When we talk about medical checkups and the general health of our children, we usually think of vaccinations, height, weight, and growth charts. It’s true; these are the main parameters on which we measure the physical health of a child.
In fact, these are the first checks the physician conducts whenever we visit the doctor or child health care specialist.
However, as educationists, we need to go a bit deeper. Health is beyond this superficial layer; as a primary education provider, you must be aware of a child’s cognitive development, mental well-being, and social growth.
All of these work together to build the overall personality and shape the child’s well-being.
Education Providers and Child Healthcare
After the parents, the teachers, educators, mentors, and tutors are the primary people responsible for a child’s health, growth, and safety.
So, while the parents may be taking the children to the best health care providers and professionals for monitoring and improving the children’s health, you are the second in line to provide such facilities and a nurturing atmosphere for the children to grow and prosper.
Healthcare for Kindergarteners
Healthcare for kindergarteners is very important as it is the first five years of a child’s life that greatly impacts the life ahead. It sets the base for all future social, mental, physical, and cognitive development.
Many social and surrounding environmental factors shape these years of a child’s life.
Factors such as:
- Relationship with parents
- Siblings
- Teaching environment
- External stressors
- Social status
- Exposure to educational and other programs
All play a major role in building the personalities of the kids.
Stress
Believe it or not, stress affects the children just as much or even more than it affects the older generation.
Stressors can include physical or mental abuse, safety concerns, low economic status, and unstable home environments.
All of these can affect their emotional state, skill development, and social functioning, especially when they enter adulthood.
Poverty
Poverty is another major factor that affects the academics and grades of children and builds a sense of low esteem in young children. It also leads to safety concerns and the need for more support.
How Can Kindergartens and Early Childhood Programs Help?
Kindergartens and other educational programs are places for learning, development, socializing, and building little children’s IQ and EQ. These places can play a key role in a child’s physical and mental growth.
So what should a good early learning center have?
Amongst other facilities and provisions, a good institute needs to keep these factors in place for the better development of children:
- Well qualified staff
- Educated and trained teachers
- Small classes
- Low children-to-teacher ratio
Common Child Health Concerns
Some of the most common health issues parents or primary caregivers have to deal with include:
Allergies
Food, pollen, and dust are the most common allergens. Almost 30 to 35% of children have been affected by some form of allergy in their lives.
Some may be allergic to insect stings, animals, or dust mites, too, as these are some of the other common allergens in our surroundings.
So, as a caregiver, you must ensure the play area is in check. Cleanliness is of primary importance, and ensuring the children get a safe, germ-free environment is your first responsibility.
Colds, flu, and Asthma
Colds, cough, flu, and asthma are other, most common conditions children from all over the world may get affected by.
It is even harder to keep the children safe if the place they go to play and learn is contaminated.
You cannot keep the tiny hands away from each other, but you can ensure proper fumigation of the place and regular cleaning so it doesn't spread as fast.
Plus, if any child is suffering from flu, cold, or fever, make sure they stay home and get plenty of rest to get better and rejoin the classes later.
In case it doesn't get any better, it is best to consult the health care provider.
Eye Infection or Conjunctivitis
Eye infection is another most common thing children deal with. It involves swelling around the eyes, redness, and sticky eyes.
This condition is very contagious, and often the primary source of the spread of the virus is the schools and places where children meet.
So in case of any occurrence, make sure the child goes home to rest and consult with the healthcare provider for more information on the treatment.
Gastroenteritis and Food Allergies
Diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, and fever are the main symptoms of both food intolerance and gastroenteritis.
To equip your place better to deal with any undesired situation, ensure to ask the parents of all children if they have any known allergies before admission.
Further, again cleanliness and ensuring the infected child gets to rest at home, so the other children don't catch it, are the main precautionary steps you need to take.
Other health issues you may need to address as an educational center include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Lice
- Worms
- Impetigo
- Warts
Preventive Steps
As an educational institute that cares about children’s health, it is your job to care for all the individuals under your wing.
Here are some of the preventive steps you can take to keep the children safe and healthy:
- Ensure regular handwashing inside the campus. Model behavior for the young kindergarteners, set up timelines, and make sure they follow through the whole day to keep the germs at bay.
- Ensure the childrens' vaccinations and immunizations are up to date. Then, before admitting any child, you can ask the parents for the immunization card for the record.
- Keep a first aid kit and have a health care provider always ready on duty. Since you have children in-house, there may be an occasional injury or stomach ache/fever issue. So it is best to keep some supplies like bandaids, ointments, pain relief, stomach pain medicine, etc., on hand inside the facility.
- Ensure there's no smoking inside the facility. If any staff member wants to smoke, they can do so outside the building away from the campus.
- Ensure creation of a germ-free environment. Most of the health concerns can be cleared up by sanitization practices in addition to daily cleaning.
Effective sanitization methods
Sanitization requires selecting the right disinfectant for the operation. Kindergartens and facilities that take care of small children, need to ensure both safety and efficient operation of messy tasks.
In such cases, consider applying HOCl(hypochlorous acid water, also known as ECA) as a space spray with a special fogger.
HOCl can be used safely in environments such as kindergartens, since it is proven to be highly effective in disinfecting even at low concentrations (about 50-80 ppm) and leaves less residue.
Moreover, by using a special sprayer, it is possible to effortlessly sanitize toys, shared objects, and various surfaces that children touch.
If you would like to learn more about this system, please contact us from the following.
How Does Early Provision of Healthcare Affect Adults?
The effects of early childhood experiences and learnings come forward by the teenage and as the children step into adulthood.
Children who get good early education and health care grow up to be more confident adults. They even have lower heart risks and other risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and cholesterol issues.
So, quality 360-degree education can make a huge difference and open the doors to healthier, happier lives for our children.
Conclusion
Learning and education spread far beyond books and memorizing concepts. It's about building life skills and ensuring health and wellbeing alongside.
With proper support from the family and education providers, the child can grow, get nurtured, and become a healthy, confident, and successful adult.
Communication is the key; as a kindergarten facility with primary healthcare as your main concern, schedule meetings and talks with the parents as well as children. Knowing their concern will better put you in a position to resolve them.
