Tis the Season for Sickness: How to Keep Kids Healthy
With the cooler weather creeping in, cold and flu viruses are beginning to make their rounds in almost every daycare and preschool across the country. Luckily, there are some ways to lower your child’s risk of coming down with something, too.
Ways to Stop Sicknesses in Their Tracks
A healthy diet. Feeding your child a nutritious diet filled with fruits, vegetables, and iron-rich foods is an important part of helping her build a strong immune system. Nutrients found in these kinds of foods not only allow your child’s body to function properly, but also gives her the energy she needs to grow and learn.
Handwashing habits. Insist that your child washes his hands after every trip to the bathroom, before eating anything, and as soon as he comes home from daycare, school, or the playground. Proper hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways of reducing the spread of spread of illnesses. That’s why it’s equally as important to make sure that you’re washing your hands frequently, too.
Teaching not to touch. Contact between germy hands and mucous membranes, like the eyes and nose, is how bacteria are able to enter your child’s bloodstream so easily. Make sure that you tell them not to rub their eyes or pick their nose in order to prevent the unnecessary spread of germs.
When they sneeze or cough, teach them how to do it in the crook of their arm. Although this won’t prevent him from catching anything, it will stop him from spreading germs that he may have to other people.
Vaccinations. A current immunization record is usually required before your child can start at a daycare or preschool. At Carpe Diem, the record must be maintained and updated immediately after the child receives an additional dose or booster.
A balanced lifestyle. Getting a full night’s sleep every night and exercising daily, either through active games or sports can boost a child’s immune system naturally.
How We Help Put a Stop to Germs in Preschool
At Carpe Diem, we make it our priority to make sure that you and your child feel safe and secure in our preschool. We believe that part of feeling safe and secure is not having to fret constantly over the possibility of a sick child. That’s why we‘ve adopted a special policy to help you feel more at ease when your child or other children get sick.
As stated in our parent handbook:
If your child becomes ill or injured while at school, we will notify you immediately for you to make arrangements for pick up; and we will do our best to comfort him/her until you arrive. If emergency medical care is required, we will call 911 for immediate assistance.
To avoid the spread of disease, state licensing standards require ill children to be isolated from their group and picked up from school as soon as possible, but no later than one hour after notification. In order to return to school, your child needs to be free of all symptoms for 24 hours without the use of medication, except for an antibiotic prescribed for an ear or sinus infection, for example.
To reduce the spread of infections, children and staff wash their hands, using anti-bacterial soap, many times during the day, but especially after toileting and before eating. We do not allow children to share cups, utensils, etc. In addition, toys, doorknobs, and all other items that are handled or contacted on a regular basis by children are disinfected regularly with an anti-bacterial solution.
