How much TV when they’re ill but not that ill?!

[AnomieFirst]

Hi, I have a 5 year old off school due to tummy bug, mostly just to save passing it on to others. She’s not really ill in herself at all. I am also slightly ill myself (headache, aching, fatigue) and have a two year old to look after as well. My wife is away for work so I have no help until the weekend.

I hate staying in all day so am also feeling cabin fever already! My 5 year old has basically been watching TV all morning apart from maybe an hour or so where we did some colouring. She doesn’t really play alone, constantly wants me to engage and constantly gets annoyed with 2 year old who constantly tries to join in with whatever she’s doing… You get the picture, it’s hard work! I’m feeling conflicted between 1. Major guilt at the prospect of almost constant TV and 2. Giving myself a break and just accepting that it is probably what needs to happen today.

I’m grateful to hear what others think. I have a small circle of parent friends in real life and they are all very anti-screens and so I don’t dare ask their opinion!

Thank you very much

It’s one day watching TV, no harm will come of this. Just go with it for today.

DM used to say ‘if you’re well enough for television, you’re well enough for school’ and would send us to bed to sit and be bored all day 😂 I suppose it worked in that we never then bothered to pretend to be sick to be allowed off.

Personally, if you’re not feeling great yourself, I see no harm. Stick a movie on and rest up.

Hmm I’m quite tough with TV when ill because I don’t want DC to see “being off sick” as an attractive option. Also mine are older and can read well so there’s always “go and read” as an option.

However in your case it doesn’t sound like your DC asked to stay off, it was a 24hr rule thing. In which case I probably would be more lax and make my own life easier. Just remind her that this isn’t the usual!

As a one off, it’s fine. I also have a much younger child off nursery at the moment with a high fever, no childcare, also feel ill, but desperately need to finish a report.

So, we are both watching tv on the sofa, me with my laptop trying to get some work done, yet procrastinating on my phone, getting interrupted every 5mins for a kiss and a cuddle from the toddler.

I don’t see it as an issue, you do what you have to do to get through. Hope you’re all feeling better soon.

Don't worry about it. If you want it a bit more educational, then change the language to [insert language here] and you're good to go!

I do this! It's not for the faint hearted though!
I've actually got my 6 year old off today and he's really perked up after a temperature for the first few hours. He's asked for tv but I've bought myself time by giving him toys in the bath. He can have tv when we pick up his sister.
I am pretty strict on screens though... and this strategy is to make my life easier long term as he never complains about going to school!

For a 3 year old I'd stick screens on and get through the day. And to be fair today and tomorrow are quiet work wise so I have the luxury of sticking to my 1950s rule!

My 3yo has been off all week and we have a constant loop of frozen and toy story films. She has had periods of sleeping and playing when feeling up to it and has had chunks of the day not paying any attention to the TV.
We have had a mix of us looking after her and trying to work and grandparents trying to look after her whilst all she wants is us. Really anything that keeps her occupied enough is fine with me.
We will be very wary if TV time in the days afterwards so that she doesn't come to expect it

I have fond memories of being curled up on my grandma's bed watching Mary Poppins on VHS when poorly to me it's not dissimilar

Can a kid really pretend to be sick (convincingly)? I mean fever, tummy bug are pretty obvious. Maybe older kids?

Not really.... but even them TRYING to pretend on a regular basis would get pretty wearing!

If she has a stomach bug she obviously isn't faking. I'd be fine with a day in front of the tv in this case.

Thanks so much to everyone for replying, it’s so validating, I feel so much better.
She has diarrhoea but is well in herself so definitely not making it up but more a case of stopping others from getting it which is why she’s off school. I do see the point though that she might think today is brilliant and try it on another time lol!

I'd missed the fact you're feeling unwell and have a 2 year old at home too!
For the love of God, keep the tv on!

My DD really struggles to rest and do quiet activities when ill. So we do what we have to and let her watch TV, so her body will rest and she can get better sooner. We're generally a lowish TV household, so it's a big difference, but it hasn't really resulted in her pretending she's ill to watch more TV.

Hope you all feel better soon x