| When your child attends child daycare centers | | | | outside. |
| during cold and flu season, there are some basic | | | | You will also want to ensure that your child has a |
| things that you can do to prevent the spread of | | | | healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruits and |
| germs. Your child care centers will enforce basic | | | | veggies. If you have a picky eater on your hands, |
| hand washing, and you can do your part at home, | | | | then use recipes that your toddler loves to sneak |
| as well. With techniques that include a healthy diet | | | | in fruits and vegetables. Grated carrots, zucchini |
| and proper hand washing, your child will be happy | | | | and applesauce are unnoticeable in baked goods |
| and healthy at day care year round. | | | | and sauces, for example. Along with plenty of |
| Health at Your Child Daycare Centers | | | | rest, a good diet will give your child the tools he |
| Good health begins at home, where what you do | | | | or she needs to stay healthy during cold and flu |
| can impact all of the kids at the child daycare | | | | season. |
| centers that your child attends. First and | | | | Healthy Habits at Child Daycare Centers |
| foremost, you should always keep your child | | | | Your childcare centers are where your infant or |
| home if you suspect that he or she is getting sick. | | | | toddler will spend a good portion of the day, |
| What looks like a mild cough can easily turn out to | | | | making it a place where good health should be |
| be the flu, making this the number one rule for | | | | encouraged. Your provider may pass out a |
| child care networks around the nation. You will | | | | healthy snack, but will also help your child learn |
| also want to teach your child some healthy habits, | | | | healthy habits for a lifetime. Your home childcare |
| such as coughing and sneezing into the crook of | | | | or daycare center should have a clear policy on |
| their arm, rather than into their hands. | | | | hand washing, and should wash all door knobs, |
| Healthy hand washing habits are also very | | | | toys and light fixtures regularly. |
| important. If your child is old enough, you can | | | | Childcare centers take special precautions at all |
| have them sing the ABC song when they wash | | | | times during the year to ensure that their infants |
| their hands. After the song is over, your child will | | | | and toddlers are happy and healthy, and will often |
| have washed well enough to have clean hands. | | | | request that sick children remain home, or are |
| Other considerations are using an alcohol based | | | | picked up, anytime they have a cold or fever. |
| hand sanitizer, but these should be used only | | | | You may want to discuss your daycare's stay at |
| when hand washing facilities are unavailable, | | | | home policy to see if they can attend when they |
| especially in little ones with sensitive skin. You can | | | | have a minor illness, and when they need to stay |
| pack a small bottle of sanitizer when the childcare | | | | with an alternate caregiver. |
| centers have arranged a field trip or play date | | | | |