Back to School Pest Protection Tips
Children eat dirt, sneeze on their hands, and jump in mud. Kids don’t always do what’s best for their health or their safety. But as a parent, the best you can do is make sure that your child is prepared for what lies ahead, and one way is to make sure they’re ready to protect themselves from back to school pests.
No, we’re not talking about kid that blows boogers on all of his classmates. We’re talking about the insects that seem to be out in full force in the late summer, early fall months, when your child is out in short shorts and t-shirts almost begging to get bit. Kids often know very little about pest protection, but you can improve their knowledge and make smart choices for helping keep your child safe.
How to Prepare Your Child for School Bugs
It starts with education and making sure your children know which pests are safe and which are dangerous. Often as a parent this involves educating yourself as well – which ants to fear, which spiders are safe, and so on. Children will probably find learning this information fun as well, and it can teach them information they can use to impress their friends. You’ll also want to:
- Show Them What to Avoid
You may not be able to stop your child from falling into grass on the playground, but you can teach your child not to move wet logs or spend time near swampy water. This will reduce the risk of them encountering some of the more dangerous pests.
- Dress Them in Dull Colors
Children that are allergic to stings may be better dressed in dull clothing, especially if their school does a lot of outdoor activities. Bees and other stinging insects are attracted to bright colors. FUN TIP: If you have a rambunctious child that is prone to provoking danger, you may also want to watch out for black colors. When bees are angry, they attack black colors.
- Plastic Wrap Moist Food
While a lunch box offers some protection, it’s can’t protect against all insects. But if you have moist foods that attract attention from bugs (like meat sandwiches), you may want to consider an extra layer of protection in a sealable bag, so that insects have a more difficult time getting into the food.
- Have Kids Notify You Of Bite Patterns
Bed Bug Bites
Bed bugs are becoming a serious problem in local schools. So make sure that your child also notifies you immediately if they have “itchy bumps” in the traditional bed bug bite pattern of multiple bites in a straight line (the “breakfast, lunch, dinner” pattern). If they mention they have bites, make sure you check their backpack and clothes thoroughly and contact the school to check for these invasive pests.
Bed Bug Nymphs
Pest Control for Kids
It can be tough to keep your kids completely safe from pests, because kids will always be kids. But there are things you can do to protect your children at school, and of course regular pest control treatments can help your child stay safe from pests at home.
Contact Green Pest today to find out more about our late summer and early fall pest control services, and make sure your home is free of pests for the 2014-2015 school year.