by Nancy France

Created on: January 30, 2007   Last Updated: April 15, 2007

Ah, yes. Your child has somehow gotten the bug going around and has brought it home. You knew it would be a matter of time. After all, don't most kids get sick around this time of year?

The answer to that is, of course, yes. A lot of children get colds in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Some experts even say that being exposed to a variety of germs builds a stronger immune system. And if one child in the day care has a cold, it's a good bet that soon most of the other students may soon be suffering from that cold as well.

Hey, young children share everything. They share hopes, dreams, snacks, drinks, and toys. They also share germs. They share germs with great abandon and total unselfishness. Why keep a good germ to yourself, when it's so much more fun to share? Don't our moms and teachers say to share?

Seriously though, if your child is running a temperature, is throwing up, is crying because of an earache or headache, or has diarrhea then day care is not the place your child needs to be. The day care setting isn't usually set up to accomodate the needs of a sick child. There may not be a quiet area for your chid to rest, nor may there be someone free to monitor your child's fever or level of illness. Not only might your child not get the care he or she needs, you are setting up the other students and the day care providers to be infected as well.

You, or another adult familiar with your child, are best able to know when your child needs more careful watching. You know when and what medicines are safe for your child, and how to tell if that medicine is effective. An adult monitoring several children at once may or may not be able to keep track of how much your child has been able to drink.

Your child will get better care and recover faster when you or someone who knows your child well. You'll limit the exposure of others to the disease and even prevent your ill child from being exposed to other illnesses that their immune system wouldn't be able to fight off. If at all possible, home is best.

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