Sick Child Policy: Young children become ill often. It's not uncommon to have several illnesses a year. Illness of children in childcare is a difficult problem for staff and parents. When your child becomes ill, they need one-to-one care. Kessel Kids does not have adequate staff for this care, therefore, it is necessary for you to arrange back-up childcare for those times that your child is ill. Colds and flu are most contagious before symptoms appear; it is necessary to isolate your child(ren) for those reasons. Your child must be symptom-free for 24 hours before coming/returning to the center for any of the following:
  • Has not had a fever of 100 during the 24 hours before returning
  • Has not vomited in 24 hours
  • Has not had any open skin sores that are draining (may return when drainage has stopped and medicine has been given for 24 hours)
  • Pink Eye (may return when medicine has been given for 24 hours)
  • Has not had 2 episodes of diarrhea in 24 hours
  • Strep Throat: May not attend unless treated for 24 hours
  • Head Lice: May not attend until they have been treated and are nit free.
  • Has no communicable diseases

If your child becomes ill while attending daycare, you will be called to come and get your child. Since your child needs to be symptom-free for 24 hours, assume that your child will not be attending the following day.

Parents will be notified if their child has been exposed to contagious diseases.

State licensing requirements state that each child admitted to a center must have a physical examination before they attend. It may have been attained within the last twelve months prior to enrollment. Annual medical updates are required thereafter. If your child is school-age, a copy of the physical examination is accepted, or a health statement provided by the parent is acceptable.

State law also requires that immunizations be recorded and put on file for each child, with updates when necessary. It is also now Iowa law that each child have the chicken pox shot, or have had the chicken pox, or have a statement from the physician as to why the child is not to have the shot at this time. The immunizations are checked annually by the Howard County Public Health Department.

Medications: Any prescription or non-prescription medication that your child needs to take while at the center needs to be brought in its original container and labeled with your child's name. Written directions provided by the parent must be given to the Director/Teacher, explaining the times to give dosages or apply. This must be done for over-the-couunter medicines as well. Also, include a measuring cup, dropper, etc. for dispensing if needed, and enclose in a sandwich bag. Children on medication for an extended period of time require new medication release forms to be filled out monthly. No medications will be given without written consent from a parent or guardian.