it’s cheaper to refill your RV: You’ll be tempted your water tank than to to splurge on state-of-the- refuel every few miles. art models, which feature high-end audio and video TRAVEL HAPPIER systems, gourmet kitchens Play it safe If you’ve never towed a trailer, and upgraded baths, but those luxuries can add up make sure the weight of the fully loaded, hitched to more than you would trailer is at or under your have paid per night for vehicle and trailer ball’s a hotel room. Stick with limit — otherwise it’s not the basics and pack a safe to drive. Also, leave tablet or board game more space on the road for entertainment and family bonding time. (Visit than you normally would between you and the car gorving.com for a list of in front of you (at least great boredom busters.) four to five seconds), as Rent supplies à la braking takes longer. carte For a fee, most

Get help staying awake Drowsy driving is a major no-no. Always pull over when possible, but if you must push on in an emergency, consider the Alertme driver alert system: ($21, amazon.com).

The earpiece senses head movement and sounds an alarm if you’re about to nod off.

Mike Garten.

If you’re traveling by PLANE PLANNING YOUR TRIP Fly midweek Experts say airfare is lower if you travel on a Wednesday rather than on any other day of the week.

Book seven weeks out You know not to wait until the day before your flight, but the savings sweet spot for reserving tickets is normally about six to seven weeks before your departure date. After that, the price goes up. If you miss that deadline, all is not lost: Airline prices usually fall again (but not as low) two weeks before, then rise even higher.

They drop slightly once more seven days prior to the flight date. Visit airfarewatchdog.com, a

fare-monitoring website that emails you when your desired flights go down in price so there’s no need to check daily.

And make the reservation on a Tuesday Around 3 p.m. ET, to be exact. That’s when airlines load discounted fares into their reservation systems.

Get the seats you want for less If you’re flying Southwest, which has nonassigned seating, it’s tempting to pay the extra money for the “EarlyBird Check-In” program, which usually allows you to board in the first group of passengers (before families with young children). Here’s something worth trying: Send one family member on the plane early to help claim seats together rather than paying for everyone to do so.

TRAVEL HAPPIER Up your odds of making your connection To ensure a smooth transition, ask at the check-in desk for seats toward the front of the plane on your first flight.

The farther forward you sit, the more quickly you’ll deplane.

Avoid ear pressure Stay awake during landing to ease ear discomfort.

When you sleep, you don’t swallow often, and pressure builds up in your ears.

If you’re traveling by RENTAL CAR PLANNING YOUR TRIP Don’t wait Many travelers book airfare and hotel rooms in advance but forget about the rental car until a few days before travel — a costly mistake.

Particularly in areas with heavy tourist business, such as Orlando, the earlier you reserve, the less you’ll pay. Most companies don’t have a penalty for canceling, so if you find something less expensive, reserve it, then cancel the other booking.

Prepay Some car rental companies let you pay in advance, saving you up to 35%. But be sure your plans are firm before booking to avoid a fee for changing or canceling a prepaid reservation. If you’re happy to rent from any company, try a site like hotwire.com; it reveals the name of the service only after you’ve made a fully nonrefundable purchase, but this can save you up to 40%.

Think outside the airport Some car rental companies that are not located at the airport still offer airport pickup if you ask ahead of time, and they can be cheaper than those at the airport.

Compare rates and you can save big.

TRAVEL HAPPIER Share your flight info Give the rental company rep your airline, flight number and scheduled arrival time when you book. This can protect your reservation if the flight is delayed so you won’t lose your car.

Stash an atlas Apps or devices that use global positioning technology don’t work in dead zones and rely on battery power, so have a backup map. If you’re renting a car, bring your own GPS device, which will save you the $15 per day it usually costs to rent one.

If you’re traveling by TRAIN PLANNING YOUR TRIP Claim your discount Amtrak has a generous but little-known discount

policy for families. Up to two children ages 2 to 12 can receive half off the lowest available adult rail fare on most Amtrak trains with each fare-paying adult. (One child under 2 travels free with an adult, and unaccompanied minors pay full fare.)

Tout your membership Amtrak.com has special rates for members of organizations such as AAA, Student Advantage and Veterans Advantage, but you’ll see them only after you type your card number in. (And you need to reserve at least three days in advance.)

Book two weeks ahead Amtrak often has “Saver” fares when you buy 14 days or more before your trip. But beware: Refunds sometimes don’t apply to special fare deals.

