Written by: Kimberly King, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
How to do a Fast and Complete Tick Check on Your Child That Keeps Your Body Safety Rules Intact.
We are all heading outside this summer! Especially after being quarantined and confined for a big part of the year. But, don’t forget about those Lyme disease-carrying critters -ticks! Most of us know there are plenty of great prevention strategies to avoid getting bit by that tick.
If you are going outside, have a pet, or play in the grass… wear socks and spray. If it is not too hot, wear pants! Always Shower or have a bath right after being outdoors, especially in the grass. You can find plenty of pesky ticks in the shower, before they fully attach to you. So… scrub, scrub, scrub!
It’s always a good idea to do a TICK ✅
But, it is important to respect body boundaries and consent while you teach your child to tick check. Before you do a tick check with your child, do a quick reminder of what ticks are and where they hide. Kids need to know the why’s and the how’s of this important topic.
Young children will need your help to check themselves. And once your kids are old enough, they can make tick checks a daily habit during the summer as part of their summer hygiene routine. For young children, try to remember:
The shorter your child, the closer they are to the ground… and the ticks!
Script:
“Mom needs to do a tick check! You go first! Look at your body and see if you notice or feel any weird bumps, itches, or spots. These ticks are small! We might need a flashlight.”
Help your little one look on their own first. Their eyes are better than ours! They may just find something. After your child does the self-check, you redo!
“Great Job! Ok, mom is going to do a quick tick check too!”
You can sing the tick check song and be done before the song is over!
You can start and the top! Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes… and all the other spots in between.
1. Start with the hair
Run your fingers all through your child's hair, feeling the scalp - a trendy tick spot! Don’t forget the hairline at the nape of the neck. If hair is long, brush it out.
2. Check the ears
Take a peek inside the ears, and look carefully behind the ears - this is another prime real estate spot.
3. Look under the chin, then under each armpit.
4. Look carefully down the front and back torso.
5. Check carefully around the legs, front and back.
Even with little kids, it can be easy to just skip this step. But remember, most ticks jump on at ground level and crawl up your socks to warm places.
If you feel concerned about checking the private areas, review the body safety rules. Always ask for consent to do a quick tick check. Explain what you are doing. If your child is old enough, they can tick check themselves with a flashlight and mirror.
6. Scan down each leg, front and back.
7. Toes and feet too! Top, bottom, and between toes.
Yes, I've found ticks ALL OVER my kids when they were little. The worst was a diaper change post-hike in Connecticut! I will spare you the details!
I have also missed a tick that looked like a freckle… until it started moving.
No place can be taken for granted- even the belly button. That is why ticks are so terrible! They are so hard to see.
✅If you do find a tick and it's not yet attached, remove and flush.
✅If you find a tick and it has already bitten your little one try to be calm. Kids feed off of your fear. Be calm, be clear, and explain that you are removing the tick.
✅Grab the tick as close to the head as possible and pull it out. Use tweezers! Or, in a pinch, you can use duct tape.
👉Check the CDC page on prevention and removal. And learn the signs!
Although that bullseye spot is what we all look for, sometimes the signs can be more subtle and include cold or flu-like symptoms, aches, and pains.
For questions, concerns, resources, and support, please visit my website and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Linkedin.
Kimberly King, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Kimberly King, "The Safety Mom," is the author of the best-selling, most highly recommended book for children on prevention called I Said No! A kid-to-kid guide to keeping private parts private.
Kimberly is a mom of three children, a survivor, a Sexual Abuse Prevention Facilitator with D2L.org, and a Sexual Assualt Crisis Counselor with The Rowan Center. She spends her time training adults and children on prevention strategies and sharing her expertise as a consultant, advisor, and media source.
Her work has been featured in various magazines, podcasts, and blogs, including; NBC, Ticker News, The Chicago Tribune, Women’s Fitness, Child Mind Institute, Social Work Now, US News and World Report, The Health Journal, Modern Mom, PopSugar, Child Life Mom, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Thrive Global, Medium, Dads Divorce, Split, Sex Ed Rescue, Consent Parenting, Pretty Wellness Podcast, iHeart Radio, and is highly recommended as a resource by national prevention organizations. Please contact her directly for any media requests. Contact Kimberly King at 757-375-5020 or email her at Kimberlykingbooks@gmail.com.
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