Kindercare policies and procedures: Child Care Safety at Our Centers

Child Care Safety at Our Centers

From drop-off to pick-up, we’ll keep your child safe and sound.

You put your trust in us to care for your child when you can’t. And even though our day is full of giggling and wiggling, we take that responsibility very seriously! That’s why you’ll see that everything we do—from enforcing building security, to hiring trustworthy caregivers, to protecting your community from COVID-19—protects your child in every way.

See 3 ways we prioritize wellness.

From wellness check-ins at drop-off, to learning healthy habits throughout the day, wellness is a big theme here. We teach your child that taking care of their healthy body, happy heart, and growing mind all contribute to being (and feeling) well!

Wellness station check-ins start everyone’s day with care. We’ll do a quick assessment to see how your child is feeling—getting a sense of their physical health and state of mind!

Sick policies protect our entire learning community. If your child is sick, please keep them home until they are well. If your child gets sick while they’re in class, we’ll notify you and separate them in a safe place until you can pick them up.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is central to our curriculum because it fosters and protects wellness for kids of all ages.

Look for the health and safety seal of approval!

When you see the WELL Health-Safety Rating™ seal on our center doors, you can feel even more confident leaving your child with us. Because we partnered with building safety experts to validate our safety and wellness standards and passed their test with flying colors!

Point of pride:

We are the largest education provider (and the only national provider of early childhood education and care) that has earned the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management™!

Notice how secure your child is in our buildings.

When your child is here, we take every measure to protect them while giving them ample freedom to discover new things. Every classroom is kid-proof, so the things in arms-reach are safe for your child to explore. Our doors are locked during business hours and only opened for authorized staff and enrolled families. Only pre-approved people with photo identification may pick-up your child.

Feel confident in our staff.

Your child’s teachers and center staff might grow to feel like extended family! That’s because they are:

Talented 

Our staff are trained in child development, early-childhood education, or a related field, and they’re certified in pediatric first aid and CPR. And, you can trust that we hire top talent. We’re the only early childhood education provider to partner with Gallup® to find caregivers who are the best fit for our culture, purpose, and values.   

Trustworthy

Everyone on our staff has passed a criminal background check as one important step in making sure we hire the best caregivers for your child. 

Come on into our squeaky-clean classrooms!

Cleaning your child’s classroom happens all day, in every way! Our hospital-grade cleaning products are powerful on big germs but gentle your little gems. We use them throughout the day to sanitize high-touch surfaces, toys, and playground equipment (and we store them out of children’s reach).

Find comfortable daily rhythms and routines.

Safe sleep policies so everyone rests easy.  

Learning, playing, and making new friends can be exhausting! Your little snoozer will sleep like a baby in their own crib or cot—with every current safety protocol in place.

Get a taste for our food safety practices. 

Meal and snack times are a fan-favorite for kids of all ages! We make sure to keep little hands and mouths full and clean. Plus, our menu is planned by a registered dietitian, and our on-site cooking staff makes sure all the food is stored and served properly.

Play it safe outside. 

Outside, secure perimeters give your child freedom to explore and play. Our playground equipment is designed for a range of ages, and soft-landing areas are tested monthly by facilities technicians to make sure everything is sturdy, secure, and ready for prime get-your-wiggles-out playtime!

We’re prepared for anything.

Natural disasters and unexpected emergencies are unlikely but can happen from time to time. Our staff is trained to follow your center’s Emergency Response Plan to be ready for almost anything. Talk to your center director about the emergency plan for your location.

Maintaining health and safety is a community effort.

When we all work together, we strengthen our ties to one another, while teaching kids to practice healthy habits for life.

Enrollment Policies and Procedures — First Environments

3.0 Enrollment Policies and Procedures

3.1 Application for Enrollment & Waiting List

Application for enrollment of children ranging in age from six weeks through entering kindergarten will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. However, priority will be given as follows:

1.  Siblings of children currently enrolled at FEELC will have first priority for admission to FEELC.  (Follows priorities as listed below in #2-10)

   2.  EPA or NIEHS/NIH federal employee parent

   3.  Other federal employee parent

   4.   EPA or NIEHS/NIH Post-Doc, Visiting Fellow or other trainee parent

   5.  First Environments employee parent

   6.  EPA or NIEHS/NIH contractor parent; unless covered in item 4 above.

   7.  EPA or NIEHS/NIH employee grandparent

   8.  EPA or NIEHS/NIH Guest Researcher parent

   9.  EPA or NIEHS/NIH federal retiree parent

   10. General Public parent

3.1.1 Part-time Enrollment

First Environments Early Learning Center wants to make a difference in the lives of families and understands that parents or guardians may have different working schedules and childcare needs. To accommodate the needs of families, we offer some part-time enrollment opportunities when available. Policies that apply to all part-time enrollees are as follows:

• Families with part-time enrollment spots will pay their prorated portion of the tuition directly to FEELC through the Tuition Express draft.

