Given the role that illness plays in absenteeism, especially among young children, preschool staff members have an important role in connecting families to health services, ensuring plans are in place for managing chronic conditions and helping families understand when a student should stay home sick.
If your program has access to a school nurse, make sure preschool students visit regularly.
If there’s no nurse, arrange for medical and dental providers to come to the program for occasional check ups.
Meet with families of children with chronic health conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.
Make sure they have plans in place to deal with the problem. If not, suggest health clinics or providers who can help. Remember that tooth decay and dental pain contribute to absenteeism, too. These resources can help:
Help families understand when their child is too sick for preschool and when they can safely send them in.
Share guidelines or this handout with families and help them navigate anxiety issues and other concerns. Also, engage pediatricians and nurses who deal with children regularly.
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