Guest Post: 5 signs that your child is faking sick

by Katrina on March 21, 2011

Thanks everyone, for the great comments on last week’s post about dealing with sick days. I thought we’d stay with that theme for another week with this guest post by Kitty Holman about how to tell if your child is faking sick.

From Kitty Holman:

Ferreting