Sometimes the worst part of having head lice in your home is dealing with the gossip from the neighbors! Parents can wonder, who do I really have to tell, and when? We understand that the whole situation can bring added stress to you and your child. With that in mind, here are a few helpful tips for taking the proper action.
Communicate with Your Child First
We don’t want our children to feel like they can’t trust us. Take the time to sit down and talk with your child about the issue. Help them understand that head lice are highly contagious, therefore it is essential that you let a few, trusted adults know who will handle the problem delicately. Make sure they feel like you are using discretion and handling the situation responsibly. Talk to your child also about not feeling like they need to tell the whole classroom. Some kids can be cruel and bullying might result. Ultimately, remind your child that head lice happens. It is not something to really be embarrassed about. Most people will experience a case of head lice in their lifetime.
Wouldn’t You Want To Know?
The best way to go about determining which parents you should contact, and which parents can be left out of the loop is to ask yourself when and where could their child have been affected. If your child has spent time playing, hanging around or associating with their child it is best to contact them. It is proper and good to ask them to use discretion and not repeat it to others. Think to yourself, would I want them to tell me if the situation was reversed, and you can’t go wrong. When you do contact the adults that need to know, it may actually turn out to be a blessing! Sometimes people you don’t know about are also dealing with head lice and could appreciate a friend to talk to.
Teachers and School Nurses Can Help
Teachers are quite aware of the dangers of head lice and the commonality of it as well. Don’t be afraid to let your child’s teacher know the situation. The school nurse can also be a great resource for you in giving you information and helping you determine when your child should safely return to school. The majority of head lice cases that deal with school-age children can be traced back to school or school-related activities. If you want to get a handle on the problem, contacting the school is a must. However, be sure to talk to the teacher about notifying parents of the issue, and not the culprit. Actually, there is really no way to know how the initial infection got started. No one person is to blame. You may even be surprised how many children in the classroom are dealing with head lice or have dealt with it recently.