When Lice Come to Church

WHEN LICE
COME TO CHURCH
a children's church guide
Dema Kohen

free to use this material for any ministry purpose that brings honor to Jesus
Feel
serves His church.
and
out www.WeAreKidMin.com where Dema shares a lot of his tips, tricks,
Check
tools to help you win in children's ministry and family discipleship.
and
Copyright 2021 by Dema Kohen.
B E T W E E N 6 - 1 2 M I L L I O N
U . S . K I D S 3 - 1 1 Y E A R S O L D
G E T H E A D L I C E E A C H Y E A R .
T H A T ' S 1 I N 5 K I D S !
I T ' S O N L Y A M A T T E R O F T I M E
U N T I L T H E S E H A I R I N V A D E R S
D E C I D E T O V I S I T Y O U R C H U R C H .

CONTENTS
01
02
this...
Imagine
the problem
Understanding
05
Addressing the problem
11
Final Words
12
Additional Resources
13
Sample Letters to Parents

is the #2 childhood health concern
Lice
only the common cold.
behind
A N Y O N E
C A N G E T L I C E ,
N O M A T T E R
H O W C L E A N
Y O U R H A I R O R
H O M E I S .

come into the office still excited about how yesterday went—all the
You
showed up on time, kids were well-behaved and fully engaged,
volunteers
had no glitches whatsoever and you had several new families visit
programming
church.
your
you drink your morning coffee and connect with the co-workers, your phone
As
rings.
one of the parents letting you know that their child, who was in church
It’s
has lice.
yesterday,
why I have put together a game plan that will give you all the information
That’s
tools to tackle the problem calmly, quickly, and professionally WHEN it
and
imagine this...
It’s Monday morning.
You get off the phone and wish you could hit the reset button...
Unfortunately children’s ministry and lice are almost inseparable.
In the last 7 years I had to deal with this issue three times.
It’s not a question of IF, but WHEN lice will attack a child in your church.
happens to you.
01

of all, the term lice is simply the plural of louse. A louse is an arachnid, a
First
tiny creature related to spiders and ticks. Like ticks, they feed on blood and
very
rapidly. Unlike ticks, they do not burrow into the skin of their host, but
reproduce
in the hair, descending the hair shaft for a blood meal.
live
are usually passed on from person to person in close proximity. They will
Lice
from the hair of their host to another person’s hair, or from an infested
crawl
rare cases, they can also be picked up from infected clothing, blankets, toys,
In
carpet. It is extremely easy to pick up lice from others, who may not even
and
most noticeable symptom to the host is the itch, caused by the little insects
The
on the scalp. The adults, which are white, can be seen moving around in
feeding
hair, usually near the scalp. This is why they can go unnoticed by parents or
the
looking after infected children.
volunteers
the hair moves enough to expose the lice, or one comes to the surface,
Unless
are hidden by the hair. Furthermore, the nits (eggs) are almost clear, very,
they
are very hard to spot unless they are being closely looked for by someone
They
knows what to look for.
who
understanding the problem
comb or brush.
realize they are infected.
very sticky, and attached to the hair shaft, usually very near the scalp.
02

very common misconception about lice is that a child who has lice is dirty.
A
could be further from the truth. Lice just aren’t picky when it comes to
Nothing
and will infect any hair, equally, regardless of whether it is clean or dirty,
hair
or short.
long
head lice are more common in long hair, which is why infestations are
However,
to four times more common in girls than in boys.
two
good news about lice is, if there is any good news about them, that they
The
not been shown to spread disease.
have
spread best through head to head contact, so it should be no surprise that
Lice
are more common in young children who often play together closely on the
they
some of the myths claim, they do not jump, nor do they fly. As mentioned
Unlike
head lice can be spread from infected textiles such as clothing and toys,
above,
they can’t survive for very long off the head. This means the first line of
but
needs to focus on the infested hair.
treatment
lice don’t always cause itching. Many children don’t even realize they have
Head
until someone else gets them and a call goes out to “Check your children.”
lice
do not get lice from pets. People cannot share lice with pets, nor vice
Children
versa.
matter what you might read on a friend’s blog, lice are not simple to get rid
No
Also, they do not develop resistance to head lice products. If someone tells
of.
a certain product is no longer effective, it is likely that they did not follow
you
age approved methods for getting rid of lice. It takes specific steps which
the
floor.
we will examine further, in the following pages.
03

many people still associate lice with someone else’s dirty children.
Unfortunately,
are often mortified when they discover lice in their child’s hair, and
Parents
want to come up with a million excuses about how it could possibly
immediately
to their child.
happen
heard of a situation where a child was shunned because she had lice. Other
I’ve
told their children to avoid the girl, because she was dirty and had bugs
parents
children told other children and, of course, embellished a bit as children
Those
prone to do. The poor girl couldn’t understand why her friends had suddenly
are
is why it is absolutely necessary to protect the identity of the infected child.
That
protecting and not giving away their name you really protect their self-worth.
By
in her hair.
turned against her.
A V E R A G E H E A D L I C E
L I F E C Y C L E I S
4 0 D A Y S .
I T C H I N G C A N T A K E 4 - 6
W E E K S T O S H O W U P A F T E R
04
T H E I N I T I A L E X P O S U R E .

