Common Infectious Diseases

We as parents are always on the lookout for illness and sickness in our children.
When we see our child scratching or hear them coughing, our instinct is to search and find out why they are behaving this way.
Many times we are unsure what a rash might be, how they may have got it or how long it will stick around.

Here is a list of COMMMON INFECTIOUS DISEASES for you to take a look at:

____________________________________________________
Disease           Cause    Spread        Incubation     
Chicken                  Virus         Direct contact      7-21days         
Pox
Signs & Symptons-fever, red itchy spots become blisters and spread from trunk to limbs  

Measles                  Virus         Direct contact      10-15days  
    
Signs & Symptons- fever, rash on 4th day, runny nose, discharging eyes, dry cough

Mumps                   Virus          Direct contact      7-28days      
    
Signs & Symptons-fever, swelling of salivary glands,
difficulty in swallowing 



Rubella                Virus          Direct contact       14-21days        
 
Signs & Symptons-cold, sore throat, slight fever, rash appears  on days 15 to 21
and lasts 2-24 hrs  


Whooping           Bacteria       Direct contact       10-14days    
Cough                                                                                    
Signs & Symptons-fever, frequent coughing,  often causing vomiting,
may continue for months                                                                        



(Working with children, guidelines for good practice, 2nd edition. Joan Faragher & Glenda Macnaughton)

I am not a medical practitioner but I know what its like as a mother to be concerned about our children when we see things that are unusual.
Please see your doctor if you have concerns about your childs health and well being.  

parenthood                                                                                  

Cooking For Children Encourages Creative Thinking

I am not one that likes to cook. Most times its only if its raining outside or for a special occasion.
Now my twelve year old little niece absolutely loves it. She is right into these master chef shows, the Jamie Oliver shows also.

My niece is a dessert lover, so making a delicious cheesecake with a very tasty sauce poured over top seems to come easy to her.
She is constantly on the net getting recipes from the show and trying to prepare them, her mum thinks its great getting these delicious desserts made all the time, perhaps not the cost to make them.

I think it is great that children are learning to cook, it brings out their creative side. The ability for a child to solve a problem builds their Cognitive development. Developing their own ideas about a recipe gets them thinking and can build their self esteem also.

Children can learn to express themselves through cooking. They can explore, investigate and experiment and be challenged in their thinking.
Working on a project they have an interest in will be more satisfying and when the creation appears the overwhelming feeling of achievement will be great.

So never stop your child from experimenting. Share your child's enthusiasm for exploration and give them encouragement to express themselves with what ever they do.

children