Stephen arrives at child care with two very flushed cheeks and glazed eyes. His cough sounds like a cement mixer. He's had a half-bottle of something blue from the medicine chest, and four or five of those white capsules purchased sometime last cold season.
Meredith comes to child care on her way to kindergarten. She's supposed to get on the bus after she eats breakfast. She's wearing a diaper and a light sweater. It's 35 degrees. She's had diarrhea since dinner last night. In fact, it kept her up all night. But she, too, isn't sick, mom assures the provider; she's probably only trying to deal with her new vitamins.
"Can I drop Lucy off at child care after her surgery this morning?" asks another mother.
And "Ryan has pneumonia; I suppose I'll see him later," his dad says drolly, as he drops Ryan into a crib.
Mary Jane is covered in spots. The parents don't know why exactly. It could be the jalapeno peppers last night or the banana mint mayonnaise. If they don't go away soon, we'll find out why.
These scenarios may seem exaggerated, but they illustrate a point of serious contention between day-care providers and teachers and parents. These are the kinds of daily childhood illness problems that providers and teachers should never see, because the children should never leave home with these ailments.
News flash: Providers and teachers are simply not allowed to handle this stuff. And in an increasing number of child-concerned states, it's the law.
And while we're talking medical care, do you have a form filled out for your provider concerning any medications your child may be taking?
Every state has a state health department with a list of communicable illnesses that bar children from child care. The list exists because the health departments know that one ill child in child care can breed a localized epidemic. You can obtain a list by calling your state health department.
At the top of the list are diarrhea, vomiting, fever over 99 degrees, infectious (yellow or green) mucus, pernicious cough, lice, unidentified spots, ear infection and strep throat.
Add to contagious diseases these things for which children should remain at home: same-day surgery, unmended broken bones, adverse reactions to drugs, concussions and untreated bladder infections.
On the other hand, there are illnesses that should not bar a child from child care: controlled heart disease, cancer, asthma and other chronic diseases that may cause a little extra daily care but are not contagious or immediately life-threatening.
Day care is a place for well children to play and to learn. Regular centers, homes and schools are not equipped for the care and supervision of ill children. Here's a simple, understandable rule that anyone can follow concerning the ill child: If a child requires over-the-counter medication in the morning, he shouldn't be in school or day care.
