The Week Ahead 20161207

I’d like to start the Week Ahead by conveying my thanks to the parents for supporting the pupils during singing time. We asked for mobile phones to be kept in pockets and handbags so that parents and families could enjoy the singing and allow the children to feel comfortable and confident in their performance and I’m delighted to report that the experience was much improved for all. I trust that it will continue to improve over time, as we work together and strengthen our partnership. The videos have been sent out to the families, so that they can enjoy the experience time again. Last week, for some rather strange reason, our collective three wishes didn’t seem to appear in the week ahead and to this end, I’ve included it here for your perusal – I hope that our parents and families can see the value in what we are trying to achieve and we can once more work together to support the pupils to grow in independence and experience an enhanced learning opportunity.
This week, we are concentrating on GERMS!
What is this beautiful structure? A Christmas decoration? A piece of art? Jewellery? Allow me to introduce you to the flu virus, a microscopic health assassin which sweeps its way through early years’ settings during the seasonal changes. Responsible for causing children to cough, sneeze, suffer fever and feel generally unwell, this tiny virus is rather misunderstood. Because this virus, along with its friends helps children to build resistance and a stronger immune system. Much of my time recently has been spent reassuring parents that catching colds is an expected occurrence in Early Years and whilst we can take steps to reduce risks, it is rather inevitable. In a recent BBC article, a public health expert in the UK (www.news/bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4274780.strn) described nurseries as ‘a wonderful melting pot for infections’ whilst a consultant paediatrician identified no valid health ground for not sending children to nursery, “Although it may often seem that they always have a runny nose, this is the way they stimulate their immune system”. This is supported by others in health who acknowledge that attending large-group settings exposes children to many different viruses, priming their immune system to fight the same infections later on. As a mum of two very active (and perpetually grubby) boys, I have dealt with the usual childhood illnesses and incidents. I’ve attended ‘chicken-pox parties’ in the hope that my children will catch the virus (they both did), I’ve carried endless packets of tissues, wet wipes and alcohol gel to deal with running noses, whilst Calpol (a paracetamol-based medicine) was a staple for fever. I’ve dealt with numerous tummy / sickness bugs (I understand that nothing ever prepares you for the volume of fluid that a small child can hold inside their tiny body) and had a rather embarrassing conversation with an orthopaedic consultant who repaired my youngest child when he made the executive decision that he could fly. The one thing that I have always maintained is that these occurrences are a normal part of childhood (maybe the flying was a step too far) and my boys’ childhood was rather reflective of my own – full of adventure, interaction and natural consequences. And I, like all the Wellington parents, happily survived childhood. Paediatricians acknowledge that it is normal for toddlers to get sick when they start attending early years’ settings – catching as many as 8-12 colds within the first 12 months. The most common illnesses are:

• The common cold
• Stomach bugs
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

  All viruses spread easily through direct and indirect contact between toddlers nearby who are quite likely to be wiping their noses, sneezing and coughing whilst sharing toys and food. A long-term study from researchers at the University of Montreal found that children in early years’ settings get sick more than those staying at home BUT found that those children get sick much less than their peers during junior / primary school (www.todaysparents.com/toddler/daycare-germs-what-yiu-need-to-know).   Here’s some useful advice for you to consider about reducing the risk of illness:

1. Keep hands clean. It is recommended that hands are washed with soap for 15-20 seconds before rinsing with water.
2. Be active every day. Studies indicate that regular, moderate exercise can reduce the number of cold and flu episodes over the course of a year by 25-50%, possibly by boosting the circulation of infection-fighting cells.
3. Get plenty of sleep. Sleep deprivation nearly doubles the risk of getting a cold or flu. 11-13 hours per day is recommended.
4. Avoid touching your face. Cold and flu viruses enter the body easily through the nose, eyes and mouth so it is best to avoid contact with your face. Teaching your child not to share straws, cups or a toothbrush is important to reduce the spread of germs.
5. Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Colourful fruits and vegetables will help to boost your child’s immune system. Look for foods rich in Vitamins C and D and consider eating yoghurt with active cultures (probiotics) as these can help support the body’s defences.
6. Consider the flu vaccine.
   

  Adapted from HOW TO STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS: We do all that we can to minimise the risk of spreading germs in the setting, our practices have been in place since we opened and are exceptionally rigorous to support an early years’ environment. We teach the pupils about positive hygiene practices and would like to ask for your support in mirroring these at home:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• Put the used tissue in the bin
• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands
• Remember to wash your hands after sneezing or coughing
• Wash with soap and water
• Use a 60% alcohol gel

(www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygeine/etiquette/coughing_sneezing.html) As we are experiencing extraordinary fluctuations in the weather in Shanghai at present, it is important to do all we can to maintain our own health and that of our children. I hope this advice serves you well over the coming months.An invitation from New Bund You will see the ever-changing landscape around the setting growing and developing at an astonishing rate. The New Bund area will have high-end residential properties, malls with shops and restaurants, hospitals, parks, sporting facilities and offices. At the very heart of the community, we will see the Wellington College schools (International and Bilingual). Some of our Wellington College parents have expressed an interest in the possibility of moving to live closer to Wellington College, whilst others have expressed an interest in what the area surrounding the bilingual setting will look like. To this end, New Bund have kindly agreed to host our bilingual parents at a coffee morning on Thursday 12th January 2017.