Published September 22, 2026
The hardest call of a working parent’s morning is the child with a runny nose and a slightly warm forehead. Send them, and you may get a phone call at ten o’clock; keep them home, and you lose a day. This guide sets out the general rules licensed child care settings in BC follow, and how to make the decision quickly. It is not medical advice; for that, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 or your doctor.
Why centres have illness rules
Sixteen preschoolers in one room share everything, including germs. Licensing requires every centre to have a written illness policy, and educators are expected to follow it consistently rather than case by case. The BC Centre for Disease Control publishes Sneezes and Diseases, a reference guide for child care settings, and most centre policies are built on it. Ask for your centre’s policy in writing at registration and keep it on the fridge.
Keep your child home if they have
| Symptom | Usual rule |
|---|---|
| Fever (38°C or higher) | Stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without fever medication |
| Vomiting | Stay home until 24 hours after the last episode |
| Diarrhea | Stay home until stools are normal, or 24 to 48 hours after the last episode |
| Eye discharge with redness (possible pink eye) | Stay home until seen by a doctor, and 24 hours after starting any prescribed drops |
| Undiagnosed rash | Stay home until a doctor has confirmed it is not contagious |
| Persistent cough that disrupts play or sleep | Stay home until it eases |
| Too unwell to take part in the normal day, including outdoor play | Stay home, regardless of the specific symptom |
The last row is the one parents forget. A child who cannot manage a normal day, including going outside, needs to be at home even if there is no fever.
Usually fine to attend
- A clear runny nose with no fever and normal energy
- A mild cough that does not disrupt play
- Recovering from a cold, eating and drinking normally
- Diagnosed conditions the centre has been told about, such as eczema or seasonal allergies
Conditions that need a doctor’s note or treatment first
Strep throat, pink eye, impetigo, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, head lice and chickenpox all have specific return rules. Most involve a period of treatment before the child can come back, and the centre will tell other families that a case has occurred without naming the child. If your child is diagnosed with something contagious, tell the centre the same day; it helps them watch for symptoms in others.
Medication at daycare
Licensed centres can give prescribed medication only with a signed authorization from a parent and clear instructions, and the medication must be in its original labelled container. Centres generally will not give fever medication so that a child can attend, and any over-the-counter medicine also needs your written authorization. If your child needs medicine to get through the day, that is usually a sign they should be at home.
When the centre calls
If your child develops a fever, vomits or becomes clearly unwell during the day, the centre will call you to pick them up, usually within the hour. Have a backup pickup person on your emergency contact list who can actually get there. Most policies then apply the 24-hour rule from that point, so a child sent home at 11 a.m. on Tuesday stays home Wednesday.
Making the morning decision faster
- Take a temperature. Anything 38°C or above settles it.
- Ask whether they could play outside for an hour. If the honest answer is no, they stay home.
- Check the policy on the fridge for anything specific.
- If you are still unsure, call 8-1-1; HealthLink nurses are available 24 hours a day.
Sources: BC Centre for Disease Control, Sneezes and Diseases: A Resource Book for Caregivers and Parents; BC Child Care Licensing Regulation (illness and medication provisions); HealthLink BC. Return-to-care periods vary by centre policy; the table shows common practice, not a substitute for your centre’s written policy or a doctor’s advice.
