Chapter 11

Read the following and Chapter 11: Caring for Children with Short- Term or Chronic Health Needs or Disabilities.

Child care centers or homes within the state may have additional rules. Most common illnesses, like a cold, aren't typically harmful. However, when a child needs one-to-one care, he or she may benefit from staying out of a group setting.

Child care professionals continually look for changes in behavior or appearance, which may indicate a change in a child's health. The sooner an illness is identified, the sooner the illness can be addressed. Early identification can also reduce the spread of the illness.

Conducting an assessment is quick and easy. It's important to assess children when they arrive at a child care setting as well as periodically throughout the day. In order to check a child, ask yourself these questions:

• Does the child behave or look different than normal?
• Does the child complain of not feeling well?
• Does the child have skin rashes, discoloration of the skin, itchy skin, or scalp?
• Is his or her temperature above 38 degrees C (100 degrees F)?
• Does the child refuse to eat or drink as much as usual (especially when offered favorite foods)?
• Has the child vomited?
• Does the child have an abnormal stool (white bowel movement, gray bowel movement, blood in the stool, or diarrhea)?
• Does the child seem less active than usual?
• Does the child seem irritable or easily angered (even after being comforted)?
• Does the child have severe coughing?
• Does the child fail to urinate?
• Is the child sleepier than usual?

If you answered "yes" to any of these, the child may be ill and you should contact the parents to share the symptoms. Remember: Donotattempt to diagnose an illness!

Children's Health Online

To read more about caring for sick children, please read through this document:

• Caring for Sick Childreach

Read the following and Chapter 11: Caring for Children with Short- Term or Chronic Health Needs or Disabilities.

Child care centers or homes within the state may have additional rules. Most common illnesses, like a cold, aren't typically harmful. However, when a child needs one-to-one care, he or she may benefit from staying out of a group setting.

Child care professionals continually look for changes in behavior or appearance, which may indicate a change in a child's health. The sooner an illness is identified, the sooner the illness can be addressed. Early identification can also reduce the spread of the illness.

Conducting an assessment is quick and easy. It's important to assess children when they arrive at a child care setting as well as periodically throughout the day. In order to check a child, ask yourself these questions:

• Does the child behave or look different than normal?
• Does the child complain of not feeling well?
• Does the child have skin rashes, discoloration of the skin, itchy skin, or scalp?
• Is his or her temperature above 38 degrees C (100 degrees F)?
• Does the child refuse to eat or drink as much as usual (especially when offered favorite foods)?
• Has the child vomited?
• Does the child have an abnormal stool (white bowel movement, gray bowel movement, blood in the stool, or diarrhea)?
• Does the child seem less active than usual?
• Does the child seem irritable or easily angered (even after being comforted)?
• Does the child have severe coughing?
• Does the child fail to urinate?
• Is the child sleepier than usual?

If you answered "yes" to any of these, the child may be ill and you should contact the parents to share the symptoms. Remember: Donotattempt to diagnose an illness!

Children's Health Online

To read more about caring for sick children, please read through this document:

• Caring for Sick ChildrenActions