It’s officially back to school time!!! For those of you who care for a child with eczema, this is also the time of the year when you will not only meet with your child’s teacher to discuss the upcoming school year, but also to discuss your child’s eczema needs.
Communicating your child’s needs and building a relationship with your child’s teacher is the key to managing their condition.
Of course, as with any new school year, you will need to explain to another teacher your child’s condition and their eczema care routine. As a parent of a child with Itchy Brown Skin, caring for his beautiful brown skin is a top priority of mine. But I must also understand that while his skin is a top priority to me, it’s not fair to say that it is a priority to everyone else. From the time that my child first arrived at his school, getting his teachers to understand his condition and onboard with his eczema skincare regimen has been an ongoing process. I mean…let’s face it, his teachers had more than just my child to worry about. However, I needed their assistance in being a part of his eczema care team when I was not with him.
Your child’s teacher will be your best set of eyes and probably the only eyes you will have on your child’s skin during the day.
Communicating your child’s needs and building a relationship with your child’s teacher is the key to managing their condition. It is a partnership you will need to continue to invest in. Your child’s teacher will be your best set of eyes and probably the only eyes you will have on your child’s skin during the day. From my experience, while some teachers may not be familiar with eczema care, many actually are and are willing to work with you and your child. They are with your child 8-10 hours per day and genuinely care about your baby.
We must remember is that it is our responsibility to communicate our child’s needs to ensure everyone is vested in their overall well-being.
What we must remember is that it is our responsibility to communicate our child’s needs to ensure everyone is vested in their overall well-being. So, don’t be shy, build a rapport with your child’s teacher and you will be surprised at how much they are willing to help! The following tips have helped me to build and maintain relationships with my child’s teachers to ensure his needs are met and that everyone is on one accord.
- Inform the teacher of your child’s condition – It is important that you inform your child’s teacher of their eczema and the severity of their condition. Remember, their teacher has several kids they are preparing for and getting accustomed to in the new school year. Discussing your child’s condition at the beginning of the school year is extremely helpful, as it will ensure the teacher is aware of their eczema and everyone is onboard with a skin care plan from the start.
- Educate them on eczema – Let’s face it…as parents of a child with Itchy Brown Skin, we tend to think of ourselves as “mini eczema experts.” I mean we have only been researching this condition since the beginning of time….hello!!!…just kidding! While it is easy to assume our child’s teacher is well versed in the condition, they are not medical professionals. Take this time to educate them about your child’s specific eczema needs, what to expect, how to recognize a flare, and care for it. It is also important to inform them that eczema can be a highly sensitive/emotional condition for a child and to be aware of any comments that may come from other children.
- Provide the right products – While it is important to discuss our child’s eczema needs with their teacher, it is also vitally important to provide the necessary eczema care products and medication to the appropriate school Administrators or nurse (with a doctor’s note, if needed) to help them properly care for our child.
- Provide instructions – Be sure to give clear instructions and provide a copy of your child’s eczema care routine during the day. This will assist the school in properly applying any products or prescriptions you provided to manage the condition.
- Maintain Ongoing Communication – Continue ongoing communication with your child’s school and build a relationship with their teacher. This will be extremely important if any issues arise, as you will be able to amicably work through them in the best interest of everyone.
- Reinforce, as necessary
I hope this information was helpful as you and your little one embark on a wonderful and prosperous new school year! It’s going to be a great year….You got this!
My child has eczema along with a dozen allergies with a few requiring him having to use an epi-pen. He’s still in daycare currently and the daycare has been really good with not serving foods that aggravate his allergies or eczema.. However, I’m really nervous about he in regular school but this is some great advice!
Now if only I can get him to eat better at home! He doesn’t want any fruits of vegetables.. I’ve tried everything..
You know honestly my child is the same. He hates everything when it comes to food, especially veggies. He will eat fruit but no veggies! He has food allergies along with an epi-pen and I have had a daily struggle with his daycare, but the one thing I have found to be most beneficial is the daily communication with them and with the understanding that I will NOT let up when it comes to my child. Once they understood that, they got it. Communication is honestly the key! Now my child does go to private school but like you I am worried about when he transitions to public school. I will say that I have a lot of contacts in public school and once again its all about communications and getting them to understand eczema. Educating them is vital because they may not understand. Also, introducing them to new foods no matter how much they “think” they hate them. Its a never ending battle, but communication and relationships are key!