Tips for Success: 6 Summer Self-Defense Lessons for Kids

Summer means freedom, fun, and all-day adventures for children — but it also comes with new risks and dangerous situations. Whether children are biking through the neighborhood, heading to camp, or spending long afternoons outside, a few simple reminders can help keep summer both safe and enjoyable.

1. Self-Defense Against the Sun

Key Point: Too much sun can ruin a fun day in a hurry. Every summer, I preach this lesson to my students: the ultimate self-defense against sunburn is sunscreen. Mostly, they listen, but one of my teen students once fell asleep at the beach and came back lobster-red! Yes, he had to do extra push-ups that night. Please remind your kids that it is not just today’s sunburn that causes trouble, but years of cumulative skin damage. My cousin worked on the docks at our family boatyard and developed leather-like skin from overexposure. In her later years, she required multiple skin surgeries. Protect your kids now:

• Apply sunscreen before going outside and reapply frequently.
• Wear hats, sunglasses, and lightweight protective clothing, such as swim shirts.
• Take breaks in the shade during the hottest parts of the day.

Takeaway Line: A little sunscreen today prevents a painful tomorrow.

2. Hydration Is Not Optional

Key Point: Summer heat sneaks up on kids and adults fast. Adults can generally spot dehydration when children slow down their play and get a washed-out look.

• Encourage water breaks before kids feel thirsty.
• Limit sugary drinks in hot weather.
• Teach kids to recognize signs of overheating, such as dizziness, headaches, or fatigue.

Takeaway Line: Water is summer fuel.

3. Bike, Skateboard & Outdoor Play Safety

Key Point: Fun should never come without protection. I like to remind our grandkids that our primary job is to keep them safe by explaining exactly what happens during a fall: bumps, bruises, concussions, and broken bones.

• Wear helmets: They are a must for protecting against head injuries—every ride, every time, without question.
• Review street safety: Teach solid crossing rules. When we cross the street to get the mail, we hold hands and say, "Look left, look right, look left, look right." Always check twice. My sister once went to get the mail, looked both ways, but then answered a question my mother yelled out. Distracted by her own answer, she stepped into the street without re-checking and was hit by a car.
• Set boundaries: Establish clear rules for where kids can safely play or ride.

Takeaway Line: A helmet may not look “cool,” but injuries definitely aren’t.

4. Water Self-Defense Saves Lives

Key Point: Pools, lakes, and beaches require constant attention. Tragedy strikes in an instant. I once lost a five-year-old student who was playing on a covered, above-ground pool; he fell through an opening in the cover and drowned. It was one of the saddest funerals I have ever attended.

• Never allow children to swim alone.
• Ensure young swimmers always have active adult supervision.
• Review simple water safety rules before every outing.
• Keep all pool gates securely latched.

Takeaway Line: Around water, safety comes before confidence.

5. Build Brain Power This Summer

Key Point: Readers are leaders. Keeping kids engaged with books provides excellent mental self-defense.

• It prevents the “summer slide,” helps retain reading skills, and gives kids built-in downtime.
• Reading is self-perpetuating—frequent readers naturally become better readers.
• It gets kids off screens and into the real world.
• It builds knowledge and expands their exposure to global topics and adventures.

Takeaway Line: A sharp mind is the best tool in any inventory.

6. Know the Summer Game Plan

Key Point: Kids must know exactly what to do if something goes wrong. Learning to identify a "trusted adult" takes practice, so turn it into a regular guessing game when you are out at stores or parks.

• Memorize at least one parent’s phone number.
• Establish clear check-in times and neighborhood boundaries.
• Teach the "lost" protocol: If you get lost, stay calm and take deep, slow breaths. Stay where you are if it is safe, and find a trusted adult, such as a police officer, lifeguard, teacher, or store employee. Never go into back rooms or offices with anyone.

Takeaway Line: Independence works best when you have a plan.

My July 4th Bonus Tip

We all love the fireworks and excitement of Independence Day, but we must watch out for the pitfalls. A sparkler seems cute and harmless, but please note that it burns at over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Treat them with the same respect you would show any open flame.

Closing Thoughts

Summer memories should be filled with laughter, adventure, and joy—not preventable accidents. Everything comes down to teaching your children personal self-defense and building them up.

You want to install a positive, protective loop running in their brains whenever they second-guess themselves. When our grandchildren visit, I repeat these same three affirmations in everything they do: You are smart, you are brave, you are strong.

Mike Bogdanski

Mike is a martial arts Grandmaster and anti-bullying activist.