TRAVEL HAPPIER Go backward Prone to motion sickness? Sit facing the opposite direction of travel. It’s easier to watch the scenery — your eyes won’t dart back and forth as if you’re at a tennis match — and if there’s an emergency stop, you won’t go lurching forward.

SOURCES: Airstream, Inc.; Kampgrounds of America, Inc.; Marc Magliari, media relations manager, Amtrak; Linda Rutherford, vice president, communication and outreach, Southwest Airlines; Rick Seaney, CEO and cofounder, farecompare.com.

B

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T TO Y 2022

How we tested: We logged hundreds of data points and had nearly 100 testers (kids ages 1 to 14 and their parents) help us rate dozens of games on: • Ease of use • Skill development • Kids’ interest in playing again and again

KID-FRIENDLY BOARD GAMES

ARDS

G at h e r a r o u n d t h e ta b l e f o r fa m i ly f u n !

FOR AGES

3+

A MATCHING GAME THAT GETS THEM TO GO GREEN

5+

SILLY STACKERS

7+

A CONNECTING GAME IN THREE DIMENSIONS

8+

COOKING SHOWS BROUGHT HOME

It’s a classification game with a sustainable twist: Players must collect bottles, newspapers and the like and deposit them in the proper recycling bins. The containers themselves have fun cartoony designs. (And they sure look hungry!)

Lab Results “Love this game!” raved the parent of one tester. “So educational and fun!” Parents also liked that the game helps with sorting skills and memory.

Adventerra Games Hungry Bins: Learn to Recycle, $20, one to four players

This takes four-in-a-row games to the next level.

A rotating tower means the play can wrap around corners, so players have to use their memory skills to connect their pieces across the tower’s various faces.

Lab Results Testers found that this game was a good one for older kids looking for a little more of a challenge.

Parents appreciated that the pieces could be stored right in the tower, so it was easy to set up and put away.

Big G Creative Corner Crush, $20, two or four players

Players are invited to a tea party at a tipsy table.

Cards tell each player what size cup to stack on the table and where. But they have to do it carefully — the cups are off-kilter, and the whole stack can fall.

Lab Results Testers enjoyed the cute design of the cups, and one parent liked how the game doesn’t end when the teacups tumble, so it’s a little lesson in getting past failure.

Funko Games Disney Mad Tea Party, $20, two to 10 players

Families cook their way through real recipes with real food (not included) to see if they can score points with the judges. Challenges like doing a blindfolded taste test of a mystery ingredient and prepping food one-handed add spice to the competition.

Lab Results Yes, the results do get eaten! “We loved the recipes that were included,” one kid tester noted.

WowWee Wilder Games MasterChef Family Cooking Game, $20, two to six players

KEY SKILL BUILDERS

6+

COOPERATIVE CREATIVITY

In this game, everyone works together to tell an adventure story and hopefully guide the main character to a happy ending. Players are dealt cards they can use to keep the tale going.

Lab Results Parents appreciated that the game was driven by imagination and creativity. One tester observed that older and younger siblings loved playing it together.

MindWare Stories of the Three Coins, $25, two to five players

12+

ENTER THE MARVEL UNIVERSE

In this strategy game, players choose to be one of three Marvel villains: M.O.D.O.K., Madame Masque or fan favorite Loki. Each villain has to accomplish their own evil goals, while a shared-fate deck throws a wrench into all their plans.

Lab Results Testers noted that it took time to get into the game play, but once they did, it was extremely engrossing, and it kept kids entertained for a long while.

Ravensburger Marvel Villainous: Mischief & Malice, $25, two to three players

CREATIVITY

LANGUAGE

LOGIC

PHYSICAL

H OW TO

SCORE TICKETS FOR ANYTHING

Danielle Daly.

Buying tickets online is easier than ever, but are you actually getting a good deal? Use the insider info below to snag the best seats for concerts, sports events and more.

SPECIAL EVENTS: SIGN UP FOR DISCOUNT EMAILS If you want to catch traveling productions such as Disney on Ice, the circus or Motocross, go to the official website of the event. On the site, you can find out about “soft opening” nights (which are cheaper) and sign up for email alerts about other reducedpricing opportunities. The tradeoff is some spam for the rest of the year. Also register on discount ticket sites, such as goldstar.com,

which have deals like twofor-one tickets on shows with lots of inventory.

The sellers want to get you into a seat so you’ll buy a souvenir and a hot dog.

CONCERTS: JUMP ON PRESALES Only a fraction of concert tickets are available on the official on-sale date.