one in children’s ministry wants to have to deal with lice, but it is almost
No
The best thing you can do is simply be prepared to deal with it.
inevitable.
this guide and web links listed under Additional Resources as your starting
Use
Having a clear plan of action is the best way to be ready for the times
point.
to detect lice? Teach them to look for visible signs like a child
How
scratching their head.
repeatedly
to isolate a child without embarrassing them and scaring or
How
the rest of the class? Train your volunteers to give dignity to
confusing
child with head lice. It isn’t the child’s fault. Children’s leaders should
the
careful not to act repulsed by the child or angry toward them,
be
this is a very embarrassing situation for a school age child.
remembering
through these questions: Where will the child be taken for hair
Think
Who will do the inspection? How will you make sure that a
inspection?
is always with at least two adults?
child
addressing the problem
Educate yourself and then design a lice policy.
when lice decide to visit your church.
Here are several key areas you want to address to be fully prepared.
1. TRAINING
Regularly train your volunteers in the following areas:
05

to check for lice? Train your volunteers how to examine the area
How
the ears and at the nape of their neck. Most likely, your church
behind
a school nurse who will be willing to pass her knowledge to your
has
team.
to do in case the lice have been detected? Who will go get the
What
Who will talk to the parents? The best way to serve the family of
parents?
infected child is for you to stay calm and give parents confidence,
the
tips, and tools. It might be a good idea to put together “Lice-B-
helpful
packs with a nit comb, shampoo, and a little guide outlining some
Gone”
the steps they can take to get rid of the six-legged parasites.
of
to keep your cool? Above everything else, it’s absolutely important
How
your volunteers stay calm and be ready to calm down distraught
that
While pretty much everyone finds lice to be creepy and gross,
parents.
really have been a fact of life in human society for a very long time.
they
understanding that they aren’t dirty and don’t carry disease is a
Just
start. Lice really aren’t anything more than a pest that takes a bit
good
more effort than most to eradicate. No one is going to get hurt!
H E A D L I C E A R E N O T A
H E A L T H H A Z A R D O R
A S I G N O F P O O R
H Y G I E N E .
06

to get rid of lice? My guess is that possession of lice fighting skills
How
included on your job description, however some parents may be
wasn’t
to you and your volunteers for solutions. Be sure to be able to
looking
their questions as simply and accurately as possible. Don’t feel
answer
you have to get into all the brands or types of lice treatments. (The
like
is that coconut oil and shampoo will work as effectively as most
fact
most commercial or time proven natural products do is simply kill
What
flush away the adult lice. This is the easy part!
and
it is necessary to take a very fine comb–I suggest the nit combs
Then
for this purpose, and remove the nits (eggs). As mentioned
manufactured
these are very small, clear, and glued to the hair shaft, often very
above,
to the scalp. The child should sit leaning over a sheet or towel,
close
the hair is meticulously parted and combed, strand by strand if
while
until every nit is gone. This is the only proven way to
necessary,
get rid of lice. If this step is not followed very carefully, it is
completely
the lice will be back in a few days.
likely
child’s hair should be checked and combed with a nit comb every
The
or three days for two or three weeks to make sure there are no more
two
For official information on lice treatment, direct parents to the CDC
lice.
https://www.cdc.gov/.
website:
commercial products, without any harsh chemicals.)
07

to disinfect the area? When lice visit your classroom, there’s no
How
to spray carpets, backs of chairs, and anything else that little
need
have come into contact with. Contrary to what you may have read
heads
heard, you do not need to disinfect your classroom with lice spray or
or
bag all the toys in the classroom. Fumigating classrooms is not
even
and it’s a waste of time.
healthy
a frantic attempt to eradicate a head lice infestation, you may feel a
In
to be proactive, which is fine, but using a lice spray is not the
need
answer.
Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested
person sat or lay. However, the risk of getting infested by a louse that has
fallen onto a rug or carpet or furniture is very small. Head lice survive less
than 1–2 days if they fall off a person and cannot feed; nits cannot hatch
and usually die within a week if they are not kept at the same temperature
as that found close to the human scalp.
Spending much time and money on housecleaning activities is not
necessary to avoid reinfestation by lice or nits that may have fallen off the
head or crawled onto furniture or clothing.
// Recommendation by Center for Disease Control and Prevention
D O N ' T W A S T E T I M E O R
M O N E Y D E A L I N G W I T H
Y O U R C L A S S R O O M ;
F O C U S O N T H E H E A D .
08

