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How To Decide When To Keep Your Child Home from School |
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by jenlemen  (February 2007) (rank 20th) |
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Since my son came to live with me last year, one thing that I have great trouble determining is when he has a cold, is he well enough for school or not? He is always coming down with a cold bug of some kind but I am never sure 
if it is bad enough to stay home or if he should still go.
Take today for example, he has a bit of a cough, and a stuffed up/runny nose, and he is a bit croaky, but is that worthy of staying home? I have no clue. He is in good spirits and doesn't seem to have a temperature. He's not moping about saying he feels sick. But he -is- coughing, and seems a little congested.
I've kept him home today, but this happened last term too, every couple of weeks he would get a cold and he ended up having too many days off I think. So I just wanted to ask, what to you is sick enough for staying home, and when would you feel comfortable sending them back to school?
It is very hard for me to figure out when to keep my kids home from school. Since my oldest isn't so crazy about school, I'm always trying to figure out what is a true illness and what is simply trying to get mom to give in for yet another "mental health" day. Here's the system I've come up with this year to help me make my decision.
- Red Light Symptoms: Fever, diarrhea, vomiting are the big three that automatically mean no school at my house. My mother's policy was to keep us home until our symptoms had subsided for 24 hours, and I think it was helpful. If my kids have flu symptoms that leave them in bed and wiped out, I'll keep them home as well. Usually, it's not too hard to make the call when kids are this sick.
- Yellow Light Symptoms: If my kids have sore throats, it could be strep which is highly contagious. In this case, I call the nurse to discuss their symptoms and make a decision from there. Sometimes we decide an office visit is in order--especially when strep has been going around. Most of the time symptoms aren't severe enough to merit staying home; true strep makes kids feel pretty lousy. Runny noses may or not keep you home, depending on the color and the child's mood. If the child has a hacking cough and a green nose and is really dragging, I'm more inclined to keep her home. If it's just a case of the sniffles, off to school you go. I don't generally keep my kids home for a cough unless they are really worn out from their cold and are asking to rest. I use their mood and general pallor as a guide as well. If you were just bouncing around an hour ago and seem in good spirits, then chances are you are well enough to go to school.
- Green Light Symptoms: My kids aren't always crazy about going to school especially when they've been up late the night before or are getting ready to do something more challenging at school. I find that headaches, leg aches and stomach aches are sometimes more a sign of anxiety than true illness. In these cases, I offer toast and honey, kind conversation and a gentle nudge out the door. If something is really up in the illness dept, the school nurse will be sure to let me know.
Of course, no playdates, social outings or staying up late when you're sick. Sick kids need to be willing to rest or do quiet things--if your kid is her cheery old self (and has yellow light symptoms) than chances are she can continue with her regular activities. If your child continues to object to going to school and offers symptoms repeatedly--then you might check into what's going on at school.
This is the best I can come up with at this stage of the game. What are the guidelines at your house?
