Kids are magnets for ticks. Their curiosity takes them right into tick territory. This includes tall grass, leaf litter, and the areas where woods meet lawns, where these arachnids wait.
A child's height makes it easy for them to find ticks, and their active play leads to many chances for contact. Tick bites (even just one) can transmit multiple pathogens simultaneously, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Because these pests are so small, it can be difficult to spot a tick bite immediately on your child.
How to Find Ticks on Children
After your children spend time hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, or doing any outdoor activity where they may have been exposed to ticks, follow these essential steps:
- Do an immediate scan. Before entering vehicles or homes, conduct a preliminary check. Ticks often crawl upward on clothing for 10-20 minutes before attaching, giving you a window of opportunity.
- Check their hair and scalp. Ticks release a cement-like substance to anchor themselves, making the scalp a prime location. Part hair systematically, checking behind ears and along the hairline.
- Inspect their clothes. Place all outdoor clothing directly into a sealed bag or washing machine. Studies show that 10 minutes in a hot dryer kills ticks more effectively than washing alone.
- Give them a shower. Within two hours of returning indoors, have children shower with a washcloth. The mechanical action helps dislodge unattached ticks that may be exploring for an ideal bite site.
Prevention Tips
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Once ticks latch onto a host, they tend to hide in specific spots on the body because they prefer warm, dark areas.
- Dress kids in protective clothing: long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.
- Choose light-color clothes to make spotting ticks easier.
- Tuck pant legs into socks or shoes to minimize exposed skin.
- Use EPA-registered repellents like DEET (following age-appropriate guidelines).
- Check kids frequently during outdoor activities.
- Teach older children how to check themselves for ticks.
- Walk in trail centers (ticks concentrate on edges).
- Perform "tick checks" every 2-3 hours during extended outdoor time.
- Create tick-safe zones in yards through landscaping.
Get Professional Tick Control
Don't wait for a tick encounter to take action. While personal protection is crucial, comprehensive tick control requires addressing the source.
Professional tick control sets up a protective barrier around your home and greatly lowers your family's risk of exposure.