seasonal advice
-Insect Bites, Stings and Ticks
Insect Bites, Stings and Ticks
Mosquitoes are most active at twilight, so avoid being outdoors 1 hr before sundown until sundown whenever possible. If you must be out at this time, or if you are near an area where mosquitoes live and breed (such as near a pond or drainage ditch), apply a repellent with 5% DEET or a soybean product such as "Bite Blocker". Soybean products are very effective, but must be re-applied every 2 hours. DEET products must be reapplied every 4 hours. Give your child a shower to wash off the DEET prior to bedtime.
To treat a mosquito bite, apply a cold washcloth to the bite to reduce swelling and then apply a diphenhydramine cream or pramoxine gel to stop the itch or you may give your child diphenhydramine liquid (also known as Benedryl) by mouth.
Ticks can transmit several serious infections, but must usually be attached to your child for 24 hours or more to do so. Prompt removal can prevent transmission of most infections. To remove a tick, place a tweezers at the base of the head, between your child's skin and the tick. This will cause the tick to back out of your child's skin, making removal easier. Do not grab the tick's body to remove, because squeezing the tick may cause it to release infectious material into your child's bite and it may break off parts of the tick under your child's skin. Apply an antibiotic ointment to the bite after removal of the tick and call the office if the bite gets redness around it or any discharge or if your child develops a rash anywhere on the body after a tick bite.
If your child is stung by a bee, remove the stinger by using a credit card to scrape it out. Do not pull it out with a tweezers or it will squeeze more venom in. After removing the stinger, apply ice or a cold wash cloth for several minutes. In children with a known bee-sting allergy, it is important to ALWAYS carry your epinephrine device (also known as an "epi-pen") especially at picnics, the swimming pool and at ballgames where bees and yellow-jackets tend to gather. If your child begins to develop welts on the skin or swelling of the face, lips or tongue, use the epi-pen IMMEDIATELY and call 911! Also give diphenhydramine if it is available. The effects of epinephrine tend to last only 10 minutes, so if you need to give a second dose of epinephrine, you may do so while waiting for the ambulance. Always make sure that you carry BOTH of your epinephrine devices with you.
Children younger than 14 years old should NOT be operating an ATV. An ATV is a dangerous vehicle, much like a motorcycle and should not be treated like a toy. Children under 14 (and some over 14) do not yet have the quick reflexes when a sudden obstacle pops up to avoid rollovers, etc. Most ATV injuries and deaths occur in children under the age of 14. Children and adolescents of all ages should be wearing helmets every time they ride, even if it is on your property. Check with your local police office if you want your child to take a rider's safety course.
Preparing your 4-5 year old child for Kindergarten should be a fun experience for the both of you – never approach it as a chore. It is important to realize that your preschool child will resist sitting down and "studying" and should not be expected to – you will only frustrate your child and yourself. Make learning a game and your child will look forward to starting Kindergarten.
Health: A large part of preparing your child for Kindergarten is making sure your child is eating nutritious foods and getting enough sleep. If your child is a "night owl," don’t wait to establish a bedtime routine. Start moving your child’s bedtime back 15 minutes each week until they are going to bed around 8-9 pm. Make sure the bedroom is a quiet, comfortable place to sleep. DO NOT allow your child to watch TV or play video games in the bedroom – this will make it harder for them to fall asleep and may also contribute to nightmares.
Limit sodas and "junk foods" such as candy, potato chips and fast food to no more than 1x per week. Try to include a vegetable &/or a fruit at every meal (french fries or potato chips don’t count). Encourage your child to eat breakfast – your child will need to eat in the morning or he/she won’t be able to function at his or her full potential.
Don’t forget to nourish your child’s physical development as well as his/her mental development. Encourage some form of daily physical activity in your child’s routine. Dance classes, soccer, basketball , karate, t-ball, etc. are excellent activities for young children. Your local YMCA or Parks and Rec office are good sources of information about youth activities.
Skills: Introduce your child to the concept of money. Show and name the coins as you pay at the store and let him/her help you count out dollar bills. (Reinforces counting and number skills)
Practice writing your child’s name with sidewalk chalk or in shaving cream on a mirror. Use magnetic letters on your refrigerator to spell his/her name and use the magnetic numbers to practice your phone number.
Read to your child every night. For a little variety, take your child to the library and choose some new books together. Games like the memory game or board games help develop or reinforce skills needed for successful learning.
But above all, HAVE FUN! Enjoy each precious day with your preschooler!