The chat will take place in the Health group (http://health.gather.com) on THIS article with Claire McCarthy, M.D., Harvard Medical School. Claire McCarthy, M.D., is a senior medical editor for Harvard Health Publications. She is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Boston, and medical director of Martha Eliot Health Center, a neighborhood health service of Children's Hospital. The author of two books, "Learning How the Heart Beats" and "Everyone's Children", as well as a contributing editor for Parenting magazine.
This live chat will be about when to keep your kids home from school - what signs to look for, how to make them feel better, the importance of keeping them home over sending them to school and possibly making others sick and more.
I would LOVE to see you there! If for any reason you think you might not be able to attend the live chat, PLEASE leave your question(s) here!
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Comments: 85
Pay it forward.
As we chat, be sure to "refresh" your page frequently so we can all keep up with one another!
I see there are a few questions already posted to get us started!
When my son was a week old my cousin and his family came over to visit the baby. they brought their 2 year old who had pneumonia! We didn't know this until after they were visiting. My husband not so kindly made them leave!
Question 1: This year, our kids were out because of 1) a family bout of strep and more recently 2) a family bout of stomach flu. They also each missed 2 days because their grandfather very suddenly passed away in September. They missed the day he died and the funeral. I have gotten a letter home for 2 of the kids saying the guidance counselor will have to call a meeting if they miss 2 more days before this semester ends . . . even if they are excused abscences. How can I effectively handle this, besides sending in the excuse notes immediately after the absence? I don't want issues with the truancy office.
It's not a good idea to eat hand sanitizer, so you want to keep the dispenser away from babies who like to put everything in their mouths!
My son gets many colds, and I often think that he gets more because parents send their kids to school sick.
When my son is home sick, I make sure that as soon as he feels better we start working on his numbers, words, spelling etc., so that even though he is sick, he does not necessarily have to miss out on the learning experience.
I've been wondering if we're making it clear enough to kids why they go to school and what it's supposed to be about. It's not clear evidently to a large bunch of the public school population, IMO. This maybe even applies to the teaching staff and principals, so hassled with administration and discipline. I see preschool is gaining traction, in spite of the governor's nix on funding it for now. I'd like to see it spelled out very clearly in a rap with the kids from day one at preschool and/or kindergartenwhen they are getting oriented and calmed down: that school is for learning, it's their job, just like everybody else has a job. That means 1) listening to teachers, 2) paying attn, trying to understand and 3) asking questions if they don't. School is supposed to be interesting and fun, but listening and learning is the most important thing about school. This means after school too, when they're home; talking about lessons with mom, dad or anybody. It shouldn't be just in one ear and forget about it, let's go watch TV, playing our video games-- anything else but school. What school is supposed to be about should be reinforced throughout the school years, it seems too easily forgotten: School is about listening, learning, trying to understand. It's not only about hanging out with friends, playing cards, looking cool, hair, clothes, and all the rest. Do you agree? Any feedback would be welcome, if it's not too much to expect.
There are lots of great treatments for asthma; if your son is wheezing every time he gets a cold you should talk with your doctor about ways to help prevent this. If he's not wheezing, and doesn't have a fever, he should really go to school.
The school nurse can help, too, by checking on him and giving treatments if necessary.
What is your take on Omega'3 Claire?
My son's school does not have a nurse (budget cuts), and when the kids get sick they are sent to the office to wait for parents to arrive.
And bummer about the school nurse! In this economy, we're likely to be seeing more of that. Which is a real shame, because having a school nurse can make all the difference when it comes to keeping kids in school.
From my research, Omega-3's act on the lining of the lungs, skin and brain, and eyes. One of the reasons it is now added to infant formula (DHA, ALA). In the pure form (fish oil, etc) and in high enough doses, it can help to "heal" the Cell Membranes (lipid barriers) of these organs.
Americans do not eat enough fish!!
For my own asthma I have actually found that walking the four miles every day has helped a lot, and my son's asthma has gotten better as well. I don't know whether it is because of the daily exercise, but I'm sure it doesn't hurt. He know plays soccer and basketball without no coughing.
I think that a lot of kids would benefit from daily exercise, as this might spread into other areas of their lives as well including concentration and health related problems.
A BIG thanks to Claire for taking the time to answer our questions, it's been a pleasure!
Bridget, I think it is great that you get them outside in the snow. My mother-in-law thought I was crazy when I wrapped up my two month old baby and put him in the stroller when we went for a short walk. This is what we did, when I was growing up, but she seriously thought I was crazy:)
Bridget, thank you for hosting this great chat, and also thank you for all the reminders, I would have missed it, if you had not sent them out.
Thank you Bridget for doing this chat.
Have a wonderful evening!
I just wanted to say I am finally going through what is now under 7,200 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)
And as well Merry Christmas... and Happy Holidays... :o)
I’ll spend the day on gather, trying to see it all.
There’s quite a few discussions and lots of pictures too.
I’m looking at the videos adding comments galore for you.
So here on dear ole’ St Paddy’s Day, with all the Irish Luck.
Here’s hoping you get enough points today to make at least a buck!
Happy Gathering!
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