When to Keep Your Child Home
Parents of children who attend childcare centers sometimes have difficulty deciding when a child's health requires that he/she remain at home. Parents do not want to keep children at home if they really are not sick, but they also do not want to send a sick child to the Center. The following guidelines are suggested to help you make this decision:
Keep a Child Home Who:
- Has a fever of 101 degrees or more
- Has vomited the night before or that morning
- Has diarrhea more than two consecutive times. If the child has been brought to the Center, you will be called after two loose bowel movements. After three you will need to pick up your child.
- Has thick yellow or yellow-green drainage from his nose or ears
- Has a skin rash, unless a doctor has been contacted and said that the rash is not contagious. Please inform your child's teacher when a rash occurs that has been diagnosed as impetigo, scabies, or lice.
- Has chicken pox-the child should remain home for seven to ten days or until all the pox have scabs. Check with your physician for his exact instructions.
- Has conjunctivitis (Ping Eye)-the child must stay at home for 24 hours after being on antibiotic or eye drops and if the eyes are draining and/or the child suffers from cold symptoms (i.e. coughing extensively.) If the eye is slightly pink during the convalescent period, the child may return to the Center.
If any of the above conditions begin during the day at our Center, You will be contacted and expected to come and pick up your child & your child may not return for 24 hours. This will help prevent the spread of illness among the children.
