WIBU to keep her off in this extreme heat?

[Lookingforadvice2]

We live down south, temperatures hitting 30+ and have actually had a weather warning for small children and vulnerable people staying safe because of high risk of sun/heat stroke etc.

DD has autism and has struggled with the heat the last few days, and also has eczema and the heat has made her skin incredibly itchy too.

She’s only got 4 days left of term, and temperature is meant to be dropping on Thursday/Friday so she could go back in then, but WIBU to keep her off tomorrow and Wednesday when the temperature is meant to be even hotter than today?

There’s been some issues with her school anyway so I don’t have very good communication with them, and I don’t know what is being put in place to keep the children cool in school.

DD was quite poorly over the weekend due to the heat, so I’m worried, and was thinking it would be easier for her to relax at home without having to wear clothes and to air her skin a bit to avoid a full on flare.

I’m at home all the time anyway due to being her carer so it makes no difference to me in terms of work etc.

I don't think most people on here are likely to have the knowledge to be able to answer your question. You know best here.

She’s only 5. What’s she really going to miss in one day? Keep her home for sure and stay cool and relaxed.

@InFiveMins

I wouldn't keep her off either. Ask the school to keep an eye on her and make sure she isn't getting too hot.

How do you propose the school does that? There' no aircon, most places don't have fans because of the cost of including them on the PAT round or because children cannot be trusted not to stick their fingers into the blades to see what happens - they're all just as hot and can't do a thing about it, even though they'd love to be able to.

And the argument of ‘what about people living in hot countries’ is irrelevant - she doesn’t live in a hot country. If I had wheels I’d be a wagon.

Thank you for all your responses - I have decided to keep her off until Thursday/Friday - reasons being the extreme heat weather warning, her skin, and also the fact that in her journal when I checked last night, the school had written that she refuses to drink properly whilst in school and there’s no way she’s being out in 30+ weather and being dehydrated all day. Hoping that she has a much cooler day today! X

Good hope she feels better soon.

And the argument of ‘what about people living in hot countries’ is irrelevant - she doesn’t live in a hot country. If I had wheels I’d be a wagon.

😂

You’ve made the right decision OP.

Oh bless her - let her stay off. We all know how uncomfortable the heat can be without adding the sensory issues to it. And she's only little.

Keep her off, I'd keep myself of if I could.

Late to the thread OP but IMO you've made the right call.

I'm the parent of an Autistic teen. If I had a pound for everyone who has told me things along the line of "you can't set a precedent that lets them think they can get away with..." I'd be a very rich woman. I consider myself to be quite old school with my son & have always endeavoured to keep things as mainstream/'normal' as possible but we are talking here about a child with a disability & a health condition experiencing significant difficulties in extreme & unusual circumstances. Well done for trusting your own judgement - you know your child best.

I hope things improve for your family soon

Ask the school to keep an eye on her and make sure she isn't getting too hot. as if they will. Not much has changed since when i was at school not that many years ago and we were forced to wear jumpers in this heat. A few colleagues with secondary school aged kids and some primary said it's still the same.

Classrooms are really hot too there's just no air in them!

Good call op. Lots of play in a cool bath maybe. Y'know physics lessons on liquids.

Keep her home.

I’ve got an autistic child who doesn’t always know when he’s thirsty/too hot. That’s worrying enough without the eczema.

I hope your daughter was a bit more comfortable at home today OP.

I just wanted to say that be sure to totally ignore some of the comments from people who clearly don't understand autism and seem to think our children can just snap out of it and deal with things. If it was that easy, they wouldn't have autism.

You definitely did the right thing. My son also has autism and won't drink at school properly.

Well done.

My DC haven’t done any work this week anyway. They’ve watched films and drawn pictures every bloody day so it’s a bit unnecessary sending them in anyway.