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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not give any devices to child off school

138 replies

DancingHippos · 02/05/2025 07:44

DD age 12 is wanting to not go to school as she has had loose bowels 3 times in the last 12 hours. I am a bit suspicious as Friday is my day off work. However, she's probably telling the truth. She's doing well in school and had friends etc.
However I have an appointment that I need to go to and can't cancel - it was booked 4 months ago. She'll be fine by herself for 3 hours.
However I don't know if I should give her her ipad, allow her to watch TV- in other words just chill at home. She doesn't have a smart phone.
What is reasonable to do in these situations?

OP posts:
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MmeChoufleur · 08/05/2025 10:45

Needmorelego · 07/05/2025 08:45

But the OPs daughter had the runs.
As schools hate letting their pupils use the toilets the poor girl would have likely shat herself.
How humiliating for her.

I’d give her some Imodium and send her in. If I’d kept 20 year old my lactose intolerant dd off school every time she had the runs, she’d still be learning her three times tables.

RaspberryBeretxx · 07/05/2025 09:48

I'd let her watch tv for the time you're at your appointment and I'd encourage her to get her homework all done or sleep/read in bed the rest of the time depending on how she's feeling in herself.

Needmorelego · 07/05/2025 08:45

Missey85 · 07/05/2025 07:56

When we were kids mum always told us if we were well enough to watch the TV we were well enough to be at school

But the OPs daughter had the runs.
As schools hate letting their pupils use the toilets the poor girl would have likely shat herself.
How humiliating for her.

Missey85 · 07/05/2025 07:56

When we were kids mum always told us if we were well enough to watch the TV we were well enough to be at school

Communitywebbing · 07/05/2025 07:45

From what you’ve said OP I would have sent her to school. Loose bowels without other symptoms isn’t a reason for avoiding school. Definitely no devices today, not as a punishment but so that staying home is a bit unattractive compared to being out.

BizzyLizzyandLittleMo · 07/05/2025 01:53

I pity some of your poor kids. Imagine feeling rough and not even having the pleasure of something to take your mind off the misery of it. My mum used to pamper us when we were poorly, it’s one of my best memories of her, nothing was too much trouble, she’d tempt us with whatever we fancied if we had a reduced appetite and we’d be allowed on the sofa with a blanket and the tv on all day. Yes I milked it on the odd occasion to have a day extra but she soon sussed it and I’d be back at school the next day. Never did us any harm and I’ve definitely not been a shirker in life. Cut the kid some slack and let her have the odd duvet day I say

Nikki75 · 05/05/2025 22:25

She's got a tummy bug she hasn't done anything wrong so why stop screen time , let her relax.

celticprincess · 05/05/2025 22:19

Sick days are for dozing in front of the tv. Kids wouldn’t fancy This morning and Loose Women so allowing them to doze to something more appropriate would be fine. My kids are rarely off school so I know if they’re off they’re really ill. They do have TVs in their bedrooms and IPADs - shock horror!! They don’t watch TV that often but have apps logged on to their kids version - Netflix with the age restrictions depending age, bbc IPlayer kids, etc. So I know they’d be watching appropriate programmes.

I’d also make sure she has a phone on her - or the iPad accessing iMessages if she doesn’t have an actual phone - and probably check on her a couple of times from the appointment- when I’ve arrived and just before I leave. And so she knows she can get me in an emergency if needed.

When you’re poorly 3 hours can drag if you’re not occupied watching crap TV. When I’m ill during the night I don’t put telly on the the night seems to last forever. But I’ll during the day and it speeds by with telly.

JustCopyeditorsAnnie · 05/05/2025 21:45

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Jumpers4goalposts · 05/05/2025 21:01

Generally if my kids are too ill for school they are in their beds in their rooms until they are feeling better. They do have teles in their rooms until so I allow that but not iPads or phones until they are feeling better.

