This post was written in partnership with
We love the allure of summer for the promise of warm weather and vacations but at the same time, it can also be a challenging season. There’s so much to look forward to but the reality is the absence of structure, schedules that can change weekly due to camps, and unattended kids who indulge in too much screen time in our absence can make it trying. Combine this with the complaints of it being too hot, humid, and buggy and summer suddenly becomes more exasperating than enjoyable but did you know that mosquitos may be linked to childhood obesity?
found a study from Rutgers University examining the link between mosquito prevalence and childhood obesity. In the last three decades, obesity rates have jumped to almost 30 percent due to lack of physical activity. Even though the lure of screens could be a factor, this could be linked to mosquitos preventing kids from wanting to play outside.
Fortunately, there are hacks that can make summer more pleasant for all. Here are five strategies to manage mosquitos and tech overuse in the summer months to get kids to unplug and get outside even when it’s hot and humid!
How to Manage Mosquitos and Tech Overuse
Climb Trees
Mosquitos love to stay low and in areas that are shady so pick a favorite place and climb up and away from them! Set up a hammock between favorite branches, run Slack Lines between trees to stay above the grass where they like to hover and bite your ankles, or pick a shady branch to hang out and read a favorite book.
Light a Fire
Summer hardly seems like the time for a fire but an outdoor firepit is a great way to catch up with friends and neighbors after work and into the evening. Since smoke helps keep mosquitos away, you’ll be more protected from bites when close to the fire pit but if you have kids who are venturing out to play in the grass, consider lighting some citronella torches around the perimeter or scheduling a one-time special event spray to keep biting insects away so you can enjoy time outside after the sun goes down.
provides special event sprays that are good for backyard get togethers, outdoor movie nights, a small birthday party, or even a huge wedding reception. You can schedule a special event treatment 24-48 hours before your event that will remain effective even if it rains for up to 21 days.
Go for a Bike Ride
A bike ride on a shady trail is a great way to beat the heat because constant movement keeps biting pests away. If your child has grown over the year and you think their bike is too small, check out my tips for shopping for a new (or new-to-them!) kids’ bike and don’t forget to make sure their bike helmet is also the right size!
Stay Cool at the Pool
Summer is all about pool season and it’s one of the best places to beat the heat because kids won’t be on their devices and aren’t targets for biting insects when immersed in the water. Just be sure to apply sunscreen, stay hydrated, and make sure any devices that come to the pool are tucked inside a splash-resistant bag to ensure they’re protected against wet swimsuits and towels or leaky water bottles. A gallon size Ziploc bag works well but I prefer the more stylish Tyvek zippered pouches like these from Aloha Collection ($40) or ChillScreamni on Amazon ($9.99).
If your pool has grassy areas that are buggy, suggest that they contact for regular treatment like our pool does! I love being at our pool and not having to worry about getting bitten by mosquitos when relaxing under an umbrella poolside!
Get the Whole Family to Help Manage Mosquitos
Even though we’ve started our annual all-natural barrier mosquito treatments to help us enjoy our yard to the fullest throughout the summer, I’m vigilant about maintaining a mosquito-free yard in between visits from . If you’re a mosquito magnet like I am, you can get the whole family involved in helping with mosquito maintenance so everyone can unplug and enjoy the outdoors in the summer while remaining bite-free.
Since any standing water can be a mosquito breeding ground, empty drip dishes for plants on a patio, bird baths, sand boxes and sand pails. Pay attention to play sets with tire swings since water can pool at the bottom, check wheelbarrows, and shake out tarps that can hold water. Even the youngest ages can help with this task if you turn it into a treasure hunt. Have them search for spots where there could be standing water in your yard and ask them to dump it out. Make it a game by having them count how many things they can dump water out of or turn it into a sibling race. Regardless of how you play, everyone wins when there are less places for mosquitoes to breed!
Wondering what else you should do to prevent your yard from turning into a mosquito breeding ground? Here are the rest of my 8 Tips for Maintaining a Mosquito-Free Yard This Summer.
Need More Help to Manage Mosquitos and Tech Overuse?
Read my past posts:
- Unplugged Summer Fun for All Ages is my age appropriate guide to unplugged summer fun that features tips and tricks to help get them outside or at least away from the screen
- 5 Strategies for Managing Summer Screen Time at Home features realistic strategies for managing summer screen time that won’t leave you feeling defeated and your kids victorious
- How to Talk to Tweens and Teens About Digital Safety and Screen Time provides information on how you can use the free Family Link app by Google to have more productive conversations about screen time in your home
Amazon affiliate links are included in this post which was written in partnership with who is providing annual all-natural barrier mosquito treatments for our yard this summer. I also appreciate that is supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a $500 donation to my St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend race for a third year in a row! Thank you D.C. Mosquito Squad!
