Sun Fun

The sun (you know, that big shiny orb in the sky) is one of the most powerful sources of energy in the universe. We've used the sun's energy, or solar power, for many uses, everything from growing our food to powering our homes. There is one use for the sun that we're only recently learning about, and that can be as a calming source for many of us who suffer from anxiety, stress, and other issues.

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Featuring…

Sun Safety

While there are many benefits from the sun, there can also be many risks if not properly/ safely prepared. We already know that being exposed to the sun too much can give us painful sunburns on our skin. But long term overexposure to the sun, especially without protective sunscreen and/or clothing, can lead to health problems later in life. HopkinsMedicine.org has a great online post about the health issues caused by too much time in direct sunlight, including a short 1 minute Youtube video. Enjoying the sun should, like most fun things, be done in moderation.

Benefits Of Sunlight 

Now that we're prepared and safe from the sun's negative effects, it's time to talk about the positive ones. Going out regularly to a sunny area, like the beach or even your own backyard, can lead to amazing benefits for your mind and body, like better sleep at night, better moods, and even a reduction in stress levels. SingleCare.com has made a great list of 10 more ways that spending even a little time in the sun can really pay off for your health.

Safe In The Sun  

Our final resource for this week is called Safe In The Sun, a huge list of super fun activities that anyone can do outdoors! These range from asking silly, light hearted questions about being safe in the sun, to creating hats, to conducting experiments! While the list was originally aimed towards children, many of these activities can be done with family members and friends of all ages.

Note: On June 22nd, there will not be a Youth Chat meeting due to a conference in Philadelphia. Of course, we'll resume the Youth Chat on the following week of June 27th. 

 

Do you like having fun in the sun? What are your favorite things to do on a hot day? Let us know in the comments below!  For youth and young adults, ages 13-26, join us on the SPAN Youth Chat on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:00 PM.

Resources...

Link to SPAN's website: www.spanadvocacy.org
Link to SPAN's Youth in the Know Resource Page: Youth in the Know
We're here for you! Call SPAN if you need assistance: 1-800-654-7726