Cool Kids, Calm Days: Ancient Secrets for Hot Weather
Watermelon helps to cool us down in the summer. Thanks to Kaboompics.com for the photo 🙏🏽
There’s a story I always remember from when my son was just a few days old. It was early November in cold, drizzly Vancouver. He was crying and crying. I tried everything—diaper change, feeding, rocking, bouncing, dancing. Nothing helped. He was inconsolable.
As a student of Ayurveda, I had a brainstorm. I wrapped him up and stepped outside into the cold, wet Vancouver autumn.
The moment the air hit his face, he stopped crying. Completely calm.
That’s when I realized: this child runs hot.
Now that he’s older, I see it even more clearly. My son is Pitta-dominant—one of the three Ayurvedic mind-body types or doshas. In his case, that Pitta shows up as:
Bright and enthusiastic
Logical and driven
Focused and full of ideas
But when he’s stressed or tired, that same heat can turn into:
Stubbornness
Irritability
Overheating (both physically and emotionally)
🔥 Any of this sound familiar?
Do your children melt down in the sun? Get hangry if they skip lunch? Bossy during board games? Tearful when they’re too hot to sleep?
You might have some Pitta energy in your family too.
🌿 What is Ayurveda, Anyway?
Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of wellness from India that teaches us how to stay balanced with nature and our own constitution. According to Ayurveda, everyone is made up of three energies:
Vata (air + space): creative, quick, and changeable
Pitta (fire + water): focused, fiery, and sharp
Kapha (earth + water): calm, strong, and grounded
Summer is the season of Pitta—hot, bright, intense. So even if you’re not a natural Pitta, the heat of the season can bring those fiery qualities to the surface.
The good news? Ayurveda offers simple, time-tested ways to cool the body, calm the mind, and ease tension—for children and adults alike.
🧊 Three Family-Friendly Ways to Stay Cool with Ancient Wisdom
1. 🌬️ Sitali Breath — The Snake Trick That Cools You Down
Sitali (pronounced sheet-ah-lee) is a traditional yogic breath that cools you from the inside out. It’s great for hot days, meltdowns, or after running around in the sun.
How to do it:
Sit comfortably.
Stick out your tongue and roll it like a taco (if you can).
Inhale slowly through your curled tongue.
Close your mouth and breathe out through your nose.
Do it 5–10 times.
Can’t roll your tongue? Just gently breathe in through your teeth, then out through your nose. It works just as well!
Make it playful: Call it “dragon breath,” “snake breath,” or “cooling magic.”
2. 🥒 A Pitta-Pacifying Diet — Eating for Chill
According to Ayurveda, certain foods fan the flames of Pitta, while others calm the fire.
Cool foods to enjoy:
Watermelon, cucumber, coconut water
Mint tea or rosewater lemonade
Hot foods to limit:
Spicy or fried foods
Very sour or salty foods
Make it fun: Let children make their own “cooling picnic” Try frozen fruit kebabs or DIY popsicles with coconut milk and berries.
3. 😴 Siesta Time — Rest Like a Lizard
In many hot-weather cultures, people pause in the middle of the day to rest. That’s no accident—it’s when the sun is hottest, and Pitta is at its peak.
What this can look like at home:
A mid-afternoon “quiet zone” with books, fans, and soft music
A chill-out corner with pillows or yoga mats
A short family nap or solo rest time (even if no one sleeps)
Not about productivity—just pause. When families slow down in the heat, everyone becomes more patient, more playful, and more pleasant.
🌞 Cool Kids, Calm Days
These simple practices are easy to weave into modern family life.
They help us notice when we’re running hot and offer gentle ways to reset—without needing to reach for more sugar, screens, or air conditioning.
And sometimes, it’s as easy as stepping outside into the cool air and letting nature do her thing.