with parents. When you find out that lice has been
Communicating
on a child who was in your church with other children, the
discovered
thing you need to do is contact the parents of all the children who
first
have been in contact with the infected child and their sibling(s). If
would
in a smaller church with 50 or less children, an email to all the
you’re
might be a good idea.
parents
Send a short notification with a few key notes about what is being
1)
some key facts about lice and how they spread, and suggestions
done,
Never give out the name of any infected child. Simply state that
2)
of head lice have been found to be going around and that they
cases
See Sample Letters to Parents at the end for two examples of
3)
letters to parents.
actual
2. COMMUNICATION
for where to go for instructions on how to deal with lice.
should check their children and take appropriate steps.
Lice happens.
We want kids to learn about it, know
about how to prevent lice from
spreading, and we also want to be very
sensitive to the feelings of anyone who
might have lice in the classroom.
We would never want someone to feel
isolated, bullied, nor made fun of because
they have or had head lice.
09

with volunteers who taught the infected child. The
Communicating
should be contacted immediately after contacting the
volunteers
Do not delay! The sooner you notify everybody who had contact
parents.
the infected child, the more likely it is that the situation will be
with
you already know, lice cannot survive for long without a human host.
As
there are steps that should be taken that will make sure there
However,
no possibility of a reinfection from the space used for your children’s
is
I am sure you’ll be able to find a volunteer or two eager to
programs.
air cycle. The heat will completely eradicate any potentially
hot
lice, from eggs to adults.
surviving
Any blankets, sheets, etc. should be laundered as usual and dried in
2)
dryer. the
Carpets and furniture can simply be vacuumed or lint rolled. The risk
3)
getting infected by a louse that has fallen onto the floor or furniture
of
resolved and lice will be stopped from spreading any further.
3. TREATING SPACE
take upon themselves the “purging” process.
1) All fabric toys should be put into a dryer and run through a 30-minute
// Recommendation by Center for Disease Control and Prevention
is very low.
10

yesterday was a really great day for the children’s program at your church.
So...
the volunteers showed up on time, the kids were well behaved and attentive,
All
there were even a few new families visiting. You were really excited about it
and
enjoying your coffee immensely before that call about the lice came in.
and
Take another sip of coffee and savor it. Savor the excitement of
Relax!
yesterday.
final words
Stop scratching already!
Isn’t it strange how the mere subject makes folks’ scalps start itching?
Finish your coffee. Then pick up the phone and smile...
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!
11

for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers
click here
//
Infestation: Is Your Ministry Liable for Injuries?
Pest
click here
//
and Misconceptions About Head Lice
Myths
click here
//
Remedies for Head Lice: What Works?
Home
click here
//
additional resources
WORTHWHILE READS
Just like adults, children need to be educated about
lice. Obviously, this can be a sensitive issue, so you
won’t be pointing fingers at anyone.
I highly recommend Bugs in my Hair by David Shannon.
It’s a great way to introduce the topic to your class
any time of year (you may want to read it at the
beginning of the school year as a preventative
measure or immediately after a child in your class was
diagnosed with lice.)
12

has been a small outbreak of lice in some of the families that attend
There
These families have made us aware and have treated the problem
LEFC.
am informing you so that you are aware, and so that you take some time to
I
your child’s head and hairline for any evidence of lice.
check
can only travel with direct contact and live no more than 2 days off of
Lice
person. If you do check your child and find something, contact your
a
in order to get proper treatment and follow all of their further
doctor
to lessen your chance of re-infection.
instructions
am sorry this is necessary, but as we all know, lice are not picky and can
I
anyone, so I want to be sure to prevent any further spread of this
infect
sample letters to parents
LETTER #1
SUBJECT: We're under attack (lice warning)
Dear LEFC Families,
properly.
nasty critter in our church family.
Joining you in training fervent followers of Christ (and fighting lice),
Dema Kohen
LEFC KidMin Pastor
13

throughout the year, but especially in the summer or fall, head
Occasionally
may be discovered among our children.
lice
I am writing this note to make you aware of this possibility and
Therefore
to ask you to check your own children before you bring them to a
also
you are not sure how to check for head lice or how to treat it, I
If
you go online to search for information. There are many
recommend
also might consider consulting with your family physician if you do not
You
internet access.
have
you need help checking your child, please let us know and we will do what
If
can to help.
we
we discover that specific children have head lice while at church, we will
If
that their parents come get them so as to minimize exposure to others.
ask
sample letters to parents
LETTER #2 *
SUBJECT: Head Lice Policy
Dear Parents,
church activity, especially if you suspect they may have head lice.
websites which discuss the topic.
14

do not do this as punishment or to embarrass you and your children.
We
we want to help everyone get the best possible assistance so that
Rather,
realize this can be a sensitive topic for both parents and children.
I
I assure you we are all in this together.
However,
head lice affect your family doesn’t mean you have done something
Having
It is simply one of those unfortunate trials we occasionally face
wrong.
sample letters to parents
the children may return to church right away. We want you here!
during the warm summer months.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Glen Woods
* This letter originally appeared here. Used by permission.
15