What Do You Have Your Kids Do When Home Sick from School

When my kids were young, I would usually make a "bed" on the couch with a twin sheet, pillow and blanket. Then they have a large cup of ice water with a straw parked next to them and the TV goes on.

This way, I could get laundry done and work around the house while having them within eyesight. Most of the time, they fell asleep. (Sometimes, I fell asleep with them!)

I completely understand where you are coming from, and I think laying around reading books and watching TV is fine.

I let mine watch tv and movies, play Xbox, read--whatever he feels like doing. Generally I'll make him whatever he feels like eating.
Kids get sick. TV's not going to ruin them in a day! Lol

I let them do pretty much whatever kept them happy and comfortable.

They are 20 and 17 and very hard-working. Never had a problem with either one of them being slackers.

We have been homeschooling for a long time, though. The downside is when you homeschool, mild illness doesn't get you out of work. :P

I was fortunate that my daughter was not home sick very often except for 1 stint in 10th grade.

Even with low grade fever, boredom, eating comfort foods, etc., I allowed her to watch TV, just lay around and do nothing... take a hot bath in the big tub, mani/pedi, whatever she wanted to do.

She has always been a great student and needed no prodding when it comes to homework and assignments. At high school level, she was emailing her teachers for assignments.

My daughter hated being absent from school because the make up work was so much more intense when she had to do make up work plus new assignments.

Daughter was never "punished" or made to feel worse on a day when she was sick.

Do you have reason to believe your kids would "play" sick? If so, then you have other issues to deal with. I tend to believe most kids don't want to be home sick with nothing to do all day and then face all the make up work with no recess (if elementary) and more work all together for higher grade levels.

Yup. TV, reading, video games, all day long. If they just doze in front of cartoons all day, it's not going to hurt them. They're sick and need that lazy time.

Watch TV or movies. Read books or me read to them. Play board/card games. Play on the iPad. Color. Depends on how sick they are and what they feel up to doing.

I don't limit TV or electronics because I know what I feel like doing when I'm sick. I was down for three days with the nastiest strep throat I've ever had--about 80 straight hours of a temp over 100. I spent one day sleeping. The second day I slept off and on. When I wasn't sleeping, I couldn't handle much more than staring at the TV. Day three I watched a couple of movies and did some reading. I would have gone crazy if I had to just lay there. It would be even worse for my kids. They are already miserable being sick. I don't want to make them even more miserable by boring the to death. Unless I'm pretty sure they are faking it.

I baby them, bring them plenty of liquids, snacks, things to make them feel better and I let them watch TV on the couch. Mine don't try to pretend to get sick though, and if they ever do, they will be staying in bed with no screens. :)

Yes TV if there is a fever because they can't fake a fever, or for real misery of any sort (like vomiting). Otherwise limited TV ("choose 2 programs, kids") unless it's a family movie and you want to make an exception. I did for movie classics, for example, or science shows. If no fever or no true misery, then board games (especially the long ones that you or they don't have the patience for on regular days), books, quiet play like Legos or big jigsaw puzzles that are engaging and something everyone can do cooperatively. We also played "family room picnic" and opened up the sleeper sofa put a big old sheet it or on the rug, and I put plastic plates, a thermos of water, and healthy water-rich foods out. It kept me from being the waitress but also put all those liquids right in front with it being part of the "activity".

You definitely don't want them to think staying home is a picnic, but you don't want them to hate it so much that they go to school when they aren't fine either. I used to see that when I was teaching - and a kid who is miserable and throwing up at 8:45 was usually not himself at 7:30! Like everything else in life, it's about balance.

Both of my boys were home sick with the flu on different days, they were really sick. All I had them do was lay on the couch all day in front of the tv, I even kept finding new things for them to watch on netflix. If they just had a bad cough or cold I'd still let them watch some tv, but probably not nearly as much as when they had the stomach bug. I think it's okay, you just want them to rest and get well so they can get back to school ASAP. I know when I'm really sick, I don't feel like doing much other than watching tv. Even reading can be more difficult for a young child when they're not feeling well.

Pretty much whatever they want. If they are really ill I want them to be as comfortable as possible. Mostly that means sleeping and watching TV.

