How To Keep Your Child Healthy at Daycare this Winter
There is nothing worse than having your child come home from daycare with a runny nose and a persistent cough. Unfortunately, the flu is the leading cause for young children being hospitalized compared to all other vaccine-preventable diseases. Every year, hospitals see about 20 thousand children under 5 years old for complications related to influenza.
The flu virus is mostly spread from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. It can also spread if you touch an item with the virus on it (from an infected person interacting with it or coughing/sneezing nearby) and then touch your nose, mouth, or eyes. Daycare provides the perfect environment for the flu to grow and spread – little kids touch everything and are continuously exploring the world with their hands and mouths. They also have an inhibited sense of space and hygiene which accelerates person-to-person spread of the flu. It doesn’t help that young children are more susceptible to picking up the flu and being contagious for longer than older kids and adults as their immune system is not as developed.
So what can you do to help prevent the flu from spreading and infecting your child or others at the daycare?
Vaccinate
The best guard against the flu virus is for the kids and staff members at your child’s daycare to get a seasonal flu vaccine at the beginning of the season. The CDC recommend that everyone who is older than 6 months get a flu vaccine every year (including parents and teachers!) The vaccine is updated each year, as the flu virus is a constantly changing virus.
Educate
Here are a few every day tips that you can teach your children to help them stay healthy and happy during the flu season:
- Cover coughs and sneezes with your arm or a tissue then put the tissue in the trash when you’re done
- Wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible
- Try to avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
- Parents and teachers should also remember to do these things to set a good example and stay healthy
You and your child’s teacher should get involved too:
- Provide lots of tissues and a “no-touch” waste basket for those soiled tissues
- Ensure that toys, other commonly used items, and all surfaces are kept clean and are often wiped down with a disinfecting solution or wipe
- A good preschool should already have strict hygiene and cleaning practices in place and at Parkland Children’s Academy we take this further by using hospital-grade floors that cannot grow bacteria and don’t require harmful chemicals to keep clean
- Remind your child to stay clean and wash their hands with soap and water – implement specific hand-washing times in their schedule
- A healthy lifestyle at home and at preschool with lots of nutritious food and ample physical and fun activities for your child will go a long way to helping them stay well
When the flu strikes
If you, a teacher, or any child at the preschool gets sick, they should be immediately separated. They should also see a doctor to get medication (if appropriate) and stay home or away from others for a period of 5-7 days after symptoms have cleared to prevent spreading the virus to others. You should also remember that young children may often remain contagious for more than 5-7 days after their symptoms have cleared up. Ensure that your child has a lot of good food, water and tissues available while they are sick and that they continue with their hygiene skills.
If you and your child can keep these healthy tips in mind when at home or at daycare, you can be sure that this winter will have far fewer sniffles and coughs!