| Posted May 20, 2014 | By Merri Collins, M.D. | Categorized under Families |

Summertime is upon us. The weather is warming up, days are getting longer and kids get to say goodbye to school for a few months. But with summer vacation comes a whole new routine for children. Regardless of their age, kids have to make big adjustments when summer starts and when it comes to an end.

So as a parent, what's best? Do you try to keep your child on essentially the same sleep schedule they've known throughout the school year? Or do you let them stay up late and sleep in - only to have to reverse that trend come August?

Sleep 101

It is always best for kids to have good sleep habits. I say when it comes to summer vacation, as long as they aren't sleeping in three hours later than normal, I think it's OK to let them sleep a little later than normal. But do keep their sleep pattern as regular as possible throughout the summer, so it doesn't fluctuate back and forth, because kids can get off their sleep cycle, be more irritable, and have trouble sleeping.

Light Schedule

I say especially for younger children, keeping some semblance of a normal routine is better throughout the day as well. It doesn't have to be strict, but a little bit of a schedule with outside time, craft time and quiet time tends to decrease their anxiety. They know what to expect, it decreases boredom and can help decrease behavior problems.

Get Out

I also highly stress spending as much time outside as possible this summer. Limit a child's screen time, which means television, phones, hand held devices and games, to less than two hours a day.  Here is another opportunity to work in a little bit of a schedule by having some structure around their screen time. Arguments about screen time? Set a timer. When that goes off, guess what? It's time to go outside and play.

Safe Sun

I will say, however, that being outdoors as much as possible, although better than sitting in front of a screen all day, does come with some small risks that are minimal if you exercise a little bit of caution. Things like sunburn, poison ivy, bee stings and mosquitoes can all put a dent in your summer fun if you aren't careful.

My number-one recommendation is sunscreen. You shouldn't use it on children under six months of age, rather keep them in the shade or in long-sleeved light clothing. Everyone else needs at least an SPF of 15. I would consider that the bare minimum. Be sure to reapply every two hours or after excessive sweating.  Use extra caution between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun's rays are strongest.

If you do end up with a sunburn, I recommend over-the-counter aloe products. Once you are out of the sun, taking ibuprofen can help decrease any inflammation the burn may have caused and help with pain. Keep in mind, the more sunburns you have, the greater your risk for skin cancer.

Don't Bug Me

My next precaution would be bugs. Mosquitoes and ticks are the main culprits for summertime annoyances.

Use an insect repellant with DEET at levels specially formulated for children (<10% DEET) on all exposed skin and clothing, and do not use on babies under two months old. Don't put it on your face or spray it on a cut, but it will do wonders to repel the creepy-crawleys.

As for mosquitoes, stay away from standing water, and be aware they are most prevalent at dusk. If you do get a bug bite, I recommend hydrocortisone cream and over-the-counter antihistamine creams.

Ticks tend to be prominent in high, tall grasses. My best advice is to stick to the trails when you are in wooded areas. If you do have to get off the beaten path, tuck your pants into your socks and don't wear sandals.

If your child has been out in wooded areas, inspect them thoroughly when they come in. Check the hairline, especially and don't panic if you find one. Wipe the area with alcohol and pull it straight out with tweezers. If a tiny piece is still in the skin, don't dig for it. It will come out eventually.

Tick-borne diseases are pretty rare, but if your child develops a fever, chills, muscle aches, a rash, or headaches after a known tick bite, go see a doctor just to be sure.

Leaves of Three

Although not a bug, poison ivy can be just as annoying. The old adage ‘leaves of three, let it be' still stands true. If you do get near it or think you might have touched it, wash your hands with soap and water. The oil from the plant can stay on your clothes and shoes and spread, so wash your entire outfit, including shoes. People tend to think it's fluid from the blisters on your skin that makes it spread, but that's not true. It's the oil from the leaf.

If you get it, I recommend Calamine lotion and antihistamines. If it is extreme or near the eyes, see a pediatrician because the child might need oral steroids.

More information

Two wonderful resources if you need additional information are www.aap.org (the American Academy of Pediatrics) and www.healthychildren.org.