BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

June 8, 2022

Winter is here, and although we expect the usual morning sniffles and brain freeze, there’s a serious amount of sickness circulating right now.  

COVID-19 is still a problem, and health experts are seeing ‘soaring rates’ of cold and flu. 

Viruses that cause the common cold are spreading themselves around, and influenza is a concern for the general population and childcare community.  

The experts say our immunity levels are low due to a lack of recent influenza exposure and reduced interest in getting the flu vax these last two years. 

There are reports that influenza is making some grown-ups, “Very sick for longer than normal,” and Director of the RCH National Child Health Poll, Dr Anthea Rhodes, says, “Children are more likely to catch the flu than adults and can become seriously unwell.”  

She explains that under-fives are the group, “Most likely to be hospitalised for complications affecting the brain or lungs,” and is urging parents to give kids the flu jab as a matter of urgency. It’s free for under-fives,   

So, what does this all mean when deciding whether your child is too sick for childcare?  

Well, the persisting pandemic and rising rates of cold and flu make things tricky.  

The official word from government is that your child shouldn’t attend care if they have an infectious illness. And as a general rule, your tyke should also stay home if they have an illness that, “Prevents them from comfortably participating in activities at the service.” 

This makes sense, because young immune systems are still developing and infections can easily spring from person to person in the sharing (and over-sharing!) early learning environment.  

And, sometimes, judging the severity of your child’s’ illness is easy.  

You know your little one well, so can tell whether they’re dragging their heels, or are ready for a big day of learning and play.  

Also, some infectious illnesses are easy to spot (literally), and symptoms like a high fever, pain, nasty rash, breathing problems or paleness ring obvious alarm bells. 

But things get tricky when you factor in all the cold, flu and COVID-19 that’s circulating through our community.  

Basically, the pandemic has made it harder to tell if your child is too sick for childcare  

This is because cold and flu symptoms are very similar to COVID ones.  And while the government says you don’t have to keep your kiddo home from care if they have the common cold and seem well, exclusion is necessary in the case of COVID-19 and influenza. 

In practice, this means it’s hard to tell whether your child’s morning sniffle is caused by wintry weather, the common cold, or a virus that’s bringing the world to its knees.  

The government says mild symptoms, like a blocked or runny nose, cough (with no trouble breathing), sneeze, scratchy or sore throat, reduced intake of fluids, mild fever, mild fatigue, mild headache or body aches, mild vomiting or diarrhoea may indicate that a child has COVID-19.  

And to make things even trickier, it’s possible for a kiddo to have coronavirus without showing any symptoms at all. 

So, what to do? 

Well, with cold and flu cases surging, and COVID still very much around, it is important to err on the side of caution. 

If you’re worried that your child isn’t well enough for early learning – or they’re well, but could be contagious – you should keep them home till you know that it’s definitely safe to attend.  

Healthdirect’s Symptom Checker is a helpful tool, because it tells you what medical action to take, based on your child’s age, gender and symptoms.  

There’s also the option of calling a healthline nurse on 1800 022 222 for assessment and advice.  

The COVID-19 Restriction Checker is very useful, too. It shows current testing, isolating and close contact rules for childcare in your state or territory.  

Remember to work with your service, too 

Our amazing childcare providers are dedicated to health and hygiene, and have been working hard to limit the spread of illness since long before COVID-19 gave the general population an urgent refresher course in hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette. 

Your service has a clear sickness and exclusion policy, which means your child must stay home if they have an itchy, oozy, explosive or otherwise infectious illness, such as chickenpox, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, measles, mumps, rubella, scabies, whooping cough and hand foot and mouth disease. 

In addition, the Staying Healthy best practice guide for services sets out every childcare exclusion period you may (or may not) wish to know about, and sometimes, health and regulating authorities will require a service to exclude sick kids.  

Healthy, but non-immunised, tykes may also have to stay home if a vaccine-preventable illnesses pops up at the service.   

Whatever happens, it is important to keep your service updated about your kiddo’s health, and talk through any concerns or diagnosis you have.  

They also need to mark your child as absent to ensure the government keeps paying the Child Care Subsidy when your tyke is home sick (or away for a funner reason, like a family holiday). 

So, where does that leave us? 

Well, many families are hyper vigilant about illness since our old frenemy, COVID, came to town, but if you’re loathe to keep your child home (and let’s be honest, sick days are a pain for working parents), then just remind yourself that a day (or three) in bed is good for your child and your childcare community.  

Sick days aid your little one’s recovery and help to break the ‘chain’ of illness at your service.  

And if we can thank COVID for anything, it’s our new ability to adapt to the unexpected.  

Remote working is more possible than ever, and all employees (except casuals) are entitled to paid sick and carer’s leave.  

This allows you to take time off to care for your poorly child, and if you’re out of paid leave, you can take two days of unpaid carer’s leave each time they fall ill.  

Going forward, a flu jab will help your under-five avoid the rising wave of influenza; keeping up with their Immunisation Schedule makes sense for your family’s health and finances (‘No Jab, No Childcare Assistance'); and a rainbow diet is a no-needle way to boost your child’s health. 

It’s important to follow your centre’s hygiene protocols, and it you think your kiddo has lost their healthy sparkle, or could be contagious, then keep them home. Please!