Day-to-day care

Clothing

The Care Allowance you receive should cover the cost of clothing and footwear. The child or young person’s basic wardrobe should consist of clothes and shoes for different types of weather and occasions, such as play, school and special outings. It can be useful to take children of any age shopping so they can see how to handle budgets and make appropriate clothes choices. Older children who may have strong views about what they like and don’t like should definitely be involved in making clothing decisions.

Haircuts

The decision about whether the child or young person needs a haircut is yours to make. If they’re old enough, you will probably make that decision in partnership with your child. However, you should not perm or colour hair, cut long hair short or dramatically change a hairstyle without the child’s consent, no matter what their age. If you and your child are considering a significantly different hairstyle, check with your caseworker to see if the consent of the child’s parents is required.

Tattooing and body piercing

Agency consent is required if a child or young person under the age of 18 wishes to get a tattoo on any part of their body. This includes procedures known as scarification, branding and beading. Agency consent is also required for kids under 16 to pierce non-intimate parts of their body, including their ears and nose. Once they turn 16, they can have non-intimate piercings without the consent of the agency. It’s against the law for anyone to allow a child under the age of 16 to pierce intimate body parts.

Nutrition

You are responsible for making sure the child or young person in your care receives a balanced and healthy diet. If you have any concerns about the child being overweight or underweight, see your doctor or talk to your caseworker. Sometimes a medical specialist or a dietician is needed. This will be included in the Case Plan.

For information about healthy eating habits for children of all ages, including a collection of healthy recipes, visit the Healthy Kids website.

Smoking and passive smoking

It’s illegal for children under 18 to purchase tobacco products. It’s also both illegal and irresponsible for any adult to give cigarettes to a child or young person, or to buy cigarettes for them. Discourage kids from starting or continuing smoking. If you can’t prevent it, you have the right to forbid them from smoking in your home.

A child or young person shouldn’t be exposed to passive smoke in the home or any confined space, such as the car. Anyone who smokes, including visitors, should do so well away from the child. In NSW, smoking in a car with a child under the age of 16 years is against the law. An on-the-spot fine applies to any passenger who smokes, and to the driver, regardless of whether they were smoking themselves.

Sun safety

Being sensible in hot weather and having sun-smart habits can help reduce the risk of skin cancer and protect children from other common sun and heat related injuries such as sunburn, heat stroke, heat rash, dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and eye damage.

• Be a role model by wearing a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and clothing that covers your shoulders, arms and legs.
• Use broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen rated SPF30+ or higher on areas not protected by clothing.
• Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside and reapply sunscreen every two hours.
• Try to stay in the shade between 10am and 2pm (11am and 3pm during daylight saving hours).
• Take more care when the child is near highly reflective surfaces, such as water and snow.
• Encourage kids to drink water regularly and avoid vigorous activity in hot weather.
• Make sure a sick baby or child drinks extra fluids in hot weather.
• Avoid exposing a baby to direct sunlight and provide shade when travelling in a car.
• Never leave a baby or child alone in a car.
• Seek urgent medical attention if a child or young person in your care shows signs of heat stroke.