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If you’re a daycare provider, daycare owner, or child care center owner, you will have to manage the individual needs of children with respect to daycare nutrition. Many times the children in your care will have food allergies that must be considered and addressed.

What exactly is a food allergy? According to the Food Allergy and Anaphlyaxis Network, a food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks a food protein. Ingestion of certain foods in certain children may trigger the sudden release of chemicals, including histamine, resulting in symptoms of an allergic reaction. The symptoms may be mild symptoms like rashes, hives, itching, and swelling. Symptoms might be severe like trouble breathing, wheezing, loss of consciousness, etc.).

Recent statistics show 4 out of 100 children have a food allergy. The most common food allergies in young children are caused by cow’s milk, eggs, soybeans, peanuts, wheat and tree nuts.

So how do you manage and attend to the nutritional needs of a group of children? Here are a few handy tips to help you help manage allergies in the group daycare setting:

• Request that parents provide you with comprehensive information about their child’s allergy. They should list foods to avoid, any cross-sensitivities, and usual treatment.

• Educate parents and children about food allergies. Request that someone from an Allergy Association come in and speak with families to discuss the seriousness of food allergies.

• Ban foods from a classroom if you have found that a child in your care is severely allergic. This may seem extreme but this is necessary because even very small quantities of the allergen in the atmosphere can affect the child. Let all parents know about your food rules and reassure the parents of the allergic child that the child care is allergen sensitive (meaning you do your best to keep allergens out of the school.

• If you find that a child in your care has food allergies, be sure to let other parents know. This will help ensure that the food rules for the classroom are being followed.

• Do not allow children to share or trade snacks or lunches.

• If a child in your child has food allergies, do not allow them to try foods they are not familiar with.

• When serving foods, select those  that are plain and easily identified such as fruits and vegetables

• Avoid planning class celebrations around food. If parents do donate foods for special occasions, be sure they are prepackaged and that it lists the ingredients.

Remember to steer clear of using allergens in arts and crafts activities. For example don’t use nuts or eggs in crafts.

Most importantly, know where the child’s EpiPen or Anakit is located at all times. Be sure all staff knows how to administer it.   In addition, it is extremely imperative that you work collaboratively with parents to ensure that child’s their health and safety needs are met. Communication is the key!

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As we enter cold and flu season many daycare providers take precautions or have strategies to help boost their immunity now also throughout the year. Some take vitamins, sanitize toys more thoroughly, and get more sleep. We asked our OwnADaycare Facebook fans who are daycare owners what they do to help boost their immunity. Answers varied:

• I take vitamins and I drink lots of WATER too!! Actually I must have built up some kind of natural immunity, because I haven’t been really sick in years!! I do think that happens to many of us day care lifers! Sanitizing lots helps too, and don’t forget all those door handles, chairs, and other surfaces kids handle all the time!! Kleenex is everywhere in our home too!! Hand sanitizers are great, but nothing like good old warm/hot water and a good soap to rid the hands of everyday germs!!!

•           Vitamins, flu shots, and I use Green/Chemical Free cleaning supplies and disinfectants! Then we cross our fingers and hope for the best! LOL

•           I think that working with kids you do sort of build up a natural immunity to a lot of their germs and such, like I said I never get sick. I hang around all of the little runny nosed, dirty handed, sneezing, coughing little kids – they are the best immunity builder!!!

•           I only get sick once a year not very long. The cough I get once a year in the winter time last sometimes 3 weeks I drink orange juice and cranberry eat healthy lots of water and never skip a hand washing. Don’t forget the doors walls were the children have touched daily I use Lysol and I  throw any toys that has been in anyone mouth in the sink don’t think that the only one second is okay. Children and babies are the ones that make us sick wash their hands hourly with soap and water on arrival after playing outside before and after eating every. Hourly when their sick you just don’t know where their hands have been.

•           My greatest immunity booster is sleep, good long, regular sleep!

•           IF I do get sick, which is almost never, it’s always on the weekend!!! These 20 plus years of keeping kids has made my immune system strong as steel

•           At least an hour outside daily. However the more the better, warmer weather at least 3-4 hours. When I’m feeling something coming I eat red peppers until the cows come home. Bell pepper has much more Vitamin C than Oranges/Apples. I also will make my Pho Satay Soup! Which is full of fresh chili peppers which is the highest form of vitamin C + it sweats the cold right out of me.

•           If you have been in daycare long enough you hardly ever get sick. I did get strep throat this year and I had it badly.

