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Original poster

Please help me make sick days as unappealing as possible!

33 replies

Isitweekendyet · 06/08/2019 19:39

My DS has been sent home from nursery for the second time in a fortnight by pretending to be ill.

They have a 24 hour exclusion policy when they are sent home so he can't go back tomorrow. DS has worked out if he coughs and coughs and looks mopey enough that they will call us and he comes home.

He's really been dragging his feet going to nursery because a lot of his friends are off for summer. We've been doing nice things at home to cheer him up so at the minute home is where he would rather be.

He usually gets to pick his poorly tea but I've fed him chicken and veg soup so he can get big and strong.

I'm saying no screen time tomorrow because he needs to rest and hoping he'll be bored enough that he won't try again.

He perked up the second he got home and without a shadow of a doubt he's faking. He, of course, denies all claims and keeps forgetting he's even supposed to be ill.

Does anyone have any tricks for making nursery more fun than home?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 06/08/2019 19:41

Surely sick children lie in bed with the curtains closed all day?. Slept the best medicine isn’t it?.

OrangeSwoosh · 06/08/2019 19:42

If we were sick enough to be off school, we were sick enough to spend all day in bed. As a result, I never had a day off from starting in reception to finishing college at 19!

TitianaTitsling · 06/08/2019 19:42

Bedroom with lights dimmed/off, boring food, no exciting toys- Def no TV or electronic toys!

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gamerchick · 06/08/2019 19:45

Yep, illness means bed with a book if they cant sleep. It has to be as dull as possible.

It worked quite well.

Choice4567 · 06/08/2019 19:45

Bed all day. Seems unlikely you’ll be able to keep him there, so maybe bedroom in the morning and then if he’s ‘well enough’ he can come down and eat his strengthening soup for lunch. Then straight to the sofa for more rest. No tv or enthusiastic games though or else the next day it’ll have to be bed all day...

Atlasta · 06/08/2019 19:47

Laid on sofa or in bed. No TV's or other screen time. Water and dry toast only.

usersouthcoast · 06/08/2019 19:48

Our blatant 'punishment' for faking a day off school was that instead of mum having us, she'd pack us off to grandparents for a day. They weren't so fun, and didn't have TVs in their bedroom so it was just books and boring snacks all day.

My friends son tried to pull that on me (his mum had to go to work early, so I stayed over the night before to take him to school). I was normally pretty fun so I think he thought he'd be in for a good day. I just said to him "I would imagine a lucozade on the way to school will perk you up".... went to school!

Can you reward chart a full day/week at nursery and make the weekends crazy fun?

Blueemeraldagain · 06/08/2019 19:49

I second a lot of the suggestions here but, as an English teacher, please don’t use reading as the boring or off-putting activity! My mother used to give my brothers and I colouring in or jigsaw puzzles.

PaquitaVariation · 06/08/2019 19:52

Bed, all day. I’ve found that if they’re genuinely ill then it’s exactly what they need and they don’t mind anyway.

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/08/2019 19:52

When I was little my dad gave me white bread in hot milk when I was ill. It was utterly foul.

Try it, I’m sure it’s still minging.

Original poster
Isitweekendyet · 06/08/2019 19:54

Why didn't I think of keeping him in bed!

That's a great suggestion, especially as I'll have to work from home.

DH was going to take the day off but he's a bloody soft arse so colonel mummy it is.

I remember my nana giving us boiled water so he can have that with yet more soup and cornflakes.

If I get one more 'I'm poorly!' I'll swing the little turd from the front window!

@blueemeraldagain don't worry he loves reading! It would be a treat for him.

I'm thinking of going into the loft for a hunt of the abacus. He has no idea just what tomorrow holds for him!

OP posts:
Original poster
Isitweekendyet · 06/08/2019 19:56

@fluffycloudland77 that sounds vile. I'm going to give it a go!

He keeps shouting from his bedroom and when I go inside all I'm getting is 'supper for my tum tum?' and massive eyes so manky bread and milk may be ideal.

He has a career in theatre, I swear.

OP posts:
ThatCurlyGirl · 06/08/2019 20:00

He, of course, denies all claims and keeps forgetting he's even supposed to be ill.

This is simultaneously adorable and naughty of him!

My mum used to do the all day in bed method (obviously only if she knew we were faking) with what I now realise was MASSIVELY over egged sympathy.

Oh no no sweetheart you can't watch telly because if you do it when you're poorly your eyes might fall out.

Oh no no darling you can only eat very plain things when you're poorly or you'll be sick.

Oh no darling you can't play with your brother because you're SO ill you'll make him poorly too. So we'll be making cakes while you rest you poor thing, come and join in when you're better and then you can go to school in the morning... because you're better right?

Her mistake was introducing audiobooks late in the game - she thought they were boring, we fucking loved them 😂

PurpleCrazyHorse · 06/08/2019 20:02

Oh yes. We had to lie on the sofa. No TV, no toys, bread for lunch, soup for dinner.

JenniR29 · 06/08/2019 20:06

I remember faking illness once when I was child. My mum took my brother and sister to the chip shop but I had to have soup. I’ll never forget the smell of those chips 😂!

Teacakeandalatte · 06/08/2019 20:06

I'd have a word with nursery about this. Its a shame he isn't enjoying it and missing his friends maybe they can look at ways to make things nicer for him.

ThatCurlyGirl · 06/08/2019 20:15

@JenniR29

I remember faking illness once when I was child. My mum took my brother and sister to the chip shop but I had to have soup. I’ll never forget the smell of those chips 😂!

Are you part of my family?! It's genius isn't it! My equivalent was Mummy's Spag Bol. I had bread. And cried. There was enough for seconds... my brother had two portions 😂

AngelasAshes · 06/08/2019 20:18

Have you considered he may be needing mental health sick days? Going to nursery year round is hard on a child especially in summer when it seems everyone is off having a nice time. He may just want a break from routine.

PapaShango · 06/08/2019 20:26

Remember doing this once in school. My parents went to work and left my at my grans. She made my favourite dinner, waited for my db and ds to get home, and dished it up for them. I got really plain bone broth. It was disgusting. Never faked being sick again!

Original poster
Isitweekendyet · 06/08/2019 20:27

You can tell he's my first! We all suffered through the soup, we could have had a chippy!

Might have a Chinese tomorrow and he can partake or not depending how he's 'feeling'.

@AngelasAshes I gave him the benefit of the doubt last time and he had a lovely time off. He was flailing round the living room on wii tennis not half an hour after he got in.

Unfortunately, I don't want to get him into the habit of I don't want to go in today so we can just stay home. He's absolutely fine in himself. Just fancied a continuation of the weekend.

We go away at the start of September so he doesn't have long left at all!

OP posts:
Original poster
Isitweekendyet · 06/08/2019 20:28

@Teacakeandalatte his key worker was all over it last time and sussed him out before I did.

She is unfortunately on holiday this week so the other staff must not be so savvy!

I was stunned at his ingenuity!

OP posts:
Ribenaberriesgowoo82 · 06/08/2019 20:42

How old is he? He sounds a little charmer. Grin

VenusTiger · 06/08/2019 20:45

Aw, he wants to be at home OP. Can’t any of your family look after him instead? He needs a break from ‘school environment”. We all need a break from it.

VenusTiger · 06/08/2019 20:47

@JenniR29 😂😂

megletthesecond · 06/08/2019 20:48

No TV. Boring and quiet.