Just a part of the job? or....

[Inspired by Reggio]

I have a section of my illness policy to cover this worded like this

Communicable Illnesses
.... Due to the flexible nature of our schedule and routines my general requirement for attendance when under the weather is that children need to be to cope within the program, with minimal impact on the other children’s enjoyment, in order to attend.

Children may not participate, and will be required to be temporarily removed, if any of the following diseases and/or symptoms develops:
followed by a list of communicable diseases that the health unit requires exclusion for

I admit that if I had already discussed an outing with the other children that they were looking forward to and a client arrived with a child who was 'under the weather' but not out right needing to stay home for sure I still would have gone on the outing as well cause I agree it is not fair to upset the apple cart of 4 other paying clients because 1 clients child did not sleep properly ~ this is group care and we have to balance the needs of the group while trying to meet the needs of the individual! I would have given the parents a heads up 'Well we will try the planned trip and if they are not coping I will give you a call' ... and than played it by ear if we needed to cut it short or if I needed to send the child home or not either from the outing or back at home ... typically in my experience children generally perk up by the distractions at daycare unless they are truly not well!

I will also admit that while I have a policy stating that I WILL send home a child who is not participating because I want that option to be clear for parents as a possibility ~ I have not yet done it cause I truly hate sending children home unless they have a fever / vomiting / diarrhea and so forth .... they would have to really really not be coping ~ aka I would have to have tried every trick in my book to make help time so if holding them does not console them at all or putting them down for an extra nap does not work or they are screaming type crying verses just moaning / whiny ... I have always been lucky at being able to distract children who are just tired / teething and if it has been more than that than the fever usually pops up and I can send them home for that reason verse the not coping part.

Hope he wakes from his nap in better spirits!