We're pulling a sickie on Sports day WWYD?

[Amieesmum]

My DD is coming up for 7, in year two, last year on sports day, poor little mite was humiliated on sports day. She has a genetic condition the affects her hearing, and balance among other things, thus making it difficult to walk - running is near on impossible!

Last year, she was put into the sack race, and couldn't even get into the sack bless her, let alone jump in it down the track, needless to say she was so upset! She goes to a main stream school, and already gets laughed at during PE, which she now has full time support.

Despite this, her teachers insist she takes part and runs in at least one race (DD really doesn't want to do this)

So this year, the two of us have decided to pull a sickie and spend the day doing something fun! it's the school fair that afternoon, and i normally do the face painting, so DD will miss out on that, I have informed them i wont be doing it this year. Do you think i'm totally in the wrong for letting DD have the day off?

We had sports day today and it wasn't too bad, dd1 struggled with somethings but managed not to have a meltdown when she didn't win (unlike last year), dd2 just did what she wanted, cheeted on some games and refussed to take part in others, it was very windy which didn't help as dd2 hates the wind. So pleased its over for another year.

Sports Day was a major source of anxiety for my EDS son, he worried himself about it from the begining of term [last year, as Home Ed-ed now].

He knew he wasn't able to keep up/catch a ball/jump etc, and so did the school - but this didn't seem to worry them. He was humiliated in the run up - he was only 6, and when he refused to take part they told him off and I was called into school.

There are only so many failures a child can cope with and I was having no more of it -the straw that broke the camels back, so to speak. On Sports Day we had a lovely day out together with a pic-nic.
It was then that I also realised that life doesn't have to be like this, and we made the choice to Home Educate as the schools system, for my son at least was failing him, his education and his self esteam.

I'm really pleased that they aren't doing a sports day at our school this year. In national school sports week, they are having a "sponsored bounce" which DS will love. He is also doing multi-skills afterschool club which focuses on increasing balance and coordination. It does have a competition at the end but as each skill is separately carried out he seems to be able to manage this and is having fun!

We are going to try out a Disability Sports Club which includes some children with wheelchairs and some with LDs. Will see how DS copes with that - hopefully will be good for him

My DD now 9 has had different kinds of sports days, when younger she was the teachers helper, she loved that. Team sports day which she hated because she doesn't mind losing but hates letting her team down. Last year she was in the running race but started ahead of everone else, this didn't work because she waited for everyone to catch up and said she felt it was cheating. I like the fact that school has tried to include her in different ways but I think she should be asked how she would like to be included. I think having a day out is a great idea but I would keep it to your self because there are lots of parents and children that hate sports days for different reasons. This day is the one day some children can shine when they struggle all year in the class room.