Sickness Policy:

When to Keep Your Child Home from Muddy Roots

To protect the health and well-being of all children and staff, we ask that you keep your child home if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms or illnesses. These guidelines are in place to help prevent the spread of infection and ensure that your child has time to rest and recover.

Fever
If your child has a fever at night, please keep them home the next day. Fevers often return in the afternoon even if the morning temperature appears normal. Children must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication before returning to school.

Vomiting or Upset Stomach
If your child vomits overnight or in the morning, they should stay home. Wait at least 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting before sending them back to school.

Diarrhea
Children with frequent or loose stools should remain home until bowel movements return to normal.

Colds
Mild colds are common and not always a reason to stay home. However, if your child has a persistent cough, constant sneezing, or a runny nose with thick mucus that interrupts their ability to play or rest comfortably, please let them rest at home. Children must be fever-free to attend.

Earache
If your child complains of ear pain, please keep them home and consult your healthcare provider.

Strep Throat
Strep throat requires a doctor’s diagnosis and antibiotic treatment. Your child must be on antibiotics for at least 24 hours and be fever-free before returning to school.

Contagious Conditions
Please keep your child home if they are diagnosed with any contagious illness, such as:

  • Head lice

  • Hand, foot, and mouth disease

  • Scabies

  • Impetigo

  • Chickenpox

  • Measles, mumps, rubella

  • Whooping cough

  • Meningitis

  • Strep throat

  • Certain types of pink eye (conjunctivitis)

Children may return to Muddy Roots once they are no longer contagious and have been cleared by a doctor, if applicable.

If your child is diagnosed with a contagious condition, please notify us so we can inform other families if necessary. Your family’s privacy will always be respected.