Teachers, Toddlers, and Tissues: Candid Conversations on Health and Child Care

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world, and a very real threat to children — and adults! Though once declared eradicated in the US, we've seen an alarming rise in the number of cases across the country in recent months. Rachel and Dr. Navsaria breakdown the cause, symptoms, and short- and long-term complications of measles...and what teachers need to know to understand and talk about measles with colleagues and parents.

It's spring! It's time to dust off the swing set, wipe the dirt off the slide, and grease up those swings. We're going to play outside (and try not to get hurt…)! Rachel and Dr. Navsaria break down how all the ways to keep kids safe, active, and happy!

Rachel and Dr. Navsaria break down all things ears: healthy ears, not-so-healthy ears, ear wax, ear infections, hearing, and everything else to look out for (or is it "listen for"?) when it comes to ears in an early childhood setting.

How do you define a fever? What's the best way to take a temperature? How much medication should you provide, how often, and what kind? Rachel and Dr. Navsaria tackle questions on fever and pain management in early childhood and…a hot take on teething and if it is even a real thing. (Tune in to find out!)

How can you tell the difference between fact and fiction? There's a lot of information out there, and today we're talking about 'misinformation and disinformation' - how to assess which sources are reliable, what is likely to be inaccurate, and when to call it out when you hear something that isn't right.

More listening, less scratching! Though most parasites are harmless, today we're talking about the microscopic creepy crawlies that aren't so good for us - the ones that make kids itch, break out in a rash, and upset their digestive systems. Rachel and Dr. Navsaria break down all you need to know about lice, scabies, pinworms, ringworm, and giardia in the classroom.

Red, crusty, and oozing eyes can be hard to look at, but medically speaking, eye infections and irritations aren't often as bad as they seem. Today we're talking all about eye health – including "pink eye" (or conjunctivitis), styes, scratches, allergies - and how to approach eye concerns with a sense of calm and confidence.

Conversations about children in an early child care setting involve three people – the child, the parent/guardian, and the teacher - and everyone in that equation will have thoughts and opinions on how to do things 'the right way'. But how we share our thoughts and opinion matters. Today we're talking about how to talk to parents – and kids - about some of the most common topics that come up in child care settings, including food, sleep, and clothing ... and discuss some facts and myths along the way!

Break out the nose wipes and cough remedies, it's respiratory infection season again! And according to the (often scary) headlines, an increase in Covid cases and the risk of an earlier-than-normal flu season has again raised the chance of a so-called 'tripledemic' in the United States. In this episode we break down all you need to know about RSV, Covid, and Flu, and how to help keep kids — and their classmates — safe.

Red? Itchy? Crusty? Or all of the above? Today we're talking about rashes. We're going to discuss the most common rashes seen in Early Child Care settings and talk about what they are, why they happen, and how to approach thinking about whether a child with a rash should be sent home or not.