Should You Keep Your Child Home or Not?

By Donna Stark

If you have a school-aged child, you have probably been faced with the dilemma of whether or not you should send your child to school when they are exhibiting symptoms of an illness. Sometimes, the call is an easy one to make, but as with many things in life, your child could fall into what is known as "the gray area," and you could have trouble making up your mind. So, here are some simple suggestions on how to make a decision you are comfortable with.

Yes or No?

There are a few easy questions you can ask that will help with the decision-making process. If the answer is yes for any of these, you should definitely make the call to school and excuse your child for the day.

• Is a fever (that is higher than what the school allows) present?
• Could your child be contagious? If you aren't sure, it is best to find out from your doctor.
• Will your child be able to focus in the classroom if they are sent in? Think about how you may feel if you had to go into work with the same symptoms.

A good rule to follow, no matter what you decide to do, is to stay in communication with your child's teacher. If your child does go to school, the teacher can be a great resource and an extra set of eyes if the symptoms do get worse.

Common Ailments

Sometimes, it is very obvious that your child should stay home and rest in bed. Here are a few of the most common ailments that should trigger an automatic day at home filled with TV and lots of sleep.

• Stomachaches - Save the janitor extra clean up duty and keep your child home with a bucket by the bed.
• Colds - As a general rule, a cold shouldn't keep your child home unless it is accompanied by a fever. But if you think your little one will have trouble functioning, then an extra day of rest won't hurt. If you do send them to school though, make sure they practice good hygiene, like sneezing and coughing into their elbow and washing hands frequently.
• Pinkeye - Think your child has pinkeye? Keep them home until it is confirmed or not.
• Rash - Just like a cold, a rash doesn't always mean your child needs to stay home. But if it is accompanied by other symptoms or if you think it could be infectious, keep your child out of school until you have more answers.

Decision-Making Time

Having a sick child is stressful. And it certainly doesn't help when there is additional pressure to make the right call. Hopefully, though, the tips above will help in that regard, but if they don't, no worries. You can always lean on your doctor for advice.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Brookfield, Wis.