COVID-19 has changed the summer plans for many parents. Many live, social summer camps have been replaced with virtual camps where kids may get some social interaction, but certainly not in the same way. That means more time at home for the kids, and more summer activities for parents to supervise.
While you probably have your coronavirus safety down (mask, sanitizer, social distance), it’s a good idea to refresh yourself on what to look out for as kids run, jump, play and splash at home. Here are our best kids' summer safety tips.
Backyard and water safety tips
Dealing with bugs of all sorts
Something that comes with summer is bugs. Bugs can be especially problematic for kids with allergies. And even those without allergies will still have the fun spoiled when attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes. Learn to reduce bugs and what to do if you get a bug bite.
“The two bugs parents should be the most concerned with are mosquitoes and ticks. Both of these bugs bite, feed on blood, and transmit nasty diseases," Derek Gaughan from Bug Lord Pest Control told Mom.com. "What else they have in common is they're attracted to humans mostly through scent. They smell the CO2 we exhale as well as our sweat — that’s what drives them to bite us."
Here are ways to reduce and deal with bugs:
- Make sure there is no standing water near the house where mosquitoes can breed.
- Spray your yard for ticks, and check kids for ticks when they come in from playing outside.
- Try not to have pollinator plants near the kids apparatus to reduce the chances of bee stings.
- Be on the lookout for wasp nests under eaves and near patio furniture.
- Check the apparatus, outside toy bins, and play areas for spider webs where black and brown widows lurk.
Pro tip: If someone is stung by a bee, don’t try to pull the stinger out with tweezers because this will only squeeze more venom in. Instead, slide a credit card along the skin to lift the stinger out without squeezing the venom sac. Ice the area to reduce swelling and pain.