• As with full-time enrollees, tuition payments are required for your agreed upon schedule whether or not the child is in attendance.

Part-time enrollees are also subject to the 30-day withdrawal notice requirement except for those who are given a 60-day notice by FEELC.

Additional policies for the two types of part-time enrollment (permanent part-time spots and shared spots) are described below.

3.1.1.1. PERMANENT PART-TIME SPOTS (Open to families who qualify for the federal tuition rate)

FEELC provides (2) permanent part-time spots per toddler, middler, preschool, and pre-K age group (not classroom) for families who qualify for the federal tuition rate. Schedules are based on either 5- or 6-days per bi-weekly tuition period and must be confirmed with the administration as well as the individual classroom teachers. Once confirmed, these days become your set schedule. This helps ensure proper classroom ratios are maintained, schedules are communicated, and correct tuition drafts are made. Set schedules are also essential for ensuring special dietary restrictions are accommodated on the proper days.

Changes to Part-Time Schedule

Any changes to your child’s schedule must be communicated in writing to the administration and classroom teachers as soon as possible.

a. Switching of Days – If you would like to switch days in attendance without changing the total number of days attended within a bi-weekly tuition period, then a written request must be submitted to FEELC administration and your classroom teachers and be approved. The switching of days should be limited to (2) times per month to minimize disruption in your child’s routine as well as the classroom. The tuition will not be different as long as the total number of days is the same within a bi-weekly tuition period.

b. Additional Days Requested – Requests for additional days are limited to (2) days per month and require advanced notification of FEELC administration and classroom teachers. Additional days will be charged per additional day attended.

NOTE: Any special requests for more than (2) additional days in the same month will need to be requested in writing to the FEELC Director (with a copy to the Enrollment Specialist) and also communicated to the classroom teachers if approved.

Converting a Permanent Part-Time Spot to Full-Time

A permanent part-time enrollee can convert to a full-time spot in their classroom by requesting full-time enrollment through the FEELC administration at any time.

3.1.1.2. SHARED SPOTS (Open to all families)

In addition to the (2) permanent part-time spots per toddler, middler, preschool, and pre-k age groups, FEELC may provide shared spots in all age groups based on availability. FEELC does limit these shared spots to a maximum of (4) children per classroom (the equivalent to (2) full-time spots per class). A shared spot is matched with another child’s schedule to essentially form one full-time spot in the classroom. For example, if one family prefers to attend Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, then we would be able to offer another family a part-time schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays. Schedules are based on 4-6 days per bi-weekly tuition period and must be confirmed with the administration as well as the individual classroom teachers. Once confirmed, these days become your set schedule.

Changes to Shared Spot Schedule

As stated above, once your shared spot schedule is confirmed, these days are your set schedule. However, if the families in the share partnership wish to switch days or attend during the other child’s unused days, this is allowed and will be a personal agreement made between the two families. The main requirement is that the parents communicate in writing any changes to their schedule with their classroom teachers.

Converting Shared Spots to Full-Time or Permanent Part-Time

If a full-time or permanent part-time spot becomes available, all eligible shared spot enrollees in that age group will be notified by the FEELC administration and offered the opportunity to fill the full-time or permanent part-time spot. The order in which families will be notified will be based on the enrollment priority on their original waitlist form and date, and only federal tuition eligible families will qualify for the permanent part-time spots.

Families wishing to accept the full-time or permanent part-time spot shall inform the FEELC administration within 2 weeks of the offer.

Share Partner Change & 60-Day Notice Period

In the case that one of the shared spot enrollees converts to an open full-time (or permanent part-time) spot or gives notice to leave the school, the other family in the share partnership

would then be given a 60-day notice by FEELC to either find another family with whom to share or assume their classroom spot full-time. If neither of those options are exercised by the end of the 60-day window, their spot transitions to a full-time spot and will be filled by the next family on the waitlist. However, if there is no other family on the waitlist for their age group, then that family may occupy the part-time spot temporarily until one of the following conditions are met (whichever comes first):

1) the family is able to find a share partner,
2) a permanent part-time spot becomes available (for federal tuition eligible families only), or 3) another full-time family becomes eligible from the waitlist and assumes the classroom spot.

