Summer camp is a time for kids to try new activities, meet new friends and spend plenty of time outdoors. But before you drop them off for day or sleepaway camp, make sure they’re prepared for the adventure.
Here’s what to do to get your kids ready for a safe, healthy experience at summer camp:
Schedule doctors’ appointments. Many day and sleepaway camps require health forms to be filled out by your kid’s pediatrician before drop-off on the first day. Ask your doctor if your kid is up-to-date on immunizations. If your child needs daily medications or an Epipen, note it on the health form and touch base with the camp nurse ahead of time to discuss your child’s special medical needs.
Teach kids to slather on the sunscreen. Sunburn is one of the biggest everyday risks at camp. Choose skin lip balm products that are broad spectrum with SPF 30 protection. Look for those that do not contain oxybenzone, which has been shown to disrupt hormones, and choose those with zinc oxide and titanium oxide, which have been categorized as safe and effective by the FDA. Teach kids to reapply sunscreen frequently, and send a bottle, tube or stick with them (write your child’s name on it!) in their backpack.
Use sun-protective clothing and sunglasses. Let your kid pick out a hat they love so they’ll actually wear it. Sun-protective hoodies, jackets and long-sleeved tees protect kids who forget to reapply sunscreen. Make sure they have sunglasses they like.
Send them with bug spray. Choose a repellent that has 10 to 30 percent DEET or picaridin to protect kids from both mosquitoes and ticks. New Jersey consistently has one of the highest rates for Lyme disease in the country, and ticks also transmit diseases such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Teach kids to do a tick check. Show them how to inspect themselves every day behind the ears, on the scalp and under waistbands. If they do find a tick attached, tell them to seek help from their camp counselor to remove it.
Pre-treat clothes and gear with repellents. Permethrin is an EPA-registered insecticide that can be used to pre-treat your kid’s socks, shoes, jackets, pants, shirts, bandanas, hats and even camping gear. It kills ticks on contact and is odorless, invisible and won’t harm clothing.
Choose the right footwear. Most camps require sneakers and socks, so make sure they’re broken in before camp to avoid blisters and discomfort. Also, avoid flip-flop and clogs, which many camps don’t permit anyhow except for around the pool.
—Arricca Elin SanSone is a New York-based health and lifestyle writer.
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