Reasons to Keep Your Child Home From School

In years past, your child may have gone to school with a slight cough or runny nose, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, the rules have changed. 

Since children can experience mild symptoms with COVID-19, it’s important that all signs of illness are taken seriously. HMH experts share insight on when to keep your child home from school. 

Symptoms to watch include:

• Fever; anything over 100.4
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargic
• Difficulty breathing
• Cough

COVID Testing & Staying Home

Regardless of your child’s school orders, if they exhibit any symptoms of a respiratory illness, you should keep them home and get them tested for COVID-19 right away.

It's not uncommon for doctors to see children come in with low fevers, seeming to be nothing serious, but the results then show they are COVID positive. Which confirms why you can never be sure what is and isn’t COVID, especially within this age group.

If your child is sick, it is important to keep your child home from school and away from others until a negative COVID test is found.

Taking a Mental Health Day

Dealing with the fear of COVID-19 and the transition from school to home and then back to school, it has been really hard on children and families as a whole. Children are no different than adults, and when it comes to mental health it needs to be a prioritized. 

If you feel that your child needs to stay home from school to keep from being overwhelmed, let them take a mental health day. It’s important to normalize and encourage self care when it’s needed.

Next Steps & Resources:

• Make an appointment online with a pediatrician near you, or call 800-822-8905.
• Schedule you or your child’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment.