Talk about head lice
If children get head lice, they may feel left out
or stressed.
Talking to Your Kids About Head Lice
An estimated six to 12 million head lice infestations occur each year in the United States among children ages three to 11 years old. Children may miss weeks of school during treatment, especially if the school has a "no-nit" policy prohibiting children from returning until they are nit-free. As a result, if children get head lice, they may feel left out or stressed.
If you find lice, it's important to explain to your child that head lice infestation is not the result of being dirty and head lice can affect almost anyone. In fact, head lice often infest people with good hygiene and grooming habits.
If you are dealing with head lice, it is important to engage a healthcare provider who can share treatment information and help reduce stress by providing ongoing support.
Nancy Gottesman
Nancy is a health and nutrition journalist and a mom. She is a contributing editor to New Parent magazine and Baby & Toddler magazine, and has written health and parenting articles for a number of publications, including Parenting, O-the Oprah Magazine, Fitness, Glamour, Fit Pregnancy, Baby Talk and Ladies' Home Journal. She was a senior editor at Shape magazine for 11 years before becoming a freelance writer in 2005.