3.2 Required Fees, Tuition, and Late Pickup

3.2.1 Required Registration & Deposit Fees

3.2.1.1 REGISTRATION FEE

First Environments requires a $50.00 non-refundable wait list registration fee per child.

3.2.1.2 DEPOSIT FEE

A separate deposit is required to secure an agreed upon start date. This deposit, minus any monies due, will be refunded upon withdrawal from the Center. The Center requires a 30-day notice of intent to withdraw, with the exception of rising Kindergartners, in which we require a 45-day notice of intent to withdraw. The Center has 30 days upon withdrawal of the Center to refund your deposit.

See section 3.3 for more information about withdrawals.

FAILURE TO ACCURATELY COMPLETE FORMS OR PAY FEES IN A TIMELY MANNER MAY RESULT IN CANCELLATION OF THE ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT.

3.2.2 Tuition Policies

First Environments’ tuition payments are made by bank draft only. Tuition is drafted every two weeks on Friday. The Board sets the tuition when the budget is presented at the annual July Parent Meeting. The Board will attempt to approve no more than single digit (%) annual increases in tuition. Any family that participates in a FEELC recognized tuition assistance program will be responsible for any charges or tuition that is not covered by their assistance program. Tuition payments are required whether or not the child is in attendance. Tuition payments will not be adjusted for vacation, sickness, holiday, inclement weather closure, and when there is an Executive Order by the President for Closings of the Federal Government. Tuition payments are due for all periods of absence regardless of reason. The full tuition and fees are due for all periods where the Center is open but the federal government is in furlough or shutdown. The Board may be petitioned in cases of lengthy absences due to illness.

3.2.2.1 Required Documentation for Annual Employment Status Verification

Please make your paystub available to determine Federal Status. By default, all families will be charged the contractor rate until federal status is verified. Personal information can be marked out. If you are a new employee to the campus you can have your hiring manager or immediate supervisor or HR email FEELC to verify that you are a Federal employee.

3.2.2.2 Veteran of the US Military or USPHS (Commissioned Corps)

Parents who are eligible for enrollment under enrollment guidelines may apply for federal rates if they are a veteran of the US Military or USPHS (Commissioned Corps) – honorable discharge paper required. Veteran status does not affect enrollment eligibility.

3.2.2.3 INSUFFICIENT FUNDS (NSF) FEE

An insufficient funds fee will be charged for any account with insufficient funds to cover the cost of the tuition draft. The fee for insufficient funds is $25 per draft.

3.2.2.4 EMERGENCY CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS

Emergency credit card payments can be made by using the Square credit card system. Since the Square is for emergency use only, use of it will be limited to once per quarter for tuition, and there will be a $25 fee included each time to cover charges incurred by FEELC for use of a credit card. Tuition Payments made with the Square can only be made from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm on the Tuesday before the tuition drafts. The tuition draft weeks are listed in the monthly classroom calendars.

3.2.3 Late Pickup Policy

A late pick up fee will result in a late fee charge.  There is a 5-minute grace period for parents picking up their children between 5:30-5:35pm.  A pick-up time between 5:36-5:45 will result as follows: 

– The 1st late pick up is a freebie (no charge).  

– The 2nd time is $25.  

– The 3rd time is $35.  

– The 4th time is $45.  

There is a cap at $45 for all subsequent times picking up late.  There is a $15 fee for each additional 15 minutes.  Every family resets to start at zero at the beginning of the year.  

Phone calls to notify of late arrival are appreciated but will not exempt late fee charges. FEELC’s policy is to always waive the initial late charge. Record of your initial late charge is kept in the Procare system. The initial late charge will not show up on a tuition statement because that charge is voided. Any following tuition charges will show up on your monthly tuition statement.

If late fee charges are generated they will be posted to your child’s account. Late fee charges will be billed and drafted from your account on the following tuition draft.

3.3 Withdrawals

To withdraw your child from enrollment at FEELC, it is the Center’s policy that parents must:
•

• Provide written notice 30 days (minimum) prior to the date of withdrawal. . Please email Heather Ray ([email protected]) and Beth Lake ([email protected]) with your intent to withdraw.

• Failure to provide written notice before withdrawal will result in parents being held responsible for 30 days of tuition costs beyond the date of withdrawal and possibly forfeiture of the security deposit.

To obtain more information about this process, please contact Heather Ray (hray@firstenvironments. org) or Beth Lake ([email protected]).

3.4 Special Needs Children and Their Families

First Environments welcomes all children to participate in all areas of our program. The center enrolls children with special needs and challenges in accordance with ADA regulations. The center, however, does not primarily serve such children.
FEELC reserves the right to ask a parent to withdraw their child from enrollment at FEELC if it is determined that the child cannot be adequately cared for in the Center. In such a case, FEELC may waive the required 30-day notice of intent to withdraw.

3.5 Pre-Enrollment Visit

FEELC would like parents to spend a minimum of two to three hours at the Center with their child before the child comes to the center alone. This helps make your child’s first experience at our Center a pleasant one. It also gives you an opportunity to get to know the staff. We encourage you to set up a series of “mini” visits. Short stays help your child gain trust in the staff and become familiar with the surroundings. If at all possible, we encourage both parents to accompany the child during these “mini” visits. When possible please coordinate your visits with your child’s teachers.

3.6 Required Enrollment Information

Upon accepting a spot in our Center, you will be given a folder containing documents that will need to be completed and returned to the front office prior to your child’s first day. The children’s folder includes the child’s application for child care, children’s medical report, immunization history, travel and activity authorization, discipline and behavior management policy, FEELC enrollment agreement, child and adult care food program form, photo/media consent form, summary of the NC child care licensing laws, FEELC family and child information form. The infant folders have in addition the infant safe sleep policy, CACFP provision of breast milk or infant formula form, and the infant feeding schedule. Please note, prior to enrollment your child must receive a physical examination and the Medical Information Form must be completed by your child’s physician.

To keep children’s records current, please update any changes of emergency contact information, place of employment, additional immunization records, or anything else that you feel we need to know about your child. FEELC will also send our quarterly reminders by e-mail to parents requesting update changes. Your child’s records will be stored in the FEELC front office. These records are kept confidential but are also immediately available to administrative staff or teaching staff that have consent from a parent or legal guardian, the child’s parents or legal guardian, and the regulatory authorities including our state licensing consultant.

For more information on the FEELC Enrollment Agreement, please see Enrolling.

If you have any questions regarding completion of any documents, please contact the Office Manager, Kim Graper at [email protected] or (919) 541-9452.

3.6.1 Immunization Records

It is North Carolina policy that your child receives immunizations in order to attend day care. Therefore, it is extremely important that your child’s immunization records be kept up to date. It is the parent’s responsibility to bring the Center a copy of their child’s immunization records for their files and update them as immunizations occur throughout the year. Here is a link for more information about NC immunization laws for childcare centers: http://immunize.nc.gov/schools/ccf_requirements.htm

Last updated: 12//2019

Hygiene regulations

HYGIENE CARE

FOR A CHILD OF EARLY PRESCHOOL AGE

… Wash your hands when you wake up

and eyes with cold water,

Walk back and forth in moderation, stretch…

comb your hair and brush your teeth.

Salerno Health Code XIV century

What should parents know about hygiene habits?

Early age is a period of formation, and preschool age is the best time to consolidate the habit of cleanliness for life (if this has not been done before).

Further, we will talk about the patterns of formation of health, hygiene skills and dependence on the development and maturation of the physiological systems of the body that are common to all children.

Physical development

From the end of the first year of life, the weight of the child increases annually by 1 kg, and height by 5 cm. These are average data that we focus on when weighing and measuring the child.

The central nervous system becomes noticeably more resilient. The periods of inhibition are reduced, the intervals of active wakefulness of the child are increasing. He knows how to concentrate on one lesson for quite a long time – up to 10-15 minutes. The functions of the cerebral cortex are being improved, memory is developing for events that occurred several months ago. Speech is rapidly improving, an increasing vocabulary is accumulating.

Significantly stabilizes the activity of the cardiovascular system . It works with less stress. The heart rate drops to 86-90, which is already approaching the normal readings for an adult.

Improving the musculoskeletal system . There is an intensive ossification of soft bone tissue, cartilage. And although this process will continue as long as a person grows (sometimes up to 20-25 years), the skeleton of a child in the second year of life already provides a fairly good vertical stability of the whole body. The strengthening of the musculoskeletal system continues. Movements become more confident, varied. But physical fatigue still sets in quickly, the child often changes his position, after considerable effort he rests for a long time.

