Do any other parents have a hard time deciding to send you child to school when they are a little sick? My son has a cough, a sore throat, runny nose,(they are controled by meds and he can't spread it. It is just the cold going around) no fever and lots of energy. I can never decided if he should go. Or when to take him to the Dr. They always just say it is a virius and there is nothing we can do for him. Does anyone else have this problem? or have any parently advise for me?
Mine is just in preschool 3 - 1/2 days a week, so usually if he has a fever above 99, whether controllable or not, I keep him home. Also, if he is contagious - I keep him home. With just a cough and runny nose, he is going! Throw in a sore throat and then....hmm....I don't know what I would do - I haven't been faced with that one yet!
I tend to send them if possible. This is influenced by the fact that I can't afford to miss too much work, so I can't take a day off to be home with a child who isn't really that sick. I went through this with DD last week. She had tonsillitis, but we got her medicine and antibiotics...most of the time she feels fine, but keeps trying to stay home from school! In general, if there's no fever, no risk of being contagious, and they're acting pretty normal, I will send them. If they get worse, they can always come home early. I usually don't take them to the doctor unless they don't show any improvement after 3 days or so.
Part of it would depend on the age of your child, if he's not of an age where he HAS to go and doesn't feel great keep him home.
I have a kid who's kind of sick today and I kept him home, he's in second grade but he does well so it isn't a problem for him to stay home a day. He has about what your child sounds like but his voice is really hoarse so I thought a day of rest might do him good.
If he doesn't feel real good I don't like to send him in because the nurses never send kids home at his school. I think they get irate parents from the one time the teachers insisted that he go home, they kept appoligizing about sending him home and made sure that I knew it was the teachers. The poor kid had thrown up in music and looked sick.
Of course I don't work so I don't worry about missing time, that makes a difference.
As far as the doctor I wait a couple days most of the time, most things kids get aren't something they can do anything about anyway.
I work in an elementary school with over 400 kids. I'd say at least 1/3 of them are coming to school sick right now. My issues with sending kids to school sick (and sorry...if they're sneezing and coughing they ARE contagious!) are twofold.
1. When a child is under the weather they don't need to be exposed to all the OTHER illnesses the other sick kids have.
2. When your child is sick they are exposing everyone elsel, including the adults that teach them (and we take all that home to OUR families).
I totally understand having a hard time missing work, but it's not up to school employees to care for sick children. I feel so sorry for the kids who show up at 7:30 a.m., sneezing and coughing (or throwing up), when they need to be home in their pj's. We cannot give meds at school, so cold medicine wears off way before it's time to come home.
I am NOT saying that's your situation. I'm not trying to offend.
It's a policy in our school district that if a student misses more than 7 unexcused days of school they fail for the year. This causes students to come to schoo sick and spreading every illness they have. I work one on one with special ed students and they rarely ever miss. I keep getting sick because they are always coughing on me and sneezing right next to me while I am working with them. They should be able to access their work from a computer so that they can stay home, get well and not be counted as missing too much school as long as their work is completed. Just my opinion.
It's a policy in our school district that if a student misses more than 7 unexcused days of school they fail for the year. This causes students to come to schoo sick and spreading every illness they have. I work one on one with special ed students and they rarely ever miss. I keep getting sick because they are always coughing on me and sneezing right next to me while I am working with them. They should be able to access their work from a computer so that they can stay home, get well and not be counted as missing too much school as long as their work is completed. Just my opinion.
That's a definate part of the problem, my mom always has said that schools who award perfect attendence aren't doing anyone any favors because the kids who want the award will come to school no matter what.
This is always a touchy subject, because some kids who feel well enough to be at school are coughing and sneezing, and it is tough for little ones to remember to cover their nose/mouth and wash their hands frequently. OTC medicine will wear off during the day and our schools will give prescription medicine, but not OTC. One thing I have done is use my lunch hour to run over to school and give them the medicine myself. Of course, I'm lucky in that I live in a small town and the school is only 15 minutes from my work.
unexcused absence is if there is no reason for the absence at least at our school. an absence will be considered excuse if its for illness. i wont send my kids to school if they are sick. if a child having lice is considered an excusable absence then i think a cold should be as well. and in my kids school it is. a few years back my oldest child got the chickenpox for the second time because some parent knowingly sent their kid to school with the chickenpox.
I understand being upset that there are sick kids in school because they're spreading germs, BUT people are usually MOST contagious before they even show any symptoms. So more than likely the kids spreading the most germs appear and act perfectly healthy!
Part of the reason I chose to be a stay at home mom is so I don't have to worry myself over such issues. I keep my kids home if they have a fever or have other symptoms that make them uncomfortable to be in school.
Not all runny noses or coughs are contagious, in fact many are not, but who is going to determine that? I don't get too upset with kids at school who have runny noses or an occasional cough. Colds are going to go around no matter what. I do get upset at the kids who are so obviously sick and uncomfortable they just shouldn't be there. I get more upset though at sick kids in preschool, sunday school, and playgroups. I mean come on - you don't HAVE to be there.
And, I too can't stand the perfect attendance award. So, you're punishing my kids because I'm responsible and awarding those kids that come no matter what - THANKS.
koolaid, I totally agree with you.
I can't imagine keeping my boy home because he has a runny nose or a mild cough. Although he is still in preschool and I am a SAHM, it just doesn't seem realistic (especially if I were a working mom)to keep him home in those circomstances considering the number of times a 5 year old gets a cold during the year and how long a cold can last!
I appriciate everyone opinion on this subject. I took my sosn tothe doctor and he has an ear infection, which is causing other problems. The Dr. said if he feels good enough let him go. So we will see today. The medicine really seems to be helping.
I agree if they are horrible they should not go. But when they are running around the house and being normal and just coughing every now and again or need to blow their nose I don't see a problem taking them. My Son hates missing school because he loves it.
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