Kidopia

How to teach the kids to cover their mouths when they sneeze?

Okay so I have a home daycare and we have a 4yo, 2 3yo's, and 3 11/2 yo's. We have noticed lately that the older kids don't cover their mouths when they sneeze, often times sneezing or coughing on the other kids. We have brought it up to the parents and they don't seem to be concerned. We asked them to teach their kids to do this and they kinda said ok. We told them to teach them to cover their mouth with their arm, not their hand. At my house we kinda remind them after they sneeze that the need to cover thier mouths. When one of the kids does it we tell them good job! We are slowly trying it with the 1 1/2 yo as will even thogh they are young, I believe the early we introduce it the better. Any other advice? Are we asked to much?

Public Comments

1. give them time out
2. This is not asking too much. I can't believe these parents don't teach them that. that's so sick. It's a battle, but you are doing the right thing by teaching them young and being repetitive. My daughter coughs endlessly b/c she has asthma. She still forgets to cover her mouth sometimes but I just remind her every single time. eventually they get it
3. Try explaining to them why they need to cover up their mouths so that they know it has an actual purpose.
4. You're doing a great job with positive reinforcement. Tell parents that you truly care about their kids' health and that you don't want this sick-well-sick cycle which could also inconvenience them when their kids are sick.
5. I've been having a few behavioral issues with my son lately, and to help him remember certain rules I got a huge yellow piece of poster board and wrote them out, and hung it on the inside of our front door.
   
   
   
   Teach them to "Sneeze to their Elbow" and write it on a board, or even a piece of paper and hang it somewhere. Once a day reminders may help them make a habit out of it.
6. It's not asking too much at all - I'm a teacher and you would be surprised how many still don't do this by even grade one.
   
   And you are totally correct to have them to use their arm - we suggest the crook of the elbow. Along with that, too, is washing hands, washing hands, washing hands!!!
7. it is good that you are teaching them this, it's very surprising that their parents have not been doing so
   
   do you have any other reward systems in place for good behavior, etc.? when my daughter was in daycare they gave out stickers (the little foil star ones are pretty inexpensive) and they let the "good students" pick the games to be played or story to be read or whatever - you could also use these rewards for those who properly cover their mouths
   
   make a big deal out of it like "look at Bobby, what a big boy he is, he covered his mouth when he sneezed", etc. and before you know it the other kids will be doing it too
   
   kids love to be fussed over and praised at those ages
   
   also, check at your local book store to see if they have any children's books on this subject (the Berenstain Bears series has covered a lot of good topics) maybe they have a coughing or sneezing book that you could read to the children often
   
   okay, I think I've run out of ideas
   
   good luck, cold and flu season is fast approaching and in your situation every little cold is going to spread quickly, especially to you
   
   - Jaci
   
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