My daughter's are older as well and since my daycare is in the basement with its on door to get in and out, when daycare kids are sick, I tell my girls to stay out of the daycare to avoid them getting sick. You cant really do that if you have smaller children. But just to say about school... they are really not as sick as when they were in daycare which was ALL THE TIME

Now about my daycare kids being sick... when the very little ones are so sick thats its coughing nonsense and runny nose every second down to their chin, I send them home. I did have cases of runny nose last march-april-may-august lol yep I guess anytime through the year so, I really try to keep the place as germ free as I can but not as I wished obviously, its impossible to run around them with a box of kleenex every second. If the kids are real germ balls and the parents cant come and get them to keep them home, I either put them in their high chair or the playpen especially when I am busy and cant manage the ''stop putting toys in your mouth'' situation. I found that situation to be less stressful then constantly run around them to make sure I keep an eye on their every move. So far the kids dont mind, I give them a few toys that they play with and after that I clean the toys right away when their done playing.