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Now that school is in full swing and children are in close corridors again, sharing everything from books to germs, there is one question that is on my mind lately.  When do you keep your child home from school sick? 

I’m new to the school thing.  Although this is my son’s second year of pre-school I still don’t have this one completely figured out.  If my son has a fever, or is visibly not himself I know he should stay home.  What about that huge grey area, otherwise known as the common cold?

I’m laughing at myself because it sounds silly but this honestly stumps me and I could use your advice!  How do you decide when your child should stay home sick?  It seems during the school year my kids get some sort of cold at least once a month.  Sometimes it is a runny nose, other times there is an unpleasant cough involved, but it doesn’t seem to be holding them back in terms of energy.  Often when they get a cold they are still running circles around me.

This is where I get confused.  Their nose is running or they have a cough but other than that they seem fine.    Do you send them?  Where do you draw the line between staying home sick and going to school?  My favorite part is each time my son senses my indecisiveness about what to do he usually tells the teacher he is sick.  Fabulous!  Just what they want to hear I’m sure.  Someone forgot to pass me the rule book on this one.  Is it crazy that this one time I would actually like there to be a nice easy rule I can obligingly follow?

The last time I was unsure I tried questioning my son about what he thought (I was desperate!) and the response I got was completely back and forth between wanting to go and wanting to stay home.  Asking my husband resulted in pretty much the same back and forth response, so it occurred to me I need help!  Opinions please!

How do you decide when to keep your child home sick?  Do you have a system or a line of when to stay and when to go?  Or are you like me struggling to figure it out every time that cough comes around?  Any parents, teachers or doctors out there with some advice?

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Comments

10/03/2010 8:51pm

when i was a kid, my mom would let me skip school if i had a fever :)

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10/04/2010 12:56pm

I've been struggling with this one too as my 7 year old has been saying she's not feeling well. I kept her home for two days last week because she had a cough and said she didn't feel well and I believed her. I hate to think that she's already playing hooky from school. I kept her home last week but not this week when she said her leg hurt. Fever, throwing up and/or diarreah are usually the only times I allow the kiddo's to stay home but there are some exceptions. If they look run down / tired to me, I'll keep them home if it's convienient but other times they just have to tough it out.

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Dawn
10/04/2010 1:13pm

As a former teacher, I would say that if they have a fever or the flu or something like chicken pox, keep them home. If it is just a cold send them to school. Otherwise, as they get older, they will end up missing too much school and not be able to succeed. Also, migraines are a good reason to stay home...I can't focus at all when I have one.
Our school nurse used to only be willing to call our parents (or in my case cause dad was busy, they would call your mom.... ) if we had a fever or were vomiting....maybe it's a good rule of thumb for parents too. :)

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10/04/2010 4:04pm

@Jassy, @Tanya, @Dawn,

Thank you for your help! I really appreciate your insight on it.

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It's hard as a parent to make those decisions. I him and haw each and every time. If my child has a fever, strep throat (1st 24hrs) or has been vomiting I keep them home. Otherwise, I try and send them.

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10/04/2010 7:52pm

@Melanie -

Thanks for letting me know what you do. The responses are helping me sort it all out. Have a great day!

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