October is Children's Health Month - post

Did you know that October is Children's Health Month? Do you conduct a daily health check? Standard 3.1.1.1 in Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs (CFOC3) contains practical arrival-screening recommendations. To translate those recommendations into program practice, consider ChildCareEd trainings such as How To Keep A Healthy Class: Six Tips for Germ Control Buy Now $24.00 and Pediatric First Aid & CPR/AED Buy Now $85.00$80.00. This article explains what to screen for at arrival, when to take action, and how to communicate with families and staff.

What is Children’s Health Month and how can programs use it to improve daily checks?

Children’s Health Month is an opportunity for early childhood programs to audit systems, refresh staff skills, and engage families around routine illness prevention and early detection. Use this observance to perform a short, structured audit of your arrival-screening process: review the items on your checklist, run a mock arrival with new staff, and confirm documentation workflows. Tie the audit to a targeted staff training (for example, observation, documentation, and objective-recording techniques) and designate a lead to track follow-up actions. ChildCareEd courses such as Tracking Progress, Shaping Futures: Observation & Assessment Skills Buy Now $55.00 and Privacy Matters: Documentation and Observation in Early Learning Buy Now $55.00 can help staff sharpen objective observation and recordkeeping practices. Finally, invite families to a short briefing (in-person or virtual) that explains arrival expectations, return-to-care criteria, and how you will notify them of exposures — small, transparent steps that improve compliance and trust.

“Every day, a trained staff member should conduct a health check of each child. This health check should be conducted as soon as possible after the child enters the child care facility and whenever a change in the child’s behavior or appearance is noted while that child is in care. The health check should address:

1. Reported or observed illness or injury affecting the child or family members since the last date of attendance;
2. Reported or observed changes in behavior of the child (such as lethargy or irritability) or in the appearance (e.g., sad) of the child from the previous day at home or the previous day’s attendance at child care;
3. Skin rashes, impetigo, itching or scratching of the skin, itching or scratching of the scalp, or the presence of one or more live crawling lice;
4. A temperature check if the child appears ill (a daily screening temperature check is not recommended);
5. Other signs or symptoms of illness and injury (such as drainage from eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, cuts/lacerations, pain, or feeling ill).

The caregiver/teacher should gain information necessary to complete the daily health check by direct observation of the child, by querying the parent/guardian, and, where applicable, by conversation with the child.”

What should a daily health check include?

A brief arrival screening should confirm three things: the child’s observable condition, caregiver/parent report since the last attendance, and any immediate safety concerns. Use the CFOC items above as your checklist. In practice, this means staff should quickly note whether a child appears alert and engaged, whether there are visible signs of rash or injury, and whether the parent reports any fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or contagious exposure. Record objective observations (for example, 'child appears flushed and is less responsive than usual') rather than subjective judgments (for example, 'child is sickly').

How can programs conduct efficient, consistent arrival checks?

Assign a trained staff member to perform arrival screenings for each shift. Standardize the process using a short form or a digital checklist that includes items such as: recent illness in the family, runny eyes, new rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, and unusual behavior. Train staff to record one clear action for each flagged item (for example: 'call parent; isolate child; monitor; allow)' and to escalate per your illness policy. For tools and policy language, see our article on How can daily health and safety checks keep my early childhood program safer?

When should staff take a temperature or exclude a child?

CFOC advises against routine daily temperature screening for all children. Instead, take a temperature when the child appears ill (e.g., sustained lethargy, inconsolable crying, or signs of fever). If fever is confirmed or a child has repeated vomiting or diarrhea, follow your state's exclusion guidance and your written illness policy. If your program needs detailed medication and allergy procedures, consider the ChildCareEd course Illness, Medication, and Allergies in Child Care Buy Now $32.00.

How should staff communicate with families about health concerns?

Be transparent and practical. At drop-off, ask a brief set of screening questions and document answers. If a child is sent home, provide a clear written reason and return criteria (for example: fever-free for 24 hours without medication). Maintain a nonjudgmental tone. For guidance on onboarding and staff-family communication strategies, see How can centers effectively support new employees during childcare onboarding? and our overview What Is Daycare and How Does It Work?

What documentation and policies should programs keep?

Maintain a short daily health-log, a written illness policy posted for families, and clear staff procedures for isolation and notification. Include return-to-care criteria and contacts for local public health or licensing. For how temperature rules fit in with state standards, consult your state licensing agency or licensing specialist and our state-focused guidance. For example, see our Oregon resources (Daycare Temperature Regulations in Oregon and Oregon Daycare Center Standards) and our North Carolina overview (How to Become a Licensed Childcare Provider in North Carolina) for state-specific context. State requirements vary by license type and age group served, so confirm details with your licensing representative. If you need orientation training that meets state requirements, consider our state-approved options like the 10 Hour Health & Safety Orientation Buy Now $80.00$65.00.

How do daily checks support staff development and program quality?

Daily health checks create predictable routines and reinforce professional observation skills. Use observations as brief coaching opportunities. Link arrival-screening protocols to staff training and to onboarding materials so new employees adopt the same practices from day one. For practical staff-training pathways, see articles about career pathways and licensing such as Entry-Level Daycare Jobs: How to Start Your Child Care Career and How to Become a Licensed Childcare Provider in North Carolina.

Summary: How can my program use Children's Health Month to strengthen daily health checks?

Daily health checks are brief, structured observations and parent queries that reduce the spread of illness and help caregivers act early. Use the CFOC checklist as your foundation, assign trained staff to arrival screening, document findings, and communicate clear return-to-care criteria to families. Link the protocol to staff training and to a short digital or paper checklist. Review and update your policy annually and after any illness outbreak.

Practical next steps: 1) Adopt a short arrival checklist; 2) Train all staff and run a mock arrival screening; 3) Post your illness policy and return criteria for families; 4) Enroll a lead staff in a health-and-safety course to maintain competence.

Tags: #health #safety #CPR #hygiene #wellness

Disclaimer:  Information obtained from National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education website.