How many times have you been sneezed on today? 🙂 It’s just part of being a teacher, isn’t it? When a tiny tot rears back his head, you know it’s coming, and yet there’s so little time before that sneeze shows up. 
Kudos to each of you who regularly encourage students to sneeze and cough into their elbows and arms. This relatively new technique surely reduces the spread of germs!
Why, oh why, am I rambling about sneezing? You just had to ask, didn’t you? Actually, I just replenished my personal supply of tissues and antibacterial hand foam, which (for some reason) triggered a classroom memory. I’ll spare you the details, but my main concern is that we each do our best to stay healthy during the cold winter months ahead. I’d love to hear your tips for achieving this goal. Care to share?
Here’s to staying healthy!
Diane
Child Care Educators Taking Care Of Themselves.
If You Don’t Take Care Of Yourself, You Can’t Take Care Of Anyone Else.
During the first six to twelve months of employment, most child care educators get sick more than usual because they are exposed to a wide variety of germs. Caring for others can also cause stress, which lowers resistance to illness.
Educators who are ill should take care of themselves, and should not come in contact with the children. Allow your own body the opportunity to get well. If you are ill, stay home and recuperate. You cannot provide the best quality of care if you are sick, and you may spread the illness to others if you come to work. Get well by choosing healthy behaviors, such as:
* Washing your hands (the number 1 way to prevent the spread of illness)
* Make sure YOUR immunizations are up-to-date, especially Tetanus.
* Take scheduled breaks and vacations.
* Nutrition: Try to eat healthy as much as possible.
* Exercise regularly (include exercise activities in your lessons so YOU and YOUR children can get the benefits of moving and having fun).
* Smoking – if you smoke – STOP – GET HELP SO YOU CAN STOP!!
* Get sufficient rest and sleep each day.
* Taking care of yourself also means doing something for yourself that does not involve children or someone else.
Wow does that bring back memories of my first year of teaching. I spent the whole winter sick. I start right at the beginning of the year talking about sneezing and catching it in your elbow. I do lots of stories about germs. Then I do a unit on it. But with constant reminders and activities built around it the majority of the kids have it down pat this time of year.
One thing I also teach children is to wash your hands after blowing their noses.
My students wash their hands after sneezing…AND don’t use their hands to open the door! They’re trained to use their elbows or have someone else open the door for them. Sounds ridiculous but it has helped IMMENSELY. I have noticed a huge difference in the class’s health since starting that practice.
For me, as the teacher, I no longer lend my pencils/pens/staplers/etc. My little darlings sometimes put fingers in noses…SO they have their own “extra” pile. Again, noticed a huge difference in MY health when I implemented that.
Thanks for the good tips!
I sharpen pencils for the kids so they don’t share pencils; I think I’ll start using a plastic glove to protect myself.
I wash desks daily with Clorox wipes, as well as door knobs and light switches.
My students last year stayed much healthier than in previous years by doing those two things.
I like the tip of asking another student to open the door so the sneezer or nose-picker can go wash without touching the door knob.
Now, to make an appointment for a tetanus shot . . . it’s been more than ten years.
I’ve been teaching for 7 years. I must admit, I’ve stayed quite healthy. My district has offered free flu shots the past few years, but I’ve never taken advantage of it. I recall my parents getting swine flu shots when I was little. My dad did just fine, but my mother got horrible ill from it. I think I’m afraid of having the same reaction as my mother.
I always remind my students to wash their hands. I use hand sanitizer in my room. And, I teach my students to cough & sneeze into their elbow area instead of into their hands. Covering a cough with their hands will only spread germs.