Nowadays, many are sold during presales and offered by artist fan clubs, credit card companies, social-media sites and radio stations — and they tend to be better seats,

SELECT B E T T E R S E AT S

priced at face value. How to find out about them: Sign up for emails, follow favorite artists on social media, look at those flyers in your credit card statement and check venue websites. Arenas also hold back some tickets until they know the stage configuration, which usually happens a night or two before the concert — so it’s worth checking the box office on show day.

of — an event is the way to go most times, even if it’s a division-deciding game or a big rivalry.

Check the box office or sites like vividseats.com, where individual sellers typically drop prices at the last minute. Other tips: Go to a game on an off day (Saturdays are often priciest), or take your kids during the preseason, when you can score $75 football tickets for $15. For kids, it’s about SPORTS: WAIT ’TIL THE LAST MINUTE the experience of being in the stadium, not where Purchasing tickets the they sit. day prior to — or the day

With so many websites selling tickets for the same event, it’s tough to know which to pick.

When in doubt, check seatgeek.com, a site that rates available tickets on their value, given the price and view.

(It does this by aggregating ticket offerings across the Web.) It also has easy-touse venue maps to ensure that you don’t get stuck in a bad spot.

s av e o n f e e s It’s hard to avoid ticket sellers’ extra charges online, but Ticketmaster cuts some fees when you opt to pick up tickets at retailers like Kroger. Or buy directly from the venue’s box office, which usually costs less.

EVERYBODY OFF THE COUCH S m a r t s t r at e g i e s t o g e t k i d s m o v i n g — e v e n i f t h e y “ h at e s p o r t s ”

Experts agree that kids of all ages need an hour of daily physical activity to grow up healthy and strong — yet only about half of children actually get it. (Part of the problem: Countless schools have cut their physical education programs.) Help your kids live more active lives with these easy ideas from youth fitness pros.

If a child says they’re not interested in athletics, they haven’t found the right activity. Think of something they’re fond of and identify what makes it appealing. “If a kid is good at piano, they may enjoy a highly technical sport, like golf,” says sports psychologist Jim Taylor, Ph.D. Keep trying until you find a match. And there’s no need to spring for lessons right away, says sports psychology expert Patrick Cohn, Ph.D. Borrow equipment and play at home.

DON’T STICK TO THE RULES

PSYCH UP A DAY IN ADVANCE

JUST HEAD OUT THE DOOR

Strict enforcement of rules — “Offsides!”; “Double fault!” — can take the joy out of a sport, especially for little kids.

Your job is to make the game interesting, so try playing games within a game, says Cohn. His daughter loved tennis and dodgeball, so sometimes they went to a tennis court and he (softly!) hit balls for her to duck.

Start planning Saturday’s athletic activity (for example, a trip to the Y) on Friday afternoon. Talk about it again at bedtime, and then put anything you need to bring along (such as bathing suits) by the door before you hit the hay, advises sports psychologist JoAnn Dahlkoetter, Ph.D., author of Your Performing Edge.

The next day, she says, make the activity the first order of business after breakfast: It’s often easier to motivate kids in the morning.

Turn a walk into a scavenger hunt (“Who can find three acorns?”) or a moving game of I Spy (“I spy with my little eye something red…”) to entertain little ones.

Grab your kids and stride in any direction for 10 minutes, suggests Shirley Holt/Hale, Ph.D., a retired physical education teacher and the coauthor of Children Moving.

Then stop, turn around and head home. “You’ve just gotten 20 minutes of exercise,” she says. If that’s fun, try 15 minutes each way next time.

T h i s j u st i n : Yo u r fitness m at t e r s Not motivated to hit the gym?

Do it for the kids!

When parents set a good fitness example by exercising regularly, their children are more likely to want to break a sweat too, according to a study in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine.

Danielle Daly.

FIND A FUN FIT

SCREEN GRAB Put down the phones (and tablets and remote controls) to make more time for fun this summer.

Mike Garten.

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CREATE A HOUSE RULE

TIE TV TO COOL ACTIVITIES

ADD A LITTLE MYSTERY

GET CREATIVE

Screen time will feel more special if you set limits. Allow it only between certain hours, or make the dinner table a no-phone zone. The catch: You and your spouse have to follow the rules too. After all, you can’t expect good behavior if you don’t model it.

If your child is obsessed with Food Network, print a recipe, shop for ingredients with them and cook the meal together. Then enjoy an outdoor picnic. The key: Everyone has to turn off their phone during the activity.

