​If you have your own backyard swimming pool there are many activities you can do in and around it, but on a warm sunny day one of the most popular has to be topping up your sun tan.
Although you might not think it, the pool itself can present some hazards to safe tanning, so hereís how to tan safely when using your swimming pool.
Prepare Your Skin
Before you even step outside, make sure your skin is ready for tanning. Gently scrub your body to remove any dry or dead skin, and apply a moisturizer to your knees, elbows, and your feet.
This helps your tan to be more even which improves your overall appearance.
Use an appropriate SPF sunscreen
SPF is an abbreviation for ìsun protection factorî and indicates how much of the sunís UV rays are blocked by the sunscreen ñ the higher the number, the more blocking occurs.
An SPF of 15-20 is the normal recommendation for tanning, however this may vary depending on your skin type. You should never attempt to get a tan without using sunscreen or by substituting another substance.
At one time it was popular to put oil on your skin to try and accelerate your tan ñ all this will do is fry your skin. Donít do it!
Make sure your sunscreen is waterproof
As youíre going to be around the pool, chances are youíll either get splashed or take a dip. If your sunscreen isnít waterproof, it will wash off easily and the protection will be gone.
Even if it is waterproof, make sure to reapply it regularly to make sure you are safe.
Tan little and often
Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause damage to your skin even if you are wearing sunscreen. Take regular breaks and if you feel like you are burning, youíve already been out too long. Itís best to avoid direct sunlight and sit in the shade whenever you can.
Stay hydrated
Tanning by its nature requires exposure to heat which will cause your body to sweat. This removes valuable fluids from your body that need to be replace. Drink plenty of water to stay properly hydrated whilst you are building up your tan.
Prolonged exposure to the sun along with dehydration can lead to conditions like sunstroke, which can be fatal.
Always take care when tanning, whether you are near a pool or not, and always take the proper precautions to stay safe and healthy.

​In your home you probably have a chess or checkers set. The board is a foot across, maybe smaller. It fits nicely on your table, and you enjoy playing with it now and again.
Outside of your home is your backyard. Itís much larger than the room you play chess in, and so everything out there is larger. Even the boards games!
Every home needs one
Thereís nothing quite like heading outside on a sunny day and playing a board game like chess. While youíll often see men sat outside cafes drinking their coffee and indulging in multiple games over the course of a day. Itís a great way to pass the time and have a conversation while enjoying the weather and the sounds of nature.
However, backyard checkers and chess doesnít work at all if you are sitting down.
Giant chess pieces sit astride a board that can be 6 feet (or larger) across and they must be often be moved using two hands. It is great entertainment for a party, for keeping the kids amused, or for adults who want to test their gaming skill without sitting down and playing a regular game.
Other giant games you can get for your backyard include Jenga, dominoes, and 4-in-a-row, chutes (or snakes) and ladders, and even variations on bowling.
Everything is much larger than the indoor versions not only because there is more space, but also because it is much easier to find pieces. Have you ever knocked a checkers board indoors and one piece has gone missing? How difficult is it to find?
When that individual piece is several inches in diameter, you are much less likely to be able to lose it.
Almost any game you can think of has an oversized backyard version, even including oversized inflatable dice.
If you are having a pool party, inflatable dice are great to play games with as they will happily float on the surface of your swimming pool.
Make your backyard into a game room
Even though these games are much bigger than their traditional counterparts, even the smallest backyard will have room to accommodate two or three of them. While they are ideal entertainment for children, adults are often more than happy to unleash their inner child (and competitive spirit) to see who the best player is.
Backyard games are a great social activity for young and old alike.