•           Diet and exercise is important. Lots of Ester C, vitamins, garlic. Lots of hand washing. Making sure that anything that goes in a child’s mouth gets put in a separate box when the child is done playing with it, and then sanitized before any other child can play with them.

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If your child care center cares for infants and toddlers, your number one priority must be to keep them safe by maintaining a secure and healthy environment. Infants and toddlers may be at risk of injury and choking hazards if some toys are built incorrectly and prove to be faulty. Take note of the following recent toy recalls:

August 16, 2011: Riding Toy Recalled by Radio Flyer Due to Fall Hazard: Scoot ‘n Zoom children’s riding toy, distributed by Distributor: Radio Flyer, of Chicago, Ilinois recalled about 165,000. “The riding toy can tip over allowing a child to fall forward while riding, posing a fall hazard to young children” The firm received reports of ten incidents with six injuries, including three where teeth were loosened or removed, and three with chin lacerations requiring stitches. Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 621-7613.

August 2, 2011: Toy Keys with Remote Recalled by Battat Due to Choking Hazard. Toy keys with remote, imported by Battat Inc., of Plattsburgh, N.Y. About 1,080,000 were recalled in the United States and 3,600 in Canada. “The metal toy keys and the plastic key ring can break, posing a choking hazard. CPSC and Battat have received 17 reports of keys breaking, and 14 reports of key rings breaking. No injuries have been reported”. Firm’s Recall Hotline: (866) 665-5524.

July 29, 2011: Bravo Sports Recalls Disney-Branded Pogo Sticks Due to Fall and Laceration Hazards, Distributed by Bravo Sports of Santa Fe Springs, Calif. About 159,000 recalled. “The bottom rubber tip attached to the pogo stick frame can wear out prematurely, posing a fall hazard to consumers. Also, the end caps on the handlebars can come off, exposing sharp edges. This poses a laceration hazard to consumers”. Firm’s Recall Hotline: (855) 469-3429.

July 28, 2011: Fisher-Price Recalls to Repair Little People Builders’ Load ‘n Go Wagons due to Laceration Hazard, Imported by Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y. About 208,000 units recalled in the United States and 2,800 in Canada “The back of the wagon’s plastic handle has molded-in reinforcement. This design adds stiffness and facilitates children gripping the handle. The handle poses a laceration hazard if a child falls on it”. CPSC and Fisher-Price are aware of seven reports of injuries, including five reports of children requiring surgical glue or stitches. Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 432-5437.

July 7, 2011: Mini Stars Building Sets Recalled by Edushape Due to Choking Hazard, distributed by Distributor: Edushape Ltd., of Deer Park, N.Y. About 18,000 units recalled (additional star building sets were recalled in September 2010). “Plastic knobs can break from the center of the stars, posing a choking hazard to young children”. Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 404-4744.

Parents and child care providers MUST check with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall list which can be found at cpsc.gov. You can even sign up to be on an email list which will inform you of current recalls. They continually updated the recall list, so be sure to check frequently for recalls on toys, cribs, and daycare equipment. Depending on the severity of the recall, the manufacturer might mail kits with parts to repair faulty products.  Sometimes consumers are told to take the product back to where they were purchased for refunds, store credits or replacement items.

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One job in daycare is making sure toys are clean in order to control the spread of illness in daycare or preschool environments. To prevent the spread of infection toys should be cleaned at the end of every day with hot water or disinfectant. Toys and items that have been in a child’s mouth should be removed and placed in a container or a sealed Ziploc bag, so it can be washed and disinfected later and another child cannot place it in his mouth.

We asked our Facebook fans their quick and easy tips for cleaning daycare toys. Advice varied:

