No, I don't send children home with colds either unless they have a fever because that's a symptom of a deeper problem, like an infection in the ears, lungs, throat, tonsils, etc. I have a list of the most contagious childhood illnesses listed in my contract and I've been lucky so far to have parents who keep their child home when they can see that they are feeling very unwell.

But I was the parent who worked outside the home all my life until I opened my daycare almost 5 years ago, so I can understand how hard it is for parents to take a sick day. A lot of employers really give you a hard time when you take a sick day. At my last job we were allowed 10 sick days a year but we got a stern warning if we used 3! Why do they tell you that you have 10?