LaDamaDeElche · 05/05/2025 19:58

The only minor illnesses you need to be in bed for hours with are the flu or a particularly bad virus. Some people on here are just weird. With a dodgy tummy or a cold it’s totally normal to watch a film or use your phone. You either believe her or you don’t. It sounds like she’s doing well at school and is a well-behaved child, so the fact you are even on here asking this is odd, although you’re in good company on this thread to be honest.

Dawnb19 · 05/05/2025 18:07

How bizarre and controlling. Are you trying to punish her for being ill? Let the girl relax and watch her iPad. We've all had dodgy stomachs before and it's not nice. My children has had 3 in the last few months so we had 48 hours in the house watching tv. There loads of bugs going around at the moment.

Laura95167 · 05/05/2025 18:05

If you believe she's ill I'd let her chill with TV or the iPad. If you don't I'd take her to school.

When I'm ill I watch tv under a blanket and drink plenty water or tea so I wouldn't deny my kid some comfort and enjoyment while they recover

Single50something · 05/05/2025 17:46

Would you sit in silence with a funny tummy? No. Let her watch tv etc.

TwinklyNight · 04/05/2025 07:05

I would allow it, she is unwell.

londongirl12 · 03/05/2025 10:15

So you just expect her to lay on the sofa staring at the ceiling?

FedupofArsenalgame · 03/05/2025 10:07

AliceMcK · 02/05/2025 23:04

Where she can spread it to others 🙄

I don’t know any school that would allow a child in school after having the shits until 48hours free of the shits has passed.

Not all diarrohea is caused by bugs you know. How does the 48 hour thing work if you have some condition that causes regular diarrohea? IBS for example

faerietales · 03/05/2025 08:21

Floundering66 · 03/05/2025 06:56

I’d probably be similar to my parents in this situation - I was always told to go back to bed if I was too sick for school and if I felt well enough to do something I could read school books/ do homework - so a day off school was always boring. My husband had the same, he loved the PlayStation but wasn’t allowed to play on that if he had a sick day.

I just don’t understand the logic here at all - I know people upthread have tried to explain it but I just can’t imagine having a sick child and telling them they’re not allowed to lie on the sofa with the TV on!

Nevertooearlyforsanta · 03/05/2025 08:19

Not much trust in your kids if you think anything other than boring sick days means they will lie about being sick! Seems a little excessive and unkind even. God forbid they’re sick and want some comfort!

Floundering66 · 03/05/2025 06:56

I’d probably be similar to my parents in this situation - I was always told to go back to bed if I was too sick for school and if I felt well enough to do something I could read school books/ do homework - so a day off school was always boring. My husband had the same, he loved the PlayStation but wasn’t allowed to play on that if he had a sick day.

AliceMcK · 02/05/2025 23:04

FedupofArsenalgame · 02/05/2025 21:21

Imodium does. Take a couple of them and go to school

Where she can spread it to others 🙄

I don’t know any school that would allow a child in school after having the shits until 48hours free of the shits has passed.

wehavea2319 · 02/05/2025 22:38

normal daytime TV. No iPlayer etc.

I don’t understand this- ‘let her have TV but make sure she can’t choose what programme she wants to watch’ 😐

faerietales · 02/05/2025 22:29

wehavea2319 · 02/05/2025 17:11

Agreed, not good parenting. I’m so glad my mum wasn’t like this. I can’t imagine being told I’m not allowed to lay on the sofa and watch TV when ill like the majority of people do.

It’s bonkers isn’t it?

I just can’t understand the thought process behind it at all.

Sjh15 · 02/05/2025 22:16

I’ve had to come back here because I’m baffled by some of the comments
you believe her or you don’t
if you do - let her have the iPad!!!!

don’t punish her for having diarrhoea.

I’ve just had 2 days of diarrhoea and the most baffling comment I’ve read on here ‘screens after school hours’ could you imagine if my DP seriously came in and told me no phone between the hours of 9 and 3.

Sjh15 · 02/05/2025 22:11

Lovelysummerdays · 02/05/2025 14:25

Im in the no screens camp if you are ill. Stay in bed and read a book, rest aids recovery. Can have screens after school hours.

Screens after school hours?
why?
does diarrhoea stop after school hours?