• I like to use my whirlpool tub! All those that don’t have stickers, paper, or batteries go in there!! It works great!! For some spot cleaning, I use the Clorox wipes too.
• I’ve always heard to toss them into a mesh laundry bag and put them on the top rack of the dishwasher, but I have yet to try that. Any of you tried that trick before? I struggle with the best way to sanitize stuffed animals…. Some of those may MELT if you put them in the dishwasher… I tried it once, and lost about 4 of them!! Just gets too hot in there!! And no stuffed animals here!! Too hard to clean, and they gets lots of spit, boogers, and even PUKE on them!!
• I saw that you can put them in the dishwasher. i tried it with the rescue hero guys. You know those old chunky ones that the boys love? They came out just fine! as for stuffed animals, we don’t have many due to allergies, but ever…See More
• Vinegar and water is supposed to be a way to kill germs naturally
• I fill bathtub w/toys to clean and then disinfect w/bleach; then use shower sprayer to hose off. Air dry them on plastic tablecloth on floor. Not very quick but does the trick. Some go in the dishwasher in between major toy cleanings.
• If you have an older washing machine, turn it on so it fills with water then open lid throw toys in let them soak then fish them out (strainer works good) then let washer finish cycle. Toys are clean and washer is clean too. I don’t keep stuffed toys with daycare toys but my kids stuffed toys I just throw in washing machine, sometimes in a pillow case depending on how it’s made.
• I use a dishpan of soapy water, just like the dishes. I don’t have a dishwasher on the child care side of my house. Just got one a couple years ago in my home part  When I go through them all, it’s easier for me to do them by hand. I have who does the big bucket of big legos in the tub!
• I use a spray called “anywhere” u can spray toys highchair anything and u don’t have to wipe it off
• A couple of options: I have used the mesh bag and the dishwasher, you just have to make sure you turn off the heat dry option, and then they shouldn’t melt. Otherwise you can dump them in the sink of water with a little bit of cleanser of your choice, swish them around and then dry them out. Though I do like the spray options, sometimes things just need to be washed to get grime off.
• I put out two big buckets of warm soapy water and some sponges on the deck and let the kids wash them! In all seriousness, I put duplos, plastic figures, plastic blocks, baby toys, play dishes, play food, doll clothes and stuffies all into the washing machine and air dry them over night on an old duvet cover on the floor. Spot cleans and toys with batteries and electronic innards get the vinegar and water route.
• Friday is “clean toys ” day here – so I give the kids Lysol wipes , paper towels, spray bottles (Water only) and baby wipes and we all join in together !! Under strict supervision !!
• I don’t know if Lysol wipes are a good idea for kiddies. Their skin is like a sponge and will absorb all of those nasty chemicals. I give mine vinegar and water cloths when they want to play clean up.
  Lysol in the sink and air dry; the ones with batteries I wash by hand and not in to the water. Steam sanitize the large items & wipe down. Bleach, tea tree oil in wash machine and dryer or hang dry weekly as well as bedding.
• We use hot water and vinegar in the bath tub. We clean the toys every Thursday and the kids love to help dump everything in the tub! We put them in the tub in the morning before snack and by the time we’ve gone outside and had lunch they’ve dried off and we sort them(again they love this part) before I put them down for nap.
• Toys get so ruined with constant harsh cleaning – like using the dishwasher. I prefer to hand wash with sanitizing sprays and wipe with a clean cloth – then air dry. Toys like kitchen toys – dolls etc. we get the kids involved – it wash time and it’s fun!
• Every Friday is cleaning day here . Almost EVERYTHING goes in the wash machine and I mean EVERYTHING:  (Dolls, Doll Clothes, Legos, Infant Toys, Kitchen Stuff and the list goes on).  We also use a Toxic Free Sanitizer on the big stuff and hand wipe that stuff!

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Recently, I have noticed an increase in the number of children entering home care, daycare, and school, whose parents are choosing not to immunize them. Many childcare providers are frightened by this because they don’t really understand how it affects others in their care. Hopefully this will help clear up some of your questions. Children who are not immunized DO NOT pose a threat to those who are. Immunizations are designed to protect children from the diseases they are immunized against.

Childcare providers, on the other hand, are at risk. Childcare providers who care for children, who are not immunized, should receive booster shots for their immunizations. The CDC recommends that adults get their Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis booster every 10 years. You should also have an MMR booster shot around age 19 and again at age 50. If you have children in your care who are not immunized, you may want to talk to your physician about getting booster shots.In order for a child to attend daycare, preschool or public school, they must be immunized or have a Statement of Exemption. Each State has a different form. Daycare forms can be found on the internet. I also require my parents to have their forms notarized. These forms should be kept on file for the duration of the time the child is in your care.

The forms states that the parent understands that “ In the event of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease”, the school may exclude the child from attendance until the incubation period has expired or the parents show proof of immunization. Finally, it is important for you to remember, that not only is it unprofessional, but it is also illegal to discuss a child’s medical history with other parents. Plain and simple, it is none of their business. Children who are not immunized are just like every other child in your care and should be treated as such.