Age-related changes also occur in the gastrointestinal tract. The muscular layer of the stomach wall develops, intestinal tone increases, peristalsis increases, the nervous regulation of the mechanism of food origin through the intestines improves.

The urinary system functions much better than in infancy. With a relatively small age-related growth of the kidneys, the volume of the bladder by the end of the third year of life increases almost 4 times. Accordingly, the amount of urine released once increases, although the number of urination per day decreases up to 10 times. In toddlers, the receptors in the bladder and spinal cord are still underdeveloped, so the urge to urinate is weak. You should not blame the baby for wet panties (if you do not use diapers), the skill of neatness in most children is formed by the age of 3, when they respond in a timely manner to an overflow of the bladder.

Bowel emptying after a year usually occurs once a day. The nature of the stool changes, it is more dense, dark in color, with a characteristic unpleasant odor. It is important to ensure that the child does not have constipation, for this you need to strictly observe the age-specific diet. If you are prone to constipation, be sure to consult a doctor.

Old pediatricians recommended giving the child water in the morning with plain water at room temperature (up to ½ cup) and offering the child use the potty at the same time.

Use of the toilet.

When the child is already trained to use the potty, it is necessary to learn how to use the toilet. To do this, we recommend a special insert made of plastic for the toilet bowl or made of painted plywood.

The child must be taught to sit on the toilet on his own, get up on his own and use toilet paper. Cleanliness in the toilet is not only a guarantee of cleanliness in the future, but also the preservation of his health at the present time. It is important to teach your child to wash their hands after using the toilet.

Oral hygiene. Dental care.

The foundation for the formation of teeth is laid between the ages of 6 months and 12 years. If you want your child’s teeth to be beautiful and healthy, think about their nutrition. The main thing is calcium and its supplement – vitamin D, which retains calcium in the body. Calcium contained in food is completely absorbed, but taken in the form of medicines or dietary supplements, it gives a much smaller effect. So, you need to make sure that the child’s diet is sufficiently rich in calcium.

Cotton wool moistened with boiled water is quite sufficient for cleaning the first milk teeth. But as soon as the baby has four incisors above and below, buy him the first toothbrush. It should be very small and tender. You will brush his teeth and gums. Cleaning the gums is very important – it stimulates blood circulation, strengthens the gums and makes teeth stronger.

Despite the fact that the first control visit to the dentist should take place at 2 years 6 months or 3 years, already in the second year the doctor can detect caries. It would be a big mistake to assume that since milk teeth fall out, there is no point in treating them. A tooth affected by caries is a focus of infection in the child’s mouth. In addition, deep caries can reach the jawbone and interfere with the development of a permanent tooth.

It is not uncommon for a child’s teeth to protrude. This defect can be caused by bad habits.

When a baby sucks his thumb, there is nothing to worry about. An older child sucks his thumb when he wants to sleep or is bored or excited, and thus calms down. By the age of two, this habit should disappear. However, some children persistently continue to suck their thumb after this age, and then this habit can seriously impede the correct growth of teeth. When the child sucks his finger, he separates one jaw from the other, leans on the lower teeth, which he pushes back, and on the upper ones, which he pushes forward. At the same time, the sky is deformed. What to do to wean a child from this bad habit?

Prohibition by threats, reprimands, or those means that make thumb-sucking unpleasant is useless. If up to 1 year 3 months the child constantly sucks his finger, think about whether he lacks sleep, entertainment, or something bothers him in the family environment. If you can’t find the cause yourself, see your doctor.

Sometimes the child sucks his thumb, trying to sleep. To gently, gradually wean him from this, it is enough to carefully remove the finger from the mouth as soon as the child is sound asleep. Be careful not to wake him up. The subconscious of the baby will fix that he can fall asleep perfectly “without a finger”, and in the end the child will refuse him.

Already in the fourth year of life, a preschooler can independently brush his teeth and rinse his mouth after eating.

According to the condition of the teeth, one can also judge the level of physical development.

Between the ages of 3 and 6, milk teeth replace permanent teeth. They have marked a place for permanent teeth and “hold” it until they appear. Permanent teeth form correctly if there is enough space for them. If milk teeth fall out early (for example, as a result of caries), then the jaw develops poorly, it is small for permanent teeth. A permanent tooth – tends to push the neighboring one – the teeth will grow crookedly.

