Faking sick

Tiffany_KKAS · #1 November 11th, 2009, 07:39 PM

My 6 year old, Kylie, just started Kindergarden this year. But in the last 6 weeks, she's been faking sick a lot. I fell for it twice, but both times she pouted around acting sick until daddy left for work (he drives her to school before work) and then she'd get up and bounce off the walls.

I can't figure out why she's doing it.
Iv'e talked to her teacher and there seems to be no struggle or bullying going on, but a lot of mornings I go to get her up and she tells me she's sick.

Any ideas?

Mommie2One · #2 November 12th, 2009, 12:25 AM

Well home is always more fun. Less structured, more playtime, comfortable environment. Given she's in K I'm going to assume this is her first year of "real" school and that can be a huge adjustment for kids.

My personal measure of sick is if you aren't puking, don't have diarrhea, and don't have a fever above 100 then you go to school. If they develop any of the above the school will absolutely call you to pick them up and bring them home. But all schools I have seen do not require children to stay home unless they are exhibiting one of the above symptoms so that tends to be what I go by. I think once she realizes she can't get away with it anymore, then she'll stop trying to play hookie. Better to get her into a good going to school habit now otherwise it just goes downhill as the years press on.

Good luck!

Tiffany_KKAS · #3 November 12th, 2009, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mommie2One

Well home is always more fun. Less structured, more playtime, comfortable environment. Given she's in K I'm going to assume this is her first year of "real" school and that can be a huge adjustment for kids.

My personal measure of sick is if you aren't puking, don't have diarrhea, and don't have a fever above 100 then you go to school. If they develop any of the above the school will absolutely call you to pick them up and bring them home. But all schools I have seen do not require children to stay home unless they are exhibiting one of the above symptoms so that tends to be what I go by. I think once she realizes she can't get away with it anymore, then she'll stop trying to play hookie. Better to get her into a good going to school habit now otherwise it just goes downhill as the years press on.

Good luck!

Thank you. I'm a little more leanient and passive than my husband is, so I'll talk to him about this so we reach a midpoint with the situation.

You're probably right with the transition thing, although she seems to love school once she's there and talks about it a lot when she's home. The first day of school, I was expecting her to freak out, but once she was in the classroom, she said: "Bye mom!" and ran off lol.

Mommie2One · #4 November 12th, 2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiffany_KKAS

Thank you. I'm a little more leanient and passive than my husband is, so I'll talk to him about this so we reach a midpoint with the situation.

You're probably right with the transition thing, although she seems to love school once she's there and talks about it a lot when she's home. The first day of school, I was expecting her to freak out, but once she was in the classroom, she said: "Bye mom!" and ran off lol.

I'm sure she does. That's why once she gets there 99.9% of the time she will be just fine. But it's normal to have some anxiety that first year or not want to get out of bed or whatever. I don't mind getting up for my day once I'm up and going either but if given the option to stay in bed or not do anything all day I'd probably take it ya know LoL.

As I said if she's truly not feeling well it'll show at school and they'll absolutely call you and send her home. But typically they "miraculously" are all better once they get into that routine, with their friends, and start their day. But personally I think good school (and what will turn into work later on) habits are good and if you don't give in everytime she'll learn that she can only stay home when she is truly sick and given 2-3 weeks she'll probably stop the fake sick.

Good luck!

Momof4Boyz · #5 November 12th, 2009, 02:12 PM

Joe's done that a few times this year, I too fell for it the first couple of times but now unless he's got a fever or is just really sick he goes. Of course I did send him once when he said he wasn't feeling good (and begging to stay home) and got called in an hour later to take him home because he was sick.

LovinMyGirls · #6 November 13th, 2009, 05:49 PM

I agree with what was said as the rule for what is "sick". I'm a kinder teacher, we just had conferences the past 2 days and all I heard was how much they want to come to school. So if there is nothing going on in school to make her want to stay at home, I think it's probably just the transition that it's just more fun & she can do what she wants @ home. Good Luck the first year of school is a lot of change!