Paula Schott has been an educator for 26 years.  Paula graduated in 1985 with a B.A. In Elementary Education and Special Education.  Paula taught Special Education for 9 years in public school before opening her childcare center.  She started with 6 students in her home. Paula owned and operated her Preschool / Daycare for 16 years now.  Paula takes students 2-12 year olds and average about 20 Preschool and 20 after school children per day.  Paula has a staff of 9 and is currently certified in Dance, Food Safety, Health, CPR, and Medication  Administrations.

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The proper procedure for washing hands is as follows: Turn on warm  water, wet hands, apply Liguid hand soap, rub hands together for at least 10 seconds ( the length of the ABC song), being careful to wash under nails and between fingers, rinse, dry with a disposable paper towel, turn off faucet with paper towel and dispose in trash can. When washing hands, never use bar soap. The use of antibacterial soap is also not necessary. Regular liquid soap and water are just as effective.

Never allow children to dry their hands on a cloth towel unless you are providing individual cloth towels for each child. Cloth is a breeding ground for germs. Hand sanitizer should only be used in conjunction with hand washing as it is only 30% effective if used alone. Hand sanitizer is alcohol based and is toxic to children, so never store where a child can reach. I buy liquid soap by the gallon and have pump dispensers, attached to the wall, at each sink. I buy my paper towels by the case and have individual dispensers at each sink.

Happy  Handwashing!!

Paula Schott has been an educator for 26 years.  Paula graduated in 1985 with a B.A. In Elementary Education and Special Education.  Paula taught Special Education for 9 years in public school before opening her childcare center.  She started with 6 students in her home. Paula owned and operated her Preschool / Daycare for 16 years now.  Paula takes students 2-12 year olds and average about 20 Preschool and 20 after school children per day.  Paula has a staff of 9 and is currently certified in Dance, Food Safety, Health, CPR, and Medication  Administrations.

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It’s that time of year – more and more children are coming down with colds. Or is it? Could it be an allergy? Daycare providers should be aware of the difference between colds and allergies in order to protect the children in their family daycare, as well as how to prevent allergic reactions.

Definitions of colds and allergies

Colds are viral upper respiratory infections. Over 90% of the time they are a viral infection.  An allergy is the body’s response to an inhaled or ingested substance that the body’s immune system reacts to by producing histamine and other immune modulators that cause symptoms that can resemble a cold – sneezing, itching eyes, coughing, says Carolyn Dean, MD, ND – Medical Director of the non-profit Nutritional Magnesium Association.

Difference Between Colds and Allergies
“Colds do tend to occur more in the winter months. It may not be due to the cold weather but because people crowd together and share germs. Daycare can have colds all year because of their close environment. Allergies to food can be all year. Hay fever allergies will be spring with new plant growth and fall with ragweed”, says Dr. Dean

Allergies occur seasonally when the patient has allergies to seasonal triggers, such as rag weed in the fall and trees in the spring, lasting weeks to months.  “Colds, on the other hand, are more frequently in the winter, but can occur anytime, but last 5 to 7 days, usually. However, some colds can last 1 to 2 weeks, and can occur in close sequence, appearing to be continuous. An important difference is that colds can have fever and allergies never do”, says Dr. Charles Shubin, Director of Pediatrics at Mercy FamilyCare.

How to Prevent and Treat Allergies
Avoidance of exposure to allergic triggers is the best allergy prevention. This would be specific for each child, depending what they react to. Child care providers can prevent hay fever with good air cleaning systems. Child care providers can also take off shoes to avoid tracking in pollen and reduce sugar and dairy intake which causes thickening of mucus. If mucus is thin and flowing properly it will trap pollens and then be sneezed out. If mucus is thick, the pollen attaches and begins its allergic cycle, says Dr. Dean.

It’s not a childcare provider’s job to treat kids’ allergies; it’s up to the parents. But they can try to prevent allergic reactions and provide lots of water to liquefy mucus, says Dr. Dean. Parents can give extra vitamin C, stinging nettle herb, and cut back on sugar and dairy. Removal of the child from exposure to what they’re reacting to is best as allergy medicines are of very limited value.

Read more: How to Prevent and Treat colds

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Preventing and Treating Lice In Daycare and Preschool

Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a clinical report saying parents can send their children to school with lice. This report is of importance to anyone working with children and especially daycare business owners. In our two-part interview, The Lice Lady of Westchester, Anna Albano-Krosche, details important information for daycare centers about lice and lice prevention and comments on the recent AAP report.

OwnADaycare: The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a clinical report saying parents can send their children to school with lice.  Is this advisable?

Anna Albano-Krosche I don’t think this is advisable.  I’m an advocate for the “no nit” policy.  Head lice do not go away in one day.  It takes several comb outs to ensure a child is lice and nit free.  In my experience, most parents have treated with an over-the-counter treatment before they come to me for my services.  When I do a comb out, not only do I find nits, I also find live bugs.  The over-the-counter lice treatments only work about 50% since the lice have become resistant to the pesticide treatments.

OwnADaycare: Many of our readers are in-home family daycare providers.  What advice do you have for those that are developing a lice policy for their contracts?

Anna Albano-Krosche: It should be clearly written in the contract what policy they will adapt.  It should be a brief line under the illness section stating that the child needs to be treated and all nits/eggs removed before they can come back to the daycare.  I recommend the no nit policy to prevent any further lice infestations among the children in the daycare.  The child can return to the daycare the next day after treatment as long as there are no visible nits.  All the other children in the daycare should be checked by their parents or the daycare providers every 3 days to make sure the infestation hasn’t spread to any of the other children.  You should provide parents with your written policy and educational literature on prevention, detection and treatment of head lice.  Parents should understand the importance of screening often, detecting head lice and nits as early as possible and removing them safely and effectively. They should also understand the risks of using pesticidal lice products and be informed of non-chemical treatment alternatives.

OwnADaycare: September is National Head Lice prevention month.  What can child care providers do to raise awareness?

Anna Albano-Krosche September is designated as National Head Lice Prevention Month. Back-to-school signals a new beginning. Once again, parents need to understand the communicability of head lice before outbreaks occur.  Child care providers can raise awareness by educating parents to deal with head lice and nits using safe methods and educational resources. Parents need to know what to look for, how to make an accurate determination of lice and nits and understand the benefits of checking their children regularly.

The Lice Lady of Westchester, Anna Albano-Krosche, is a Mom just like you.  In 1997 and 1998, she experienced the frustration of lice with her daughters who “lovingly” shared it with her.  She did what she was told to do; use a pediculicide and nitpick. In two weeks, a re-infestation occurred. At that time, there was very little information available since it was before the internet.  After properly educating herself on how to eradicate every last nit without the use of pesticides, she was able to help others in her community.  In the fall of 1998, it became clear that there was a great need for someone to help. She opened a full service lice and nit removal salon offering the people of Westchester a more affordable way for treatment.

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Head Lice in Daycare photo by Eran Finkle

Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a clinical report saying parents can send their children to school with lice. This report is of importance to anyone working with children and especially daycare business owners. In our two-part interview, The Lice Lady of Westchester, Anna Albano-Krosche, details important information for daycare centers about lice and lice prevention and comments on the recent AAP report.

OwnADaycare: Please explain what lice are and how it is spread?

Anna Albano-Krosche: Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are tiny human parasites that attach themselves to hair and feed on blood from the scalp.  While head lice cannot fly or jump, they can spread from person to person through close contact or possibly through sharing hats, brushes or other items that have been infested.  Lice lay eggs (or nits), which hatch in around 7 days, making infestation an ongoing problem.  Having head lice is very common, as many as 6-12 million people worldwide get head lice each year.

OwnADaycare: How often should children be checked for lice?  How is lice treated?

Anna Albano-Krosche: Children should be checked for lice at school/daycare at least 4 times a year on a routine basis.  In September and after every school vacation is the best time for head checks. Checking for head lice is always best done as a routine rather than as crisis intervention when reports of infestations are made. Reports may encourage everyone to be more diligent which is a good thing, but the key to making head lice less of an issue is to detect them early and remove the lice and nits when few are present.

If head lice are found then it needs immediate attention. The reproduction of head lice is an ongoing cycle. Every day that is allowed to go by is another day for the female to lay her eggs.  Removing head lice is a difficult process and very time consuming.

Head lice have commonly been treated with over-the-counter shampoos that contain pesticides. Head lice have become resistant to the over-the-counter shampoos resulting in “super lice. “   Natural treatment of head lice is the safest way.  My treatment process consists of an all natural enzyme shampoo that breaks down the exoskeleton of the lice, causing them to perish. Because the biology of insects depends on the creation of enzymes for survival, it is impossible for lice to develop a resistance to enzymes when used as a pest control device. Next, a complete natural wet combing is performed using an expert combing technique and the highest quality metal lice comb for removing nits (eggs).  We will rinse and blow dry the hair and perform a dry check under the magnification lamp to ensure that every louse and nit has been removed.  Our services are 100% guaranteed.