I would never restrict the TV when a kid is sick. If I'm sick I may watch a bunch of junk I would NEVER watch in my normal life.

Sometimes focusing on something keeps them from focusing on how crappy they feel. Hope they're better soon!

My big rule is that when my kids are home sick, they have to take a nap in the afternoon. If they come home from school sick, they have to get in bed and try to sleep. They are 12 and 15 and have never, ever had a problem with this. If they don't feel well, they want to sleep. They need extra sleep to get well. They would definitely NOT want to be made to nap when they are healthy.

If they have school work to do, they do it, if they aren't absolutely miserable. Otherwise, I'm fine with TV or video games, puzzles or books.

Also if they stay home from school, they stay home from afternoon and evening activities, and stay away from friends unitl after they return to school.

If they have only a minor illness (cold with no fever, vomiting, etc) they go to school.

My kids are so worried about the amount of make-up work they are going to have and what they are missing in class to ever fake being sick, so I allow them to do whatever they feel like doing when they are home sick. My oldest usually sleeps, listens to music, or watches movies, and my youngest usually sleeps or watches TV. Fortunately they are seldom sick.

I hope your children feel much better soon!

I know stuff is going around like crazy in many areas. I hope your kids feel better soon.

When mine are sick, they mostly lay on the couch, sleeping or watching TV. Whatever they need to be comfortable and take their mind off how they feel. They don't normally choose to watch a lot of TV at other times, but when they are sick it is one of the few things they can do without feeling worse. The typically love to read, and can read if they want when they are sick, but sometimes the effort is exhausting.

They can also eat and drink in the living room, which they don't normally get to do. They are not usually very hungry though. Being on the couch also makes it easier to keep a bucket handy.

My kids have never been home 'fake-sick' so this isn't an issue I've needed to combat. I don't think home should be boring and inhospitable to legitimately ill kids.

i do whatever i can to help them feel better.
of course they can watch tv. i'd bitchslap anyone who told ME that i had to suck it up and be bored and grumpy as well as sick.
khairete
S.

TV. When they're really sick, what else can they do? I watched when I was a kid. Then I've found when they're feeling better, they've od'd on TV and don't want to watch anymore. So we've never had the problem of them faking sick or anything like that. One of mine was home sick two days. By 2nd day she was feeling much better and voluntarily turned off the tv and was complaining she didn't go to school. And this isn't a kid who LOVES school.

How old are they?

If they are young (elementary) then (particularly since you expect they may be home tomorrow as well) I would try to pick up their missed work from school, or at least find out what of it they might be able to do at home with what materials they have. Are they reading anything in history, or have vocabulary words in language arts? Science vocab or reading they could do, if their book is at home with them?

Since they seem to be in good spirits, I'd have them try to keep from falling behind in whatever areas this is possible to accomplish. And yes, TV would be ok.

What would not be ok, is running around outdoors, having friends over, going out to eat/mall/stores, etc.

Part of staying home is keeping others from exposure to whatever illness they have. The other is rest.

If they are older (middle/high school) then I agree with Angela... kids miss WAY too much to be able to stay home if they aren't really sick. And most kids know that it isn't worth trying it. I always hated being sick and almost never stayed home when I was in high school, unless it was a stomach bug. Cold viruses... meh... it wasn't worth missing, even if you weren't up to par.

Also, it is completely normal for kids to feel really poorly upon waking in the morning, and as the day progresses for them to feel better and have more energy midday, and then they may be a little active. But it will wear them out faster than normal, and they will decline towards dinner, often times.

Your attitude about it will matter more than whether or not you allow them any TV. I'm not a fan of "personal days". If you are sick, you are sick. If you just want to lay out... then you are lazy. That's my personal opinion. Keeping your kids from watching TV won't prevent them from thinking it is ok to stay home if they aren't really sick if your overall attitude towards it is indifference. And they will pick up on that aside from allowing TV or not.

I think watching lots of tv is one of the only good things about being sick. It's an excuse to just veg out. When I'm sick I like to be able to read or watch tv or whatever actually feels ok. I'm not going to deny my kids a movie when they're feeling lousy.

