"Mom, my stomach hurts. I'm not going to school, am I!". Have you ever heard those words come out of your mouth? If you've seen the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, you know that some kids have very creative and genius tactics for avoiding school. Worried your child is one of them? Read this article carefully to identify the signs of a child who is feigning illness!
Step
Method 1 of 4: Checking for Symptoms
Step 1. Ask him how he feels
If symptoms don't sound clear, or if the pain keeps moving from one part of the body to another, it's likely that your child is feigning illness.
If her symptoms seem relevant and consistent (for example, a runny nose and itchy throat, or stomach pain and diarrhea), it's likely that she's not lying
Step 2. Check his body temperature
Don't leave your child's room after asking him to take his temperature with a thermometer. In some cases, children who want to lie will put their thermometer in hot water or stick it to a hot bulb to increase the temperature.
Step 3. Listen to the sound of vomiting and smell it
If your child admits to vomiting, you should be able to hear his voice and see his vomit.
Step 4. Observe the condition of the skin
Does your child's skin look pale and sweaty? If so, he's most likely experiencing an allergic reaction, dehydration, anxiety disorder, or even pneumonia.
Step 5. Ask permission to touch her belly
Children often complain of abdominal pain as an excuse for not attending school. If he forbids you to do so or refuses to eat and drink anything, he is most likely experiencing stomach pain.
Abdominal pain can be caused by prolonged constipation, a viral infection, or other more serious health conditions. Call the doctor immediately if your child has abdominal pain that does not go away
Step 6. Observe the condition of his eyes
If your child's eyes look red or watery, try asking if there's something wrong with their eyes. It's possible that your child is just having an allergic reaction; however, he may also be experiencing conjunctivitis, you know!
If your child has conjunctivitis or inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyelids, take him to the doctor immediately. Be careful, conjunctivitis is caused by a very contagious virus
Method 2 of 4: Observing His Energy Level
Step 1. Take him to see a doctor
Trust me, even someone who hates the doctor's office will still be willing to go to the doctor if they are really not feeling well. If your child refuses the invitation, chances are he doesn't really need it!
Step 2. Watch out if your child looks excited when they are not allowed to go to school
If his once droopy eyes suddenly shone with joy, he probably just wanted to skip school to watch his favorite television show.
You should also be wary if he seems excited that he doesn't have to do homework or school projects that day
Step 3. Limit your child's activities
Don't reward him with freedom when he doesn't go to school. If truancy allowed him to watch TV or play games all day long, he would not hesitate to do it again the next time around.
Holidays are indeed a time of rest; in other words, he should have been allowed to watch television when he wasn't in school. However, if he doesn't look sick while watching television, he's probably lying to you
Step 4. Observe if the energy is increasing
After you let him miss school, and after he's been sleeping twenty minutes longer than usual, he suddenly looks super excited to play LEGO and run around the house. If that's the case, it means he has lied to you. Don't let the same situation happen again!
Method 3 of 4: Finding Information about His Activities at School
Step 1. Ask how he was at school that day
Be wary if your child suddenly claims to be sick ahead of the Citizenship exam. If he feels unprepared, he will most likely want to buy time to take the follow-up exam.
- If your child is really worried about an upcoming presentation or exam, it's possible that that worry is transforming into a real physical annoyance. Help him to find out the reason behind his nervousness and find the most appropriate solution to overcome it.
- If your child is very young, he usually doesn't have the self-awareness to say, "I'm feeling anxious and restless today.". Explain to him that feeling afraid is normal; Also find out what you can do to help overcome this fear.
Step 2. Observe your child's relationship with the teacher
It's natural for your child to feel like he doesn't fit in with one or more of the teachers at his school. However, if the issue is then used as an excuse to skip school, you need to take immediate action.
- If this is the case, you should speak directly to the teacher in question.
- Find out if any other students are also having problems with the teacher. If not, the problem is most likely with your child's learning style and personality.
Step 3. Identify if your child is being bullied at school
About 30% of students in grades 6-10 are vulnerable to emotional disturbances due to being bullied. Therefore, it is very possible that your child is lazy to go to school because he wants to avoid the bullying.
Method 4 of 4: Making a Decision
Step 1. Think about whether the behavior is patterned
If every Tuesday and Thursday your child admits to having leg cramps (when those days he has to attend gym class), don't hesitate to send him to school.
- If you have trouble analyzing the pattern, trust your instincts.
- After all, if your child is really sick, the school will contact you and ask you to pick him up.
Step 2. If your child has noticeable physical symptoms, don't force him to attend school
For example, don't send her to school if she's vomiting, has diarrhea, has prolonged physical illness, has a cough with phlegm, or if her temperature is above 38°C.
By doing so, you care not only about your child's health, but also the health of his teachers and classmates
Step 3. Realize that everyone needs time off
You may be thinking, “Oh, how can young children be stressed?”; in fact, they are very likely to experience stress! Sometimes, even resting on the weekends is not enough for them, especially if they still have to do schoolwork on the weekends.
Symptoms that do not refer to a physical disorder may be a sign of stress, depression, or other emotional disorders
Tips
- If your child often claims to be sick on school days, but is always fine on weekends, you should be extra vigilant.
- Accompany him in his room to make sure he is really sick.
- Always observe your child's behavior. He could still be busy running in all directions, playing the computer, etc. when he admitted he was sick.
- See if he stays excited about doing the things he used to do when he was admitted to being sick.