Around the fifth year of life, a child’s first milk tooth falls out, which is replaced by a permanent one. First, the incisors fall out, then the lateral incisors, canines and lateral teeth are replaced. Loss of milk teeth is usually painless and should not cause any alarm. A loose tooth should remain in the mouth until it falls out on its own.

Caries (a disease associated with tooth decay) occurs when the food contains a large amount of carbohydrates that come into contact with the teeth for a long time and cause a large number of bacteria in the oral cavity that produce acid, which affects the surface of the teeth.

It is well known that excessive consumption of sweets contributes to the occurrence of caries. Every candy you give your child leaves a small, harmful mark on their teeth.

The best prevention of dental diseases is the introduction of fluoride into the body. Therefore, do not resist the recommendations of dentists, if they give them.

If a child is accustomed to brushing and rinsing his teeth from an early age, then it is not difficult for you to regularly examine his mouth and throat. If you find dark and black spots (caries) on your teeth, then do not console yourself with the thought that this tooth is milk and sooner or later it will fall out. You need to go to the dentist.

Teach your child not only to brush their teeth regularly, but also to brush their teeth properly. Teeth are brushed in the morning and evening. It is very important to remember that brushing your teeth is the initial elements of acupressure.

On the mucous membrane of the mouth there are representations of almost all the most important organs – the heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, liver and kidneys. Therefore, the vigorous morning work of the toothbrush can give a good charge to the whole body as a whole.

Since there is no need to tone up the body in the evening, you need to be able to teach your child how to use a toothbrush correctly.

It is necessary to make 300-400 scraping movements from top to bottom along the axis of the tooth. In the morning, these movements should be “sweeping”. So you massage the gums more strongly and tone up the activity of the brain.

It is useful to combine brushing your teeth with finger self-massage of the gums.

To do this, a small amount of toothpaste should be applied to the index and thumb. Start self-massage from the center of the jaws, and then gradually move your fingers to the sides. The upper jaw is massaged from top to bottom (from the gums to the teeth), and the lower jaw – from the bottom up. You need to massage in a circular motion: in the morning clockwise, in the evening against for 5-7 minutes, then you need to rinse your mouth.

With regular use of gum massage, the delicate mucosa gets a kind of hardening: resistance to mechanical factors, cold, heat increases, blood circulation improves, nutrition of gums and teeth improves.

Make it a rule to do such “exercises” in the morning with your child!

And it would be nice to adopt one more rule from our foreign colleagues-parents: sweets – on Saturdays. In Norway, this rule has led to a significant reduction in dental disease in children.

General hygiene skills.

A preschooler can successfully master all the basic hygiene skills, understand their importance and get used to systematically perform them correctly and quickly. Most children by the age of 5 already know how to wash themselves.

To develop and consolidate this skill, the child needs help: to teach him to roll up his sleeves, to lather his hands well with soap, to rinse them well, to wash off the soap, to dry himself dry only with a personal towel. You need to show the child several times where his towel should constantly hang.

Do not rush the child if at first he spends a lot of time washing.

If the skill of washing hands and washing is not consolidated at this age, in the future you will have a lot of trouble.

The main thing for acquiring hygiene skills is the example of adults. If the parents do gymnastic exercises and then take a shower, then the child will do the same. If it is impossible to use a shower, it is worth accustoming children to wash up to their waists in the morning.

They should learn the habit of not only washing their faces and brushing their teeth daily in the evenings, but also washing their feet with cool water, wiping thoroughly, without leaving the skin between the fingers wet, where fungal skin diseases most often develop.

In summer, it is advisable to wash your feet before napping. Feet need a separate towel.

If the skin of the hands is weathered, it can be lubricated after washing with baby cream or rubbed with creams like “Tick-tock”, fragrant glycerin.

A preschooler is able to use a handkerchief on his own, so think about where and how the child will store these handkerchiefs, and never scold him for the lost ones.

Cleanliness of a girl.

Life requires special cleanliness from a girl: a girl’s hygiene is connected not only with her health, but also with the health of her future children. The girl’s evening dress must necessarily include daily washing.

(The same applies to boys; the younger the boy, the more he needs this procedure – after all, he is not yet very good at using the toilet).

It is not necessary to put the child in a basin for washing, as this will wash the genitals with contaminated water.

