Three Dangers To Safeguard Your Kindergartner From

Kindergarten is an exciting time for both you and your child. They finally start the process of attending school full time and getting a solid education. Your child also becomes immersed in a new setting with new teachers and new classmates. While this is a great environment for your child to grow and prosper, it can also be a danger zone. When sending your child to kindergarten, it is imperative that you understand the many dangers that could be lurking while your child is away at school during the day. This will help you better prepare how to handle each situation in the event that one of them affect your child. 

Allergies

About one in every 13 children suffer from food allergies, resulting in about 2 per classroom, according to Food Allergy Research and Education. When in the classroom, you have much less control over what types of foods, animals, and allergens your child comes into contact with. Whether the class is having a celebration and new foods are introduced into the classroom or an animal is brought in for them to learn about, it is important to communicate with the teachers about your child's allergies. This will help them to limit any exposure your child has to these things that can cause an allergic reaction. You also want to have the proper medication available for your child in case they do have an allergic reaction. 

Health Issues

Since your child will come into contact with several children throughout the day, it is important to reduce the amount of exposure they have to health issues. One of the most common health dangers you will find among younger kids is head lice. Head lice occurs in about 6 to 12 million kids between the ages of 3 to 11 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The easiest way for your child to contract head lice is through head to head contact with someone who is infested with it. If you find out that a child has head lice in the classroom, you need to make the teacher aware immediately. It is also important that you explain to your child not to keep their belongings in the common areas of the classroom. 

Physical Interactions

The maturity level of kindergartners can vary greatly. When in a classroom with several other kids, it is important that you teach your child to use their words and not become physical when they get angry. While it is your job to educate your child on the right way to handle their emotions, you also want to protect your child from being the victim of harmful contact from another child. Most schools have a school handbook that outlines the disciplinarian action taken when a child breaks the rules. Explain to your child what the classroom rules are and the consequences for not obeying them. You should also explain to them what actions to take if another child becomes physical with them.