Search

Culturally Enriching Customers With Exotic Wares From Around The World

Reducing Your Child's Chances Of Catching Illnesses At School Or Day Care

18 May 2017

Tonya Gomez

Sending your child to a day care center can be very helpful for your schedule and career, but it does mean that your child will be exposed to more children (and possibly some adults) who are sick. Rather than assuming your child will bring home every germ he or she picks up, teach your child ways to battle the bugs before they try to take over. Your child should learn these anyway, even if not going to day care, but you should start early if your child will be in any crowded situations.

Touching One's Face

A major route of transmission for illnesses is someone touching his or her face with contaminated hands. The germs on the hands transfer to the face, and if the hands touch the nose, mouth, or eyes, those germs can enter the body and multiply. Keeping your hands away from your face and learning to mentally overpower any itching or the plain habit of touching your face is one of the best ways to stop illnesses from spreading. With your child, start training him or her early to be conscious of where hands are relative to the face. It may take some time, but your child will eventually get it. It would also be a good idea to explain why this is something to be careful about. If you expect your child to obey blindly, you might have less luck in getting your child to stop touching his or her face.

Washing Hands

Another major way to stop germ transmission is hand washing with soap and hot water. You don't want young children to scald themselves, so train them to turn on both the hot and cold water to get warm water. Let them know they should wash their hands before touching food they're going to eat, and after they touch anything others have touched, like after playing with toys at the child care center.

Always Check the Sick-Child Policy

Something you can do is verify the sick-child policy. Does the center allow sick children to attend? Or are they required to stay at home? Maybe the center allows them to attend but keeps them separated from the other children. You need to know what you're dealing with when you send your child to a day care center. Attendance isn't required there like it is at school.

Start Healthy Habits Early

Also start building those healthy habits early on. A balanced diet, good water-drinking habits, exercise (in the form of play is fine), and adequate sleep -- not to mention teaching your child methods to handle bad days and stressful experiences -- all help shore up the child's immune system, which is the last defense in preventing illnesses from taking hold.

Chances are your child may eventually get sick with a cold picked up from another child; it's a risk all parents have to take. But by teaching your child good habits, he or she greatly reduces the chances that a sick child at the center will transfer an illness unwittingly. For more information, visit a company like Forest Superkicks.

Share