You need to wash the child with a flowing jet (when using the shower, you need to ensure that the water jet falls in a soft scattered beam). If this is not possible, you need to prepare water in a special container (mug, jug, jar, wide-mouth bottle, etc.), wash your hands with soap, put the girl over the basin, stand behind her. You need to take a vessel with water in your left hand, a piece of gauze or cotton wool in your right hand, bend over the child, wet the cotton wool or gauze (you can soap it) and wash the external genital organs from front to back. After the procedure, it is necessary to dry the skin of the perineum and thighs with a specially dedicated towel. If we wash the girl regularly, she will not be able to do without this procedure in the future.

It is not recommended to use medicines and herbs for washing without a doctor’s prescription.

Panties for girls must be changed daily (for boys it is desirable).

Any, even slight discharge, is a good breeding ground for microbes, this can lead to vulvovaginitis, paraproctitis, and when dried, cause irritation of the external genitalia and thighs.

It is undesirable to wear tights without panties.

A general hygienic bath should be done at least twice a week.

(And if there are appropriate hygienic conditions, it is better to do general water procedures in the morning and evening, then a complicated washing procedure will not be needed).

Hair care .

Hair must be washed once a week. For washing it is better to use boiled water and special baby shampoos. Experts recommend domestic shampoos such as “Children’s”, “Qua-quack”, as they contain vitamins and other useful additives, have a pleasant smell, anti-inflammatory effect and do not irritate the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes. It is advisable to dry the hair before the child goes to bed. Drying children’s hair with a hair dryer is undesirable.

It is necessary to comb short hair from the roots to the ends (this improves blood circulation in the scalp). Long hair girls need to comb in separate strands, starting from the ends (it is better to choose combs with blunt and rare teeth). Pigtails should only be braided when the hair is dry. It is not recommended to weave braids into very tight braids, to grab them tightly with hairpins or bows, as the hair falls out from strong tension. From time to time it is recommended to change the parting.

Most children are afraid of shampoos, and washing their hair is a crying and squealing session every time. Here are some precautions recommended by experienced pediatricians and cosmetologists, very simple, but sufficient to turn this difficult procedure, if not into pleasure, then at least into something quite acceptable.

Sit your child in a comfortable position and try not to let soap and water run down their face. Pay attention to the temperature of the water: it should be moderately warm (hair, like wool, does not like hot water). Avoid sudden changes in temperature – this makes the child nervous. Do not pour cold shampoo on your head, first dilute it in a glass with plenty of warm water.

Wet hair, pour half of the shampoo, lather, rinse quickly. Pour the rest of the shampoo, lather, massaging the scalp lightly. Never rub your hair like a cloth – it confuses them.

Rinse your hair thoroughly until the running water is completely clear and your hair starts to squeak. Rinsing is of paramount importance: it gives shine to the hair, if the hair is not rinsed well, it will remain dull and sticky.

On the market of modern toys there are very simple devices (in the form of ducks, cockerels) that are put on the head of a child and do not allow water to get into the eyes.

Attention! It should be noted that modern children who have undergone various perinatal complications, in spite of everything, have an extremely negative attitude towards bathing. In these cases, you need to consult a neurologist.

A regular shower will help you accustom your child to the feeling of water on his face, eliminate the need to spend time on a special hair wash, and most importantly – it is very good for his health and will give him great pleasure over time.

Care instructions for seriously ill patients

Goals of caring for a seriously ill patient:

• creation of physical, social, psychological comfort;
• reduction in the severity of clinical manifestations of the disease;
• improved quality of life;
• prevention of possible complications;
• establishment of psychological contact, identification of disturbed needs.

