New Article Offers Advice about When to Keep Your Child Home from Day Care

NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new article released by Fox News, young children are likely to catch anywhere from six to ten colds per year. This number increases as temperatures drop and fall and winter approach. These fairly routine illnesses often make it difficult for parents to determine whether they should send their child to day care. Slava Volman, day care provider, encourages parents to know when it's appropriate to send kids, and when it's better to keep them at home.

The article explains that many day care facilities have a sick child policy. These rules outline when kids should stay at home. Though it's often difficult balancing work with caring for a sick child, it's important to have respect for the other children at the day care center. If a child is truly sick, it's best to keep them at home and prevent the spread of germs to others at the center.

Slava Volman states, "While you may think your child is on his or her way to getting better, it's important to keep in mind that you're sending your child to a day care facility with many other kids. They will become exposed to your son or daughter's germs and may also get sick. Obviously it's not realistic to keep your child home every time they cough or sneeze. However if it's clear that your kid is really sick, then it's best that they stay home to recover. This prevents other kids from catching the same illness."

It's also important to consider the age of the child when deciding whether it is appropriate to send them outside of the home during or after an illness. The article discusses the fact that symptoms in children less than three months old can vary from symptoms in older children who have undergone vaccination processes and have stronger immune systems. It is recommended that newborns with a fever of 104 degrees or more should be treated by a pediatrician immediately. As such, pediatrician Dr. Tanya Altmann outlines that, "In the immediate newborn period, [babies] can get very sick, very quickly."

As a general rule, if a child is vomiting, experiencing diarrhea, or has suffered from a fever of 101 degrees or higher within the last 24 hours, the child should stay home from day care. Parents are advised to make sure their child drinks plenty of liquids and gets sufficient rest. If symptoms persist without showing signs of improvement, a pediatrician should be contacted.

Day care provider Slava Volman notes, "Sometimes kids just need a day to rest and recover. When they're at day care they're tempted to run around and play with the other children, even if they don't feel their best. This can slow down the recovery process. A day or two off can help them get back on track. However, it's important to keep an eye on the symptoms and make sure a doctor's visit is scheduled if improvement is not experienced in a reasonable amount of time." 

ABOUT:

Slava Volman is the owner and founder of Shooting Stars Day Care, a childcare facility that specializes in providing a personalized and educational experience for each child. Prior to opening his own day care facility, Slava spent years working as a Kindergarten teacher and an afterschool child care provider. He believes in the importance of a nurturing and intellectually-stimluating day care service.

SOURCE Slava Volman