1. Chapter 2 Daily Health Observations
Promoting children’s well-being through observation.
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2. Learning Objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
Discuss several ways that teachers and programs can promote children’s health.
Explain why it is important to conduct daily health observations.
Perform a daily health check.
Discuss how teachers can involve children’s families in the health appraisal process.
Describe ways that teachers can incorporate health education into daily health checks.

3. Promoting Children’s Health
Observation as a Screening Tool
Teachers have access to a variety of information sources, including:
Daily observations and health checks
Children’s health records
Health and developmental screenings
Family input

4. Daily Health Checks
Daily health checks are an informal screening tool that yields information about:
A child’s state of health
Appearance
Behavior
The need for referral and professional evaluation

5. Why should teachers conduct daily health checks?
To establish a baseline of typical behavior and appearance for each child.
To note when changes occur.
For early identification of health impairments that may interfere with learning.
To promote children’s well-being.

6. How are daily health checks conducted?
Observing as the child arrives.
Assessing the child from head to toes, front to back
Including hair, eyes, skin (rashes, injuries)
Looking in the mouth with a flashlight
Visually inspecting teeth for cavities, throat for redness or sores

7. How are daily health checks conducted? (continued)
Listening to the child’s speech.
Observing family-child interactions.
Continuing to observe the child
throughout the day for signs of
developing illness or distress.

8. Recording observations
Notes should be made immediately following the daily health check.
Information should be clear, specific and meaningful to others.
Information provides an ongoing picture of the child’s growth and development.

9. Confidentiality
All information about a child’s health is considered confidential and must be protected.
Only information that affects a teacher’s ability to work with a child needs to be shared.
Family permission is always required before any information about a child is released to another organization.

10. Why should families be involved in the daily health check process?
It helps to establish partnerships with families
It builds trust
It supports families’ efforts to raise healthy children
It provides opportunities for information exchange
It reinforces positive health practices