RSS
Home
When Children Get Sick
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
I understand the stress associated with households when both parents must work. There’s no getting away from this reality with our ever-changing economy. But when your child gets sick, he or she should be kept home (at least until your child obviously feels better and you know your child’s symptoms are beyond the contagious stage).
After having been a preschool teacher for close to twenty years, I have seen many incidences when a parent brings their child to school knowing they are sick. A while back, I had one of many incidents with a sick child who was brought to school. During this incident, could tell by the way she acted and by the paleness of her skin, that she was still feeling unwell. Still her mother insisted that her child was better than she was the day before.
After taking the child’s temperature under the arm, and finding that she indeed had a fever, I phoned the parent. The parent sounded surprised when I informed her that her child had a high fever. After the phone call, I gave the child a place where she could rest, offered her some water and placed a damp paper towel on her forehead.
Finally, after an hour of my phone call, the parent arrived to pick up her child. Our school has a policy, which states that a child should be kept home 24 hrs after having had a temperature of 100 or over, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
It’s unfortunate when children become sick, but more unfortunate when their illnesses become contagious. Of These illnesses I will name three; pink eye (conjunctivitis), chicken pox and strep throat. Let’s not also forget the germs children spread to each other on a daily basis: i.e. sneezing in their hand and touching the next thing or person they come in contact with.
Since the spread of germs is so highly contagious, adults should encourage children to wash their hands after they: play in the dirt, use the bathroom, before and after all meals, and especially after the blowing of the nose. One of my colleagues once told a child that the green stuff (nasal mucus) that comes from their nose is waste from their body (this isn’t a nice image, but it’s a fact). Green mucus is also a sign of infection.
I am not stressing that you keep your child home every time he or she catches a cold or sneezes, but observe the warning signs or symptoms of sickness. Is your child lethargic? Does he or she seem withdrawn? Are they irritable or crying persistently? Does his or her skin look pale? Does their forehead or cheeks feel warm to the touch? These signs could mean that your child isn’t feeling well. If he or she is complaining of a sore throat, look in their month for anything usual. In other words pay attention to your child's symptoms. He or she might be trying to tell you something.
Related Articles:
Comments
In the encouraging classroom, the teacher takes the role as the coach, rather than the boss. Teachers and other adults alike, have a habit of …
When teachers or other care givers communicate with children, it is imperative to show respect. We demand respect from children but many of us assume …
