Chapter 2

Daily Health Observations

©2015 Cengage Learning.

Why should teachers be concerned about children’s health and well-being?

Children’s health affects:» Learning» Energy, interest, focus» Performance» Growth and development

What resources can teachers use to evaluate children’s health status?

• Teachers have access to a variety of information sources, including:

– Daily observations and health checks

– Children’s health records

– Health and developmental screenings

– Family input

What are daily health checks?

• Daily health checks are an informal observational screening tool that yields information about:– A child’s state of physical and mental health

• Appearance• Behavior

– If there is need for referral and professional evaluation

Why should teachers conduct daily health checks?

•To establish a baseline of typical

behavior and appearance for each

child.•To note when changes occur.•For early identification of health

impairments that may interfere with learning.•To promote children’s well-being.

How are daily health

checks conducted?

• Observing as the child arrives and throughout the day.• Assessing the child from head to toe, front to back:

– Looking at the child’s hair, eyes, skin, etc. (see Teacher Checklist 2-1)

– Using a flashlight to look inside the child’s mouth (inspecting teeth for cavities, throat for redness or sores)

How are daily health checks conducted?

•Listening to the child’s speech.

•Observing family-child interactions.

•Continuing to observe the child

throughout the day for signs of

developing illness or distress.

Daily Quick Health Check

– Observe for• Severe coughing, sneezing• Activity level• Discharge from nose, eyes, and ears• Breathing difficulties• Sores Look, Listen• Swelling or bruising Feel, Smell• Unusual spots or rashes• General mood/unusual behavior• Skin color

Remember that:

• Teachers never diagnose

– They are not qualified to interpret illnesses and/or medical conditions

• Teachers should refer a child for professional evaluation if there are any health concerns

Recording Observations

• Notes should be made immediately following the daily health check.

• Recorded information should be clear, specific, and meaningful to others.

• Information provides an ongoing picture of the child’s growth and development.

Confidentiality

• All information about a child’s health is considered confidential and must be protected.

• Only information that affects a teacher’s ability to work with a child needs to be shared.

• Family permission is always required before any information about a child is released to another organization.

Why should families be involved in the daily health check process?

• It promotes a partnership with families • It builds trust • It supports families’ efforts to raise healthy children• It provides opportunities for information exchange• It reinforces positive health practices

Case Study• Chris, the head teacher in the Sunflower classroom, has

recently had some concerns about Lynette's vision. He has noticed that during group story time, Lynette quickly loses interest, often leaves her place in the circle, and crawls closer to him in an apparent effort to see the pictures in books he is holding up. Chris has also observed that when Lynette is working on puzzles, manipulatives, or an art project, she typically lowers her head close to the objects. Lynette's parents have also expressed concern about her clumsiness at home.

Case Studyy

• The results of two vision screening tests, administered by the school nurse on different days, suggest that Lynette's vision is not within normal limits. The nurse shared these findings during a conference with Lynette's parents, and encouraged them to arrange for a follow-up evaluation with an eye specialist. However, because Lynette's father was recently laid off from his job, they no longer have health insurance and cannot afford a doctor's visit at this time. The nurse continued to work closely with the family and helped them locate two reduced-fee health clinics in their community that

provided the type of services Lynette required.

Case Study Questions

1. What behaviors did Lynette exhibit that made her teacher suspect some type of vision disorder?

2. Identify the sources from which information concerning Lynette's vision problem was obtained before she was referred to an eye specialist.

3. If the teacher suspected a vision problem, why didn't he just go ahead and recommend that Lynette get glasses?

4. What responsibilities do teachers have when they believe a child has a health impairment?

5. If you were the nurse advising Lynette's parents, what free or low-cost health service options could you recommend in your community?