Tips for Parents: Keeping Your Child Healthy at Daycare

The end of summer, and for many children, theaway.
start of a new school year means that cold andHand Sanitizers and Cleansers As an Alternative
flu season will soon be upon us. Whether yourSoap and water are not always available, for
child attends a Brookline childcare center or aexample when your child goes on field trips away
family daycare in Brookline chances arefrom his childcare center in Brookline or visits the
he’s going to get sick at least severalplayground and is not physically at his Brookline
times during the long winter months. And, aschildcare center. That’s where hand
every parent knows, when kids are in the groupsanitizers and cleansers come in. Pack one in your
settings typical of day care programs in Brookline,child’s backpack, have her keep one in her
the germs get passed around with amazingcubby at her childcare center in Brookline, and
speed. Parents also know that a sick child is ankeep a few in the car just in case she forgets to
unhappy one, so with that in mind, here are a fewwash her hands before leaving her family daycare
tips parents can use to keep their child healthyin Brookline.
when she attends day care in Brookline.Sneeze and Cough into the Crook of Your Arm
Wash Hands FrequentlyThe new rule of thumb at every day care in
Experts agree that frequent hand washing is theBrookline these days is to avoid sneezing and
best way to prevent the spread ofcoughing into hands and instead cough into the
germs—hands down! How frequent iscrook of your arm where the likelihood of being
frequent? Expect kids to wash hands at least 10passed on to another person (via door knobs, light
to 12 times throughout the course of the dayswitches, and toys for example) is minimal,
when your child is at her Brookline childcare centerespecially if the arm is covered by a long sleeve
or family daycare in Brookline--before and after(germs perish quickly in fabric). Make sure the
meals, before and after toileting, after noseprovider at your child’s childcare center in
blowing, after playing, and upon arrival at theBrookline is aware of this relatively new practice
childcare center in Brookline. Parents andtoo.
caregivers at family daycare in Brookline shouldFinally, make sure you child gets plenty of rest
also know that the length of hand washing is justand eats a healthy diet. A healthy body is your
as important. Try to have your child count to 20child’s first line of defense when it comes
or sing the alphabet song while scrubbing herto preventing illness.
hands to make sure all those germs are washed