OwnADaycare: How can daycare providers and preschool teachers diagnose lice and prevent the spread of lice?

Anna Albano-Krosche: Daycare providers and preschool teachers should be taught the signs of a lice infestation. Itching is usually the first noticeable sign of a head lice infestation. Check the scalp area above the ears and at the nape of the neck and look for nits.  Nits are tiny white to light gray eggs with a pearly shine and are a tear drop shape.  Nits always attach to one side of the hair shaft and do not come off easily.  This is the difference between nits and dandruff.  A nit will feel hard like a shell and will not move.  It is glued on tight to the hair shaft.  Also check for small, red bumps at the nape of the neck.

To prevent the spread of lice, it is important to treat the home environment or daycare.  A louse can live for 48 hours off the head.  It will die of starvation without a blood meal.  All rugs should be vacuumed, toys cleaned, stuffed animals should be bagged for 48 hours, rest mats wiped down and should be stored in individual bags not piled on top of each other.  Coats should be stored in individual cubbies or placed in the child’s backpack.  Girls’ hair should be worn up in a ponytail or braid and sprayed with a lice prevention spray.  Children ages 3-12 are more susceptible to head lice because of their close contact during play and interaction. Teach children not to share personal items.  Parents should check their child’s hair for signs of head lice once a week.  Once a week, take a peak!

The Lice Lady of Westchester, Anna Albano-Krosche, is a Mom just like you.  In 1997 and 1998, she experienced the frustration of lice with her daughters who “lovingly” shared it with her.  She did what she was told to do; use a pediculicide and nitpick. In two weeks, a re-infestation occurred. At that time, there was very little information available since it was before the internet.  After properly educating herself on how to eradicate every last nit without the use of pesticides, she was able to help others in her community.  In the fall of 1998, it became clear that there was a great need for someone to help. She opened a full service lice and nit removal salon offering the people of Westchester a more affordable way for treatment.

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Each daycare business has its own individual policies and procedures. However, all daycare providers must issue standard childcare authorization forms in order to protect the children in their care as well as their daycare employees.  Daycare authorization forms keep the children in your care safe and limit your liability as a daycare provider. There are a few simple authorization forms that all daycares must implement:

Childcare Pick-up Authorization: Each parent or guardian must complete and sign a childcare authorization form for each child in your care. This form lists the names of all persons authorized to pick up the child. It details the name of the adult(s), their date of birth, their relationship to the child, and their contact information (address and home, work, and cell phone number). The form should also include a statement that says “Under no circumstances will my child be released to anyone other than the individuals named above, without prior written authorization”.

Field Trip or Activity Permission Slips: The field trip or activity authorization form, gives the children in your care permission to leave the facility or participate in a special activity that is outside of the normal daily routine. The field trip consent form should contain the location of the activity, the date and time of the activity, the mode of transportation involved (walking, car, bus etc.).  The field trip consent form should be signed by the daycare provider and the parent or guardian. It should also include a statement similar to: “I understand that the center will take every precaution and care to insure my child’s safety. Adults who will provide proper supervision and will exercise every precaution to avoid accidents, in accordance with the state licensing regulations will accompany visiting groups”.

Emergency Medical Authorization: The emergency medical authorization form gives you permission for a child to be treated by a licensed physician in the event of a medical emergency. Along with specifics of the care the parent’s will authorize,  the form should include the child’s physician, the physician’s contact information, the preferred hospital, the hospital address and phone number, the medical insurance information, the date of the child’s last tetanus (or DPT), and any allergies.

Permission to Administer Medication: Before administering prescription medication to the children in your care, you must have parents complete and sign a permission to administer medication form. This form  should detail the name of the caregiver authorized to give medication, the prescribing physician,  the name of the medication, the dosage, the dosage times, the date to discontinue administration of the medication, the route (oral, through the nose, etc.), storage conditions, and any special instructions. It should also include a space to note the disposition of the leftover medication (returned to parent or discarded), and the date discarded or returned.

Permission to Photo: Photography of the children in your childcare center requires parental permission. The permission to photo authorization form should include the different types of use and the option for the parent to approve or deny each type. The types of photography use include still photography to be given to current clients, photographs in bulletin boards or scrapbooks to be shown to prospective clients, photographs to be used on your daycare business’ website, or still photos in promotional materials. The permission to photo authorization should also include the statement: “I understand that it is my responsibility to update this form in the event that I no longer wish to authorize one or more of the above uses. I agree that this form will remain in effect during the term of my child’s enrollment”.

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