How to Prepare CDH Kids for School
Enrolling your child with CDH in school for the first time can be both exciting and terrifying. You have likely spent the last little bit protecting and sheltering them from germs, been their primary care provider, and the one to kiss the boo-boos. The idea of passing some of those responsibilities on to someone else can be overwhelming. However, there are things you can do to help make the experience better for everyone involved!
Meet with the Teacher
If you are looking for daycare or preschool, consider a school with smaller class sizes and lower teacher to student ratios. You can ask for an appointment to meet the principal/director and receive a tour prior to enrollment. Ask them if they will tell you when the flu or RSV cases are in the classroom. You can also arrange to meet with the teacher(s) to discuss CDH and any concerns you may have. We put together a one-pager to share with their teacher and a classroom handout!
Letter Home to Parents
Requesting to send a letter home to parents is often a good idea. It should state that there is a child in the class with a complex medical history and ask parents kindly to help keep everyone healthy by keeping their child home if they are sick.
Therapy, 504 Plan, or IEP
If your child has health complications from CDH (such as asthma, severe pulmonary hypertension, stent, shunt, a G-Tube, etc.), they will most likely qualify for a 504 health plan in public schools. This plan will lay out the medical accommodations they will need to reach their full potential. If your child has special academic needs (such as a need for speech therapy or an exceptional education class), an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) can be developed to ensure these needs are met. If you feel these services will be needed, be sure the school you are interested in has the resources necessary to meet their needs.
Eliminating Germs
Going to school inevitably means germs, but you can help combat these by washing backpacks and lunch boxes often and attaching hand sanitizer to both. Also, make sure your child’s shoelaces are well-tied, so they don’t drag along the school floor. After your child gets home from school, have them leave their shoes at the door, disinfect their hands, and change into fresh clothes. By doing these things, it will help keep school germs from coming into the house. It is also a good idea to make sure their backpacks and lunch boxes are hung up and not left on the couch where germs could get transferred to furniture.
Medical Form
A medical form is a great tool for the school to have in case of an emergency. They will have some medical history information on hand to provide to first responders.
School Nurse
If your CDH child has daily medical needs, it may be a good idea to ensure the school is equipped with a nurse to meet those needs. Having a nurse on staff to help give breathing treatments, check O2 saturation, test blood sugar, administer medicine, etc., is definitely great for peace of mind if any of those things are needed regularly! Also, be sure to introduce your child to the nurse or teachers handling their medical needs prior to school starting. Doing so will allow them to know where the office is and ensure that they are comfortable with the nurse or staff on the first day of school.
Sending Your Love
Remember that the first few days in a new school or grade can be scary for your CDH child. Make sure to include a little note in your child’s lunch box or even draw a little heart on their hand that can remind them of you throughout the day!
Sending your Tiny Hero to school might be scary, but remember, you protected them to this point so their lungs could grow strong, and now they are ready! All kids will get sick their first year in school, but with a little help from you and their teachers, hopefully, those moments are few, and there is a lot of educational fun in between.
Thanks to Olivia Cason for contributing to How to Prepare for School.
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