Q: The insects that tend to cause itchy bites and be the most annoying to children tend to be most active in the hours around sunrise and sunset. Avoiding these times of day lessens the risk that your child will get bitten. If you are outside with your child during those most active hours, try to restrict your child's play to less bug-infested areas. For example, you might have your child play on a porch or in the driveway rather than in a grassy or wooded area. Many insects, especially bees and wasps, won't sting unless provoked. If your child screams or swats at insects that come near them, they might end up getting bitten or stung. Show them how to remain still and quiet if an insect flies near them until it flies off. Show them pictures of wasp nests, beehives, and anthills. Teach them to stay away from these and let you know if they see one so you can take care of it. For example, you might say "If you go near these, the bugs who live there will hurt you. Tell me if you see them so I can take care of them." If you find wasp nests or anthills on your own property, you may want to call an exterminator to remove them. If you're having a picnic or enjoying a snack outside with your child, food that is left sitting out in the open will attract insects. If your child spills anything, make sure to clean up the spill as quickly as possible and keep your child away from that general area. Pay particular attention to sweet foods and drinks, especially fruits and juices, as the sugar attracts more insects as well as bees. Insects are attracted to bright colors. This is especially true for bees that register bright colors as flowers with pollen. Light, drab colors and pastels are less likely to attract insects. They'll also keep your child cooler if the sun is out and the weather is warm. If your child is playing in the grass, make sure they're wearing socks and shoes. This will keep insects on the ground from biting their feet and ankles. Long sleeves and long pants reduce the amount of exposed skin, which can attract mosquitoes and other biting insects. Loose clothing in a light fabric may even keep your child cooler than if their skin was exposed with a sundress or shorts and a t-shirt. Insect repellants formulated for children are available at discount stores, drug stores, or supermarkets, as well as online. When used correctly, these products will keep must biting and stinging insects away from your child. It may be easier to spray your child's clothing rather than spraying the child's skin, especially if they move around a lot. Make sure you reapply the insect repellant if your child goes swimming, or has been running around a lot and gotten sweaty. Any stagnant water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Especially if it has recently rained, be on the lookout for pools of water that may be infested. Children playing in or around these areas are more likely to get bitten, even if they're wearing insect repellant. If your child enjoys cooling off in the water on a hot day, encourage them to play in moving water, such as a stream or creek, or take them to a pool with water that has been treated. If your child goes outside smelling like fruit or flowers, they are likely to attract stinging or biting insects. Even if you can't smell the scent, insects still can. Avoid fruity or floral perfumes for yourself as well if you're going to be outside with your children. Insects you attract with your scent may also bite or sting your child.
A: Stay indoors when bugs are most active. Teach your child to remain calm around bugs and leave them alone. Keep food covered when eating outside. Dress your child in muted-colored clothes that cover their skin. Spray your child with a children's insect repellant. Avoid puddles and standing water. Use unscented soaps, detergents, and lotions.

Q: Look for chafing, repairs, stretches, pulled-out stitches and broken slides. Mildew is harmless but tough to get rid of. Check spinnakers for excessive bagginess. Hoist the windward sails and check for excessive draft and stretch. Remember that replacing the sails can cost you half the price of an old sailboat. You can pretty much count on replacing a lot of rigging on any old boat, though. Check for worn pins and shackles, unraveling wire, broken blocks, worn-out lines. These items are relatively easy to fix and replace, however. Winches should work smoothly, but if they don't, you can almost always get them running right with a quick cleaning and greasing.
A:
Take all of the sails out of their bags and spread them out. Rigging will show the general quality of the boat's maintenance. If possible, hoist all the sails and work all the halyards, sheets, winches and furlers.