Cultus
Sending your children off to school for the first time can stir up many emotions. While there are certainly new challenges ahead, you can take several preventative measures to ensure it is a smooth transition for both of you. Making sure they are up-to-date with their shots, looking out for warning signs of lice (and applying the appropriate hair lice treatment), and identifying any warning signs of bullying are just a few things you should be aware of when sending your little ones off to the classroom.
Make sure they are up-to-date with their vacines
If your youngster is entering school for the first time, the process usually includes making sure that your kid isn’t at risk (nor are they a risk to other children) for a certain number of diseases. Getting them current on all their shots is a part of this process these days, and if they are spending time around other children, they should be vaccinated as soon as possible. Diseases like meningitis can be not only debilitating, but also lethal, but luckily modern science has provided a vaccination. There is no reason that your children should run the risk of contracting such a harmful disease.
The chicken pox
The chicken pox seems to be a right of passage for children. Most kids seem to get it around the same time and, truthfully, it’s better to get it when you are young than when you are older. In adults, chicken pox can lead to, among other things, sterility, so while your child may be inconvenienced for a week or so, it may be best to allow them to be infected with it as soon as possible. But be sure to look for the warning signs. Chicken pox can lead to more serious complications if left untreated, so be sure to get your child to a doctor right away when your kid first starts showing symptoms.
Lice
There is no place that has more occurrences of head lice than in schools, so this is definitely something to keep an eye on. While it isn’t life threatening like meningitis, it can be a terrible annoyance to your child and can cause some peer backlash. Head lice still carries a stigma, so if you’re child does contract it, you’ll want to get rid of it quick. Talking to your doctor about getting a hair lice treatment once your kid gets infected it the best way to cure it, but teaching your child how to prevent it can help even more. Teaching your kids not to share things such as brushes, combs, hair ties, and hats can greatly improve the likelihood that your child will not be the breeding ground for those tiny little pests.
Look for signs of bullying and abuse
Bullying is still a pretty big part of school and unfortunately, still seems to be a rite of passage for some children.   As a parent, it may be difficult, but identifying the warning signs of chronic bullying and even worse, abuse, sexual or otherwise, is a duty of an aware parent. The most obvious thing to look for is any noticeable bruises, but you should also look for drastic changes in mood. A child that is normally happy-go-lucky that starts acting moody can be a victim of such abuse and should be looked into further.
Being a parent comes with many responsibilities and getting them ready for school is just the tip of the iceberg. Staying involved in the health and well-being of your child is especially important during this exciting and transitional time.
About the Author:
Jess Holmes is an avid blogger who enjoys writing about early education and childhood development.
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Children education
Early childhood development
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