1. If possible, place the patient in a separate room, if this is not possible, allocate a window seat for him.
2. The bed should not be soft. Try not to use oilcloth, as it can cause maceration (irritation) of the skin and be a factor in the development of bedsores.
3. It is advisable to use several light wool blankets rather than one heavy wadded one.
4. Place a nightstand (stool, chair) next to the bed for medicines, drinks, books, etc. If the patient needs to take medicine strictly on time, and you cannot provide this, prepare the required number of small glasses and indicate the hours of admission on them.
5. At the head of the bed, place a wall lamp, a table lamp, a floor lamp.
6. In order for the patient to call you at any moment, purchase a bell or a soft rubber toy with a sound (or place an empty glass cup with a teaspoon inside next to the patient).
7. If the patient has difficulty drinking from a cup, purchase a cup or use a straw for cocktails.
8. If the patient does not retain urine and feces, adult diapers or adult diapers can be purchased. Do not use diapers unnecessarily, as they do not allow the skin to breathe and can cause irritation and bedsores.
9. Use only thin cotton underwear for the patient: fasteners and ties must be in front. Prepare several of these shirts for change.
10. Ventilate the patient’s room 5-6 times a day in all weathers per 15-20 minutes with warm covers if it is cold outside. Wipe dust and do wet cleaning, if possible, as often as possible.
11. If the patient likes to watch TV, listen to the receiver, read, provide it to him.
12. Always ask what the patient wants and do what he asks. He knows better than you what is convenient for him and what he needs. Do not impose your will, always respect the wishes of the patient.
13. If the patient gets worse, do not leave him alone, especially at night. Turn on a night light so that the room is not dark.
14. Ask the patient whom he would like to SEE, and invite exactly these people to him, but do not tire him with frequent visits from friends and acquaintances.
15. The skin of a seriously ill person requires close care, since it needs cleanliness more than that of a healthy person. Regularly examine the skin in the sacrum, heels, ankles, elbows, neck, ears, greater trochanter of the femur, the inner surface of the knee joints. A patient who is on prolonged bed rest should be wiped with a damp, warm towel, followed by blotting dry. It is better to moisten the towel with body lotion diluted with water. In areas of the skin subject to prolonged compression, more than 2 hours , bedsores may form due to circulatory disorders and reduced immunity. For the prevention of bedsores, it is necessary to change the position of the patient in bed up to 10 times per day, turn it. The sheet should be stretched, without folds. The seams of underwear should not fall on the areas that are most closely in contact with the bed. Wet, dirty linen should be changed immediately. Constantly maintain a comfortable skin condition: lubricate dry skin with moisturizing creams, wet skin with powders without talc. When redness appears, it is necessary to massage the skin around the area of ​​hyperemia, stepping back five centimeters (DO NOT MASSAGE THE AREA OF HYPEREMIA!). If the bedsore becomes wet, a doctor’s consultation is necessary.
16. Hair should be combed daily, and once a week it is obligatory to check for pediculosis and wash your hair. Trim fingernails and toenails as they grow. Men need to shave carefully, avoiding cuts.
17. Rinse eyes daily with infusions of chamomile, sage or tea leaves, using a pipette and a cotton ball, in the direction from the outer corner of the eye to the inner.
18. The oral cavity (tongue, gums, teeth) should be treated daily with a solution of furacilin, chamomile, sage. Rinse your mouth after every meal. If possible, you can use a soft toothbrush.
19. Control stool and urination. For constipation, use laxatives, various cleansing enemas (as prescribed by a doctor)
20. Nutrition should be easily digestible, complete. It is desirable to feed the patient in small portions of 5-6 times per day. Prepare food so that it is convenient for chewing and swallowing: meat in the form of cutlets or soufflés, vegetables in the form of salads or mashed potatoes. It is advisable to include soups, broths, cereals, cottage cheese, eggs in the diet. The daily consumption of vegetables and fruits, as well as rye bread and sour-milk products is important. Do not give all food only pureed, otherwise the intestines will work worse. During feeding, it is desirable that the patient is in a half-sitting position (so as not to choke). Don’t put it down right after eating. Do not forget to give the patient juices, mineral water.
21. Patients may develop pneumonia due to prolonged sitting in one position and impaired normal breathing and ventilation. It is necessary to plant the patient, turn him from side to side, massage the chest (which includes turning the patient on his stomach and lightly tapping from bottom to top over the entire surface of the back), and perform breathing exercises.
22. Creating an optimistic atmosphere for maximum comfort. It is necessary to hide the severe symptoms of the disease, and sometimes the diagnosis, when talking. We have to use lies for good. Leisure such patients need to take an acceptable occupation. Such people are especially sensitive to loneliness. Remember, the warmth of your hands and words is much more important than the TV.
23. For encouragement, motivation for action, try to teach elementary self-care techniques. Never lose hope for improvement and recovery. It is necessary to set a goal for the patient: each victory in self-care techniques is a movement towards independence from others.
24. Charging. Daily for organs that have retained movement. Rehab no matter what! Massage, physical therapy, breathing exercises, etc. Be interested in new technologies, medicine does not stand still, new devices and methods are emerging to restore body functions.

    The goal for relatives of such patients should be to improve the quality of life of the patient, as well as to prolong the life of a loved one. When faced with caring for the critically ill, don’t be left alone with the problem.