To not give any devices to child off school

[DancingHippos]

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?

So she has diarrhoea and you’re punishing her?

I was so ill I was off for 6 weeks as a kid.

It’s the reason we got Sky TV.

Didn’t stop me being a big reader.

I don’t think she should be punished for being ill. What an odd response. If you were sick you wouldn’t expect your husband to ban you from watching tv or using your phone.

I’m fairly strict on screens regardless of illness. So there’s a set time limit per day if they used that up at home alone then would watch over a siblings shoulder, which leads to arguing, everyone has a set period of time to use devices.

Books are unlimited. I do think screens have a detrimental effect on people not because they are screens but because of the way we use them / the way algorithms encourage us to use them to keep you online longer. Constant small bursts of entertainment isn’t great for concentration or an attention span.

Some kids are better than others though and can be given more trust, mine would spend the day watching shit on YouTube.

Yes to no screens.

In my family, we always stay in bed, so no access to screens. Very relaxing, recovery day of reading, drawing, completing puzzles or jigsaws.

No stress.

Having to spend a day not constantly on a screen shouldn't be considered a "punishment".

Any time I was ill as a child I had to stay in my bedroom with no tv and no books ( I was a bookworm as a child, which my parents very much disapproved of). Also my parents were careful not to interact with me beyond the bare minimum. The rule was, in their words, that if I was off I had to be miserable. Even when I broke my leg and couldn't put weight on it, the same rules applied.
I hated having time off even when I was really ill, but they saw it as pre emptive punishment.

It’s not the lack of screens that’s the punishment as such, it’s controlling how your 12yo spends their time when they’re unwell that’s a punishment.

A lot of daytime TV is very relaxing.
People buying and selling antiques. Finding a house in the countryside to live in. Repeats of "cosy" crime dramas. Countdown of course ! The ultimate daytime telly show.
Countdown is both relaxing and educational.

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.

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

I’ve just had a dodgy tummy for 2 days, around 8 loose bowel movements, I’m on mat leave with 2 children but I would have kicked out my DP if he said no screens because of a dodgy belly!!!!

You either believe her or you don't.

If you're suspicious due to past behaviour then enforce weekend rest (no going out or going to see friends) and doing school catch up and see if it changes things.

If she decides she feels well enough to go to school, there's your answer.

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

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.

It’s bonkers isn’t it?

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

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’ 😐

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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

I would allow it, she is unwell.

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