Kindergartners and their parents will receive a push this year to make sure the new students show up to school on time every day.

Or they stay home from school when they really are sick to protect other children.

For the first time, school nurses at elementary schools will be handing out "Kinder Kits" to the parents of all kindergartners in the Natrona County School District.

The kits include a magnet with tips on when children should stay home from school, a NCSD toothbrush, a digital thermometer and a battery-powered alarm clock, said Suzey Delger, head school nurse.

"Our goal as school nurses is to have children come to school every day on time appropriately," Delger said. "We want to establish really good habits in kindergarten because that is where it starts."

Nurses know healthy children learn better, Delger said.

That's why kids should come to school after eating a nutritious breakfast and sleeping for nine to 10 hours a night, she said.

They also should be learning good hygiene, which is why the school district had personalized toothbrushes made.

The nurses hope the alarm clock will help children take responsibility for waking on time, Delger said.

Many kindergarten parents are new parents to the school system and may not know when it is appropriate to keep a child home from school.

Delger recommends parents keep children home if they have a temperature of 100 degrees or higher; a contagious disease like pink eye or strep; an undiagnosed rash; vomiting or diarrhea.

Children, especially younger ones, are nervous about school and try to avoid going by saying they are sick. If they don't have a temperature or one of the other criteria, send them.

"We have had kids tardy every day 30 minutes to two hours," Delger said. "They are missing significant content, even in kindergarten."

"When they don't come at all, it is tragic what they miss," Delger said.

Nurses will be distributing the "kinder kits" at various back-to-school events.

Money to pay for the kits came from a grant, Delger said.

At the end of the school year, Delger said nurses will look at kindergarten attendance data to see if they impacted parents and students.

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.

Tips to help your kindergartner succeed

- Send them to school every day unless the illness warrants a sick day.

- Keep a sick child at home if they have a fever of more than 100 degrees; have a contagious disease like strep or pink eye; have an undiagnosed rash; are vomiting or have diarrhea.

- Feed them breakfast before school or sign them up for the breakfast program.

- Make sure they sleep for nine to 10 hours a night.

- Bring glasses to school every day, if they wear them.

- Have a routine shower or bath schedule to ensure cleanliness.

- Notify the school, if your emergency contact numbers change.