I'm not really a fan of parents saying they want to keep things boring and not reward sick kids. Will kids ever try to exaggerate to miss school? Sure, but you can tell the difference. Sometimes I wish I could just call in sick. Most of us have those feelings from time to time. It's ok for your kids to feel that way. It's not ok for you to just let them miss school willy nilly, but it is ok for them to want to miss school once in awhile.

I don't think it really works to try and hide the idea from them. I think at some point they are going to realize that school can be boring and being at home is often more appealing. Doesn't mean they get to miss school.

My kids have missed only a handful of days ever. That being said, my 12 yo is home today because he broke his toe last night and we spent 2 hours at Urgent Care today. He can watch tv, play on the PlayStation or on his tablet. HOWEVER, if they kids are home *sick* then they ONLY get to watch tv. Nothing "fun" like electronics as I don't want them to be encouraged to be "sick" often.

I have let my kids watch movies or tv but to be honest when they are not feeling well they usually sleep.
But yes when they are awake they are on couch just resting and watching tv
Many blessings

My child is in kindergarten and had been sick so much this year iIknow when she is sick. She WANTS to just lay on the ccouch and watch tTV and cuddle. She doesn't normally do this. So when she is sick. I make her stay on tthe couch or in bed all day. There is no getting up running around or playing it's laying down to rest and that is it. Sick ddays are not fun days. Thisyear it seems like once a month she is hhomr sick witha fever and such aand I've always taken her to the dr because normally she needs an antibiotic. She had bronchitis three times and a qweird illness last week. I keep them homrwhen ssick if I don't I look at it as she will infect others and will get it back

My kids are only allowed to sleep or read. No electronics, including TV. I figure if they're "sick" they wouldn't want to do anything but be lazy. I try to make it as boring as possible.

I've got sick kids right now. We've done lots of watching random things on TV, play video games, sleep and generally veg. No one felt well enough to want to read. I needed to keep them lying still when they thought they felt better only because the Tylenol kicked in.
Letting them watch TV takes their mind off being sick and miserable. Keeps them from whining about it. Half the time they aren't really watching it, it's just on for comfort.

I let DD watch TV if she's home sick but I also make her rest and not play with friends, etc. She is usually bored and ready to go back to school if she is only slightly sick. When she had a fever a week or so back, she would fall asleep during movies and I knew she was quite sick, but the movie kept her on the couch vs running around. DD is also not a kid to fake sick and is usually upset to miss school.

I let mine watch tv, but, if he is really miserable with fever/ throwing up he tends to just want to sleep anyways. I watch movies, make jello, etc. whatever he needs.

TV, movies, computer, games, bed, sleeping, eating, what ever keeps them from laying around feeling crappy.

Sleeping and reading seems about right.
A hot bath should be alright if it helps them feel any better.
No tv till the time they would usually have it after school.
They don't need entertainment.
Being home sick means recuperating and getting better.

The fact they're "in good spirits" is positive, not a sign that they might take advantage of things by enjoying the day too much and wanting to repeat it. They at least aren't laid low with something that keeps them on the toilet all day or on their beds in aching agony. I'd try to appreciate that, rather than worrying about whether they'll find the day too fun.

TV is fine. You can limit it or break it up with books or, dare I say it, a video game on a laptop as they sprawl around.

Believe me, younger kids might see sick days as fun, but older ones won't, because they know the avalanche of homework and classwork they'll have to make up is not worth faking being sick for a day off. So even if your kids did later try to "play up being sick" it wouldn't last long. But I really don't think kids are that manipulative, and if they did try faking it, surely you'd see through it--?

If they have fevers today, even if they have no fevers tomorrow, you know not to send them back to school tomorrow, right? The rule our schools strongly request is that children be kept home for a full 24 hours after a fever or vomiting is done, to ensure it doesn't make a comeback.

No TV and no electronics. THAT keeps it boring enough to make them actually want to go to school when they're feeling better....

As long as DS is able to do something in the sitting position with a blanket over him, it's fine. He'll play with toys, draw, write stories, watch tv, make play doh animals. Even with all that, he gets restless, so he's always motivated to go back to school. I do make a rule that being home sick means no playing outside with friends or visiting at his cousin's house, basically no leaving the house until he returns to school.