Lice are tiny insects that feed on small amounts of blood from the scalp. They live in the hair and are spread by close contact. Lice are often found in young children who attend day care or elementary school. Lice do not carry disease, but they are extremely contagious. Lice removal is a tedious process that requires everything that has come into contact with lice to be cleaned, so it is best for to prevent your children from getting lice in the first place.
Step 1
Tell the children to not share any combs, brushes, ribbons, barrettes, helmets, towels or hats with any child that is suspected to have lice. Lice spread by direct contact. Children cannot totally avoid coming into contact with any child that has lice, but they can prevent getting lice by not sharing items that touch the hair.
Step 2
Avoid head-to-head contact while playing. Children often wrestle and hug while playing, which is an excellent route for lice to spread from child to child.
Step 3
Clean all carpets and surfaces in childcare centers and at home. Cleaning the area removes the nits before they are hatched into lice. Speak to the managers of the childcare center your child attends about their cleaning procedures and what changes they make when dealing with a lice infestation.