​Camping can be a great activity to introduce your kids to, but the thought of leaving the safety and convenience of home may be a little too much for some to bear. 
If you want to spend a night under the stars but have kids who are bound to get homesick, take them on a backyard camping adventure.
Prepare as if you were traveling
Build anticipation for the event by planning it out with your children. Pack supplies, sleeping bags, a camping stove, snacks, and anything else you might need. 
Draw a map and identify an ideal camping spot. Let them know all the great things they might experience, and when the time is right, set off!
The journey
Step out the back door and take them on an adventure of exploration. Go all around the backyard, looking at the plants, checking out the pond or the swimming pool, and telling stories as you go. Deliberately ìget lostî and let them help you find out how to get to the camping spot using the map. It might be a very long journey and you may need some snacks on the way.
Setting up camp
When you finally arrive at your destination make sure that all members of your party check it out for the presence of wild animals. If everyone is satisfied that the area is safe, work as a team to put the tent up.
Celebrate with a drink or by making a meal with the camping stove.
Itís getting later
As night falls, build a small campfire to toast marshmallows over, or use your camping stove if it is easier. Bring your sleeping bags out of the tent and lie on your backs, looking up at the stars. Point out any constellations you see and look out for shooting stars or passing aircraft.
When everyone is getting tired, retire to the tent and try to get a good night of sleep.
Remember where you are
This is all fantasy and play time, so if your child really isnít enjoying it, let them go back inside. If any of you need a bathroom break, you know where to go. If you canít cook on your camping stove, feel free to use the kitchen.
Maybe they arenít ready for camping yet, but they are certainly ready for a family adventure of fun ñ even if they spend most of their time indoors!

​Outdoor living doesn’t have to be tricky or expensive. Every little thing you do soon adds up to a backyard to die for, and one of the most fun things to include is a fire pit.
There are many companies that can install a fire pit for you, but why not take up the challenge and build your own?
Preparing the ground
Find a suitable location in your backyard to install your fire pit and decide how large you want it to be. 3 or 4 feet across is a good size as it allows a decent fire to be built but is small enough to allow people to talk comfortably when sat on opposite sides.
Make sure there are no underground pipes, cables, or other features that you may disturb when digging ñ you may need to check with your utility companies to confirm this.
If you get the all clear, mark out a circle of the appropriate size on the ground and get digging.
The lower half
Dig out around 8 inches of soil and flatten off the soil below. To build a solid foundation, a ring of concrete should be installed around the edge, approximately 6 inches wide. You can purchase concrete form tubes to get the sizing right. If you don’t build a foundation, any wall you build may shift and crack as the ground moisture levels change during the year.
On top of your concrete foundation, build a wall of vertical firebricks. Firebricks are more suitable at this level than standard bricks as they are less likely to be damaged by the heat. 
The upper half
The firebricks will be sticking up above ground level. Build a single row of regular bricks around them to make the base of the upper wall, and then build a second row at a 90 degree angle to the first so that half of the top brick covers the top of the firebrick, while the rest extends over the regular brick wall. Make sure all the bricks are cemented in place and firmly set and cured before building a fire.
Fire!
Once everything is ready, you can build your first fire in the pit and use it to keep warm on cooler nights, or even to cook food over whenever you feel like it. Make it a feature if you are holding a pool party, or just it use it as a romantic location to relax with your loved ones as the sun begins to set.

One of the great things about having your own swimming pool is that you can host a backyard pool party at a moments notice. However, there are some things you might want to consider before taking the plunge!
Choose the right date
You might want to host a pool party for a special event ñ a birthday or anniversary or similar. While this is a great idea, it might not work out so well in winter, so always take account of the time of year before beginning.
You will want to try and choose a day where it won't be too hot or too cold, and there is minimal chance of rain or any other weather condition that may spoil the party.
Make sure your pool is clean
Pool cleaning is important for general usage, but it is especially important to make sure the pool is clean for visitors and guests. Clean the surface, check the pH balance, make sure the pump and filter are working as intended, and so on.
Get your pool people-friendly
Not everyone can swim, and so you need to make sure your party is as accessible as possible for everyone. Provide seating next to the pool, and ensure there are plenty of floating toys, rafts, and pool noodles.
Have spare towels on hand (because you know someone will forget theirs) and stock up on sunblock.
Choose the food
Do you want everyone to bring some snacks with them, or are you providing all the food yourself? Is it suitable to be eaten around the pool area?
Make sure there is something for everyone, and check if anybody has any allergies or special requirements before the day itself.
Turn it into a real party
Get some tunes playing with some outdoor speakers and get everyone in the party mood by playing a few games. Water fights can be great fun, but make sure to only include those people who want to play.
Keep some water handy
There will be plenty of water in the pool, but itís not suitable for drinking. With all the excitement and activity that a pool party brings, youíll need to keep some drinking water on standby to keep people hydrated (especially if it turns out to be a hot day) and help them cool down.
If you follow all these guidelines, you're sure to become known as a great pool party host!