a few days, breathing hard and fast, and difficulty staying hydrated are all signs that there might be something more serious go- ing on that your doctor should check out.” Next, diarrhea. Simply put, a student cannot learn if they are in the bathroom instead of the classroom. Beyond not feel- ing well and not being capable of learning, diarrhea is also a symptom of contagious sicknesses such as viral gastroenteritis. Likewise, students who have vomited more than twice within a 24-hour period need rest and hydration from the comforts of home. Vomiting at school spreads germs and is downright stressful for the student. Finally, sniffles and coughs happen. A mild case of the sniffles is probably okay for a child to go to school. However, Scaggs Huang suggests that, “if your child was up all night with a bad cough, he or she may not feel well enough to learn in class.” If the sniffles and cough are accompanied by a fever? That, too, means some time spent learning at home. KEEP YOUR SICK KID FROM GETTING EVEN SICKER Ever notice that sicknesses sometimes fall like dominoes, one after the other? A cold, then a stomach thing, and then now a bout of pink eye?! Unfortunately, misery loves company. Sick children have weakened im- mune systems, which means they are more likely to pick up additional sicknesses. Keeping sick kids at home keeps them from catching even more sicknesses. RETURNING TO SCHOOL Many schools have a 24-hour rule when it comes to coming back to school. Once a student is 24-hours fever-free and their symptoms are decreasing, it is probably okay to head back to school. Go by the book and “check with your school about its illness policy, as (those) can vary,” says Scaggs Huang. A checklist and checking the school handbook is helpful in knowing when kids should stay home sick. But also, parents just know their kids, right? As a parent, you know the glassy eye look, the clam- my feeling on their skin, a certain tone of voice, and yes, some parents report they can even smell when their kid is sick. So of course, go by the books when it comes to keeping home your sick kid… but also… trust your gut.
BRPARENTS.COM | OCTOBER 2025
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