Summer has hit full swing, and that means pool parties, beach bashes and, sadly, the occasional scorched skin. But, you don’t have to lock your kids away this summer to protect them from sunburns, ticks and the other ailments of summer–give your kids the right to bare arms this Fourth of July weekend by following these simple summer safety tips.

Skin Care Sunblock, sunblock, sunblock! Stuff for Sprouts offers some great advice on how to keep your kids’ skin in good shape all summer long, including the idea of making a routine out of sunblock application to establish a healthy sun protection plan to last for many summers to come. This “mompreneur” also recommends having the kids bathe every night during summer to reduce the effect of allergens and insect bites.

Water Safety Telling your kids not to run at the pool or stray too far from your cabana at the beach are great tips, but for a more comprehensive list of water safety info, turn to Kids Heath. This organization is dedicated to providing kids with health and safety tips in a way that’s easy to understand. Go over the safe swimming guidelines with your kids, whether you are headed to the water park, pool lake or beach. They remind everyone to swim with a buddy, beware of rip tides and to have a blast (safely!) this summer.

Once you and your family are covered in SPF and sporting your Coast Guard-approved floaties, you’ll be ready to party! Check out our great selection of party invitations perfect for your next safe summer soirée!

I am excited to welcome a Katie M. as a regular contributor to both Tiny Talk and Diva Dialogue.  For a little more information about Katie, read below:

Katie M. is a Marketing Copywriter at Tiny Prints. She has the privilege of viewing nearly every piece of stationery before it goes up on the website, giving her the ultimate inside scoop on upcoming trends in the stationery world. She loves classic designs with a surprising twist, and enjoys finding new ways to express her ever-evolving personal style-a blend of traditional glamour and bohemian whimsy that makes Tiny Prints a perfect fit!

Some other interesting tidbits that Katie has provided about herself:

I am obsessed with: health & fitness, skincare, being allergic to things (I am allergic to corn and proud!), UCSB, all things adorable (my puppy included), the beach, rock climbing, cooking (primarily because I can’t eat normal things), getting real mail, having fresh flowers around, discount shopping, and shoes (who isn’t?)

Everyone at Tiny Prints and the other contributors to Tiny Talk look forward to learning more…

When I was looking for a fun, casual venue for an event I was planning, I stumbled upon the zoo. Since most kids love animals and hence love the zoo, I thought that this would also be a great place to have a birthday party. Keep reading for tips on how to make your party, wild, crazy and lots of fun!

1) Check out your local zoo’s website. In addition to finding out if they have special birthday packages, you can get all the details about having your party there. In November and December, for example, I learned that the San Francisco Zoo hosts ice skating parties at their zoo.

2) Get chaperones. Depending on how many kids you invite, you might want to gather up some parents and family members to help you supervise and keep track of all your guests.

3) Favors. Cute stuffed animals or a small bag full of kid-sized water bottles and snacks will be much appreciated after a long day at the zoo.

4) Food. The best thing about having a party at the zoo is that food can be conveniently ordered and purchased there. You might want to see if they also provide utensils and paper plates. A birthday cake or cupcakes designed with animals are sure to be a big hit with guests!

5) Activities. The zoo itself is filled with tons of things for kids to do. For the party, you could bring crayons and coloring pages of animals for a little something extra.

6) Invitations and Thank you cards. Here are a few animal themed birthday party invitations and thank you cards that would be perfect for a zoo party!