Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

So my cousin has a 3 yr old who attends pre-k and apparantly was sick this morning but she sent her along anyway; school calls her to come get the kid and she can't and tells them to keep the kid there; they do and send a letter with her that she has to stay home tomorrow.

What do you all think of this? I don't have kids but i'm sure that if I did, and I had a kid in that class, i'd be mad as hell that someone sent their sick kid to school to infect everyone else. Does this happen a lot? Just interested in outside opinions.

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

1st I feel bad for HER child
2nd she should be embarassed for sending her and then NOT picking her up or having her picked up by someone
3rd as a mom with a school aged kid, I would be mad if my kid was in that class

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Unfortunately it happens a lot...I used to work in a day school and it happened all the time there. Some people don't think that their kid is really sick or not sick enough to not go. Others don't have anyone else to watch them when they are sick...IMO, I would never send my kid to school or daycare knowing he was sick...

Message edited 9/15/2010 11:23:00 PM.

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

crashing here since I am not a parent.. but as a teacher, I have to say this is why 10 sick days a year is NOT enough!

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

my kids are still small so I haven't had the experience of this.

that being said, I am sure there must be a reason she sent DC in anyway. I feel bad for working parents trying to juggle, maybe she did not have any one to watch him?


I feel bad for the child too, he is sick and has to sit there all day

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

I HATE when people do this!!!!! It is one of my worst pet peeves!!!! Keep your sick kid at home with you or make arrangements for someone to take care of them for the day. That is so irresponsible to put all the other kids in daycare in jeopardy of catching something.

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Posted by PennyCat

crashing here since I am not a parent.. but as a teacher, I have to say this is why 10 sick days a year is NOT enough!

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

I didn't know you'd have an option of not getting them!

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

I personally dont send my DS in to school sick, except if its just a common cold (I know, I know, even that is a source of debate on here). However, I also dont crucify parents who do send their kids into school sick (not with anything MAJOR though). While I prefer they keep their sick kid away from mine, if its not this one things, its going to be something else. Kids get sick, it happens and Im not going to sweat it if my kid gets someone elses kids germs....such is life.

Message edited 9/16/2010 1:18:33 PM.

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

I think its ridiculous, I actually know someone who send their child to preschool/daycare with scarlet fever just b/c she didnt want to take off. She ended up having to pick him up but tried to bring him back the next day!! They had to send out a letter to all the parents letting them know a child had scarlet fever and quite a few kids ended up getting sick!

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

I work and my DS has been in daycare and is now in preschool. Here's the thing about sending them sick - you are going to get the call. Sooner or later they figure out the kid is sick and you are getting that call. I prefer to keep my DS home for his sake, but I also think it's really inconsiderate of the other kids and parents in the class to send him in sick and I just don't do it. I don't have backup daycare, either DH or I stay home.

The way I see it is if my DS has a fever at 8am today and I keep him home, I can send him in tomorrow if I see that he is feeling better. If I send him in sick, they are going to call me and I will have to cut my day short and then not bring him back the next day, because it won't be at least 24 hours until he was sick there. Purely from a practical standpoint, aside from it being obnoxious, it just doesn't make sense because in the end, I would most likely have to take more time off in the end if I send him sick.

ETS - I am not talking about colds or sniffles, I am talking about fevers or reasons the school would call to have you come get them.

Message edited 9/16/2010 2:21:23 PM.

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

I think it is sad that the DC was sick and was sent to school anyway. I also didn't know you could just not come and get them.

I wish people would keep their children home when they are sick - a lot of people don't like my DD's school policy but I like it b.c the kids stay healthy and they aren't passing viruses on to each other all year long - so they miss less school in the long run than when they go in sick and constantly catch everything in creation.

Unfortunately like it or not I think it is part of being in a school environment - you will always have parents who do things you might or might not like or agree with. It is up to the school though to work with things like that. I do like that they asked the parent to keep the child home the next day though - that seems fair.

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Well, it depends. I have sent DS to daycare with a runny nose and mild cough. They get sick a lot in that environment, and unfortunately, DH and I cannot take much time off from work to stay home with him so off he goes. Now if he had a fever, serious cough, stomach virus, or just didn't seem himself, etc. he definitely would not go in--then we would definitely stay home with him. And if daycare called and told us to pick him up, you bet we would get him. Most daycares I looked at do allow children in if there is no fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

I'm surprised she could refuse to pick her child up! Never knew you could do that. I'm also not clear from your post--is she a SAHM sending her child to preschool or is this a preschool/daycare? If she's working, I kind of get sending him in if she didn't realize he had a fever, but refusing to get him is not good. But if she's a SAHM sending him to preschool, I wouldn't send my child in at all with a cold.

Message edited 9/16/2010 9:53:41 PM.

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

In my experience plenty of parents send their kids to daycare sick. It's a simple fact that not everyone has ample vacation time/sick time or alternative child care. I think fundamentally most parents try to do the right thing, but there are a select few that never give a single thought to the potential for infection of other kids by their child.

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

What kind of sick was it? Was she puking..because that's awful. But, If Liam has a runny nose, slight cough but, no fever.. he goes. He literally had a runny nose3 out 4 weeks a month from Sept until May. No kidding. But, when he got "real" sick. Of course he stayed home and when he had a fever.. I picked him up within minutes of getting the phone call. If he had a fever one night.. he stays home the next day.

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

Wow, I thought this was day care and she was working! U'm sorry but if she is a sahm she should have kept her child at home. The least she could have done was pick up her dc when they called. What's wrong with this woman?

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k

It happens ALL THE TIME

For 10+ yrs I worked in pre-k's and daycares and you would be shocked at how people sent their kids to school sick. Either no sitter and no time off or no paid time off, maybe didn't want to. Use their time off for an illness. It always broke my heart and pizzed me off.

Re: Just had to ask this here, sending sick kid to pre-k