Brainstorm a week’s worth of exciting ways to play outdoors, such as a scavenger hunt or a hopscotch competition.

Write them on pieces of paper, fold them up and put them in a bowl. Let your child pick one each day to see what activity is in store.

Is your kid a huge fan of Minecraft? Bring this modular world offline for them in a fun way. When it’s time to power down, challenge your child to construct a real-life building with Legos or blocks or build a fort using sticks and stones.

SOURCES: Ari Brown, M.D., American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson; Leigh Ann Errico, executive coach and founder, Wear the Cape for All Kidkind Foundation; Caroline Knorr, senior parenting editor, Common Sense Media; Heather Lopez, blogger; Amy Loughran, health and fitness coach; Fran Walfish, Psy.D., psychotherapist and author, The Self-Aware Parent

use a group charging dock The worst time for children to use electronic devices is in the hour before bed, because screens emit a type of light that can keep them awake. Require that all household phones, tablets and laptops “go to bed” at the same time and in the same place each night — such as plugged in near a table in the den.

S UM M E R B O R E D O M Help your child match their passions and personality with a project that benefits others.

Getty Images.

MEANINGFUL WAYS TO BEAT

MEET OUR E X P E RT S CRAIG KIELBURGER MARC KIELBURGER

As the founders of WE Charity (we.org), a social movement that brings schools, communities and individuals together to do good, these brothers have introduced young people around the world to the rewards of service and leadership. And since they’re both dads, they’ve got great firsthand ideas for raising the compassion IQ in families.

With the school year winding down and summer activities still in the planning phase, kids might not have much to do. Why not use this time to teach them a new equation?

(Stay with us — there’s almost no math involved.) This is it: Gift + Issue = Change.

The idea is to match your child’s strengths and personality (gift) to a give-back goal (issue) they can tackle over the summer (change).

We’ve seen dozens of young people shine using this equation.

One group of elementary school students with green

thumbs tended a small garden of peppermint, then used the herb to make and sell tea, with proceeds benefiting local charities. A future engineer made his first robotic arm out of Legos and fishing line at age 14 and is now designing more accessible prosthetics after learning about their high prices.

These are gifts and issues honed over time, but the premise is simple. Your job is to help your child see the importance of giving back, then guide them in turning talents into action. Here’s how:

READ THE NEWS Help educate your child about important social issues that might interest them with supervised library time or online research.

TRANSLATE TALENTS Guide your sporty child to organize a student vs. teacher sporting event, with a can for the local food bank as the entry fee. If your kid is a master-level texter, they could volunteer for a peer-to-peer support line.

MAKE DREAMS WORK Does your future architect want to go to Africa to build a school?

Suggest starting with a local charity volunteer

program and saving up for a bigger trip.

BE A ROLE MODEL Offer pro bono work or organize an event yourself. Talk about how rewarding it is to use your skill, do something you love and make a difference.

FOLLOW KIDS’ LEADS Don’t insist that they support the same issues you do. Instead, help where they need it: Troubleshoot their action plans; buy supplies for an “office”; be the go-to person for answers. Your kids may surprise you with their passion, creativity and perseverance.

FOOD FUN Tasty and simple projects every kid will love

Lobster Cookies

These crustaceans are the cutest you’ll ever eat — no bib required!

Mike Garten.

Cut a notch in a halved red-and-white cherry ring to make claws, then attach them with uncooked spaghetti (remove before eating) to a gummy cherry slice body. Slice a gummy orange slice into a tail and stick the cut side to the body. Use a dab of corn syrup or frosting to glue on candy eyes and let dry. Place the lobsters on shortbread cookie islands set in a blue sanding sugar sea.

ALL-STAR SHEET CAKE

Mike Garten.

STAR POWER! Switch up cookie cutter sizes and sprinkle on “Yay U.S.A.!” colors.

Give an iced sheet cake patriotic flair: Use store-bought cake mix and vanilla buttercream icing.

Fill star-shaped cookie cutters with blue and red sanding sugar.

Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches Let vanilla ice cream soften at room temp 10 min.

Transfer to bowl of electric mixer and beat until smooth.

Spread into pan lined with plastic wrap so it’s 1/4 in. thick. Freeze until firm, at least 2 hr. Separate storebought macaron cookies into halves. Decorate 1 side with royal icing or edible food-safe markers. Use round cutters to cut out ice cream circles, then sandwich them between separated cookie halves.

Con Poulos.

Cheery and cool for hot-weather birthdays!

No-Bake Summer Fruit Tart Active 25 min. | Total 25 min. plus chilling and decorating Serves 20 FOR CRUST

23 graham crackers 2 Tbsp packed brown sugar 3/4 cup unsalted butter (11/2 sticks), melted Pinch of salt

FOR FILLING

3 8-oz pkgs. cream cheese, at room temp 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 2 cups heavy cream, cold Strawberries, plums, mango, blueberries, grapes, kiwi and green apples, for decorating

Con Poulos.

1. Prepare crust: In food processor, pulse graham crackers and brown sugar to form fine crumbs. Add butter and salt and pulse to combine. Press into bottom and up sides of 15- by 10-in. rimmed baking sheet.

2. Make filling: In large bowl, using electric mixer on medium-high, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth, about 3 min., occasionally scraping side of bowl with rubber spatula. Add lemon juice and beat to combine. Add cream and beat until stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 min. Spread evenly on bottom of crust and refrigerate until mixture is set, at least 5 hr. and up to 2 days. When ready to serve, gather fruit for decorations, cut shapes and place on chilled tart.

FOR FISH: Overlap sliced strawberries or plums for scales and use sliced fruit to outline heads and make mouths. Very thinly slice mango or plum for fins and tails, and use blueberries for eyes.

FOR TURTLES: Slice peeled kiwi crosswise for body and grapes (halved or quartered) for feet and head. Use kiwi seeds for eyes or draw them on using a food-safe marker.

FOR SEAWEED: Use a tiny petal cutter or a paring knife to cut out shapes from green-apple pieces.

FOR STARFISH: Use a star-shaped cutter or a paring knife to cut out shapes from thinly sliced mango.

Easy, oven-free and ready in less than 30 minutes!

Splash and Play!

Mike Garten.

Pets just want to have fun. Help them thrive and enjoy their time in the heat.

Pet SummerSafety C h e c k l i st INDOORS

BLOCK EXITS Make sure screen doors are secured so pets won’t slip out and find themselves in a too-hot environment.

Dog: Sarah Beth Photography. Cat: Getty Images.

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1 SWIM SAFELY

HAVE A BALL

Not all dogs are strong swimmers, so let yours set the pace when around water. If boating, kayaking or other water fun is in your plans, make sure they wear a flotation device. The Surf N Turf Dog Life Jacket ($45, kurgo.com) also acts as a raincoat and a three-season shell.

Playing fetch at the pool is a puppy favorite. With a nice heft for throwing, the Jive Dog Ball ($11, westpawdesign.com) has a wild bounce, floats on the water and makes a satisfying squish when dogs gnaw on it. At the end of a busy day, pop it in the dishwasher so it’ll be squeaky-clean for your next outing.

COOL DOWN WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN Did you know your pet can sunburn? Protect them with the Gold Paw Sun Shield Tee (from $24, goldpawseries.com).

With a 50 UPF rating, the synthetic quick-dry tee protects cats and dogs from 98% of the sun’s harmful rays in and out of the water.

4 WHIP UP SOME FROSTY FUN Mix wet cat food with water and freeze to create a lickable treat that will hydrate your cat for hours. For canines, fill ice cube trays with peanut butter (without xylitol, which is toxic to pets), water and half a mashed banana. Freeze them overnight for your own “pupsicles.”

W h at d o e s h e at E x h au st i o n l o o k l i k e ?

WARNING SIGNS: Your pet pants excessively, paces or appears sluggish, and their tongue turns bright red or dark purple. Move them to a cool place, try to lower their body temperature with wet towels and get to the vet stat.

SOURCE: Jason Nicholas, chief medical officer, preventivevet.com

KEEP THEM COOL When temperatures really rise, create a cold zone by positioning a damp towel on a tile or concrete floor in front of a fan or an air conditioner.

OUTDOORS

BEWARE OF IFFY WATER Lounging at the lake? Steer clear of blue-green algae, which causes serious liver damage if dogs ingest it.

At the ocean, check for riptides before diving in to prevent either of you from being pulled out to sea.

After a dip in the pool, hose down your pup to prevent chlorine irritation on their skin.

PROTECT THEIR PAWS Asphalt, concrete and sand all can heat up to temperatures that may burn pets’ paw pads. Avoid midday walks and seek out grass for walking. If neither is an option, protect their tootsies with PawZ MaxWax paw wax (from $19, amazon.com) or PawZ Dog Boots (from $20, pawzdogboots.com).

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