Watching Over Your Sick Kid

As parents, we've all had days when we had to stay home from work, all because we need to watch over our kids who are too sick to go to school. We willingly adjust our schedule to theirs, but of course we can't help but wonder where they have caught that bug.

The first thing that comes to mind is school. Then again, how many times do we send our kids to school with a slight cold or cough? If you think about it, it really is a double-edged sword.

To help you out in such instances, here are a few guidelines that may make you a better judge when it comes to deciding whether your kids should stay home or not.

Evaluate how your child is feeling. If they are tired and a bit feverish, make them stay home. Having a fever is a distinct sign that your child may be contagious to others.

Be considerate to the other children and their families, keep your child home. Not only will your child thank you for it, so will the mothers of the other children in your child's school.

But if your child is feeling quite well, and is just suffering from a slight cold or cough, giving them some flu medicine will do. Teaching them some basic hygiene tips will go a long way too. For example, when they blow their nose, train them to discard the tissue properly. Then, have them wash their hands. It might even help to pack a small bottle of hand sanitizer in their bag just in case they don't have access to soap and water.

Whenever they sneeze, train them to either cover their mouth or use their upper arm to help prevent the spreading of germs.

Proper hygiene can definitely prevent your child from catching various diseases such as colds and cough. Remind them to always wash their hands after using the restroom, and especially before having meals. We can't always protect our kids from harm, but we can train them to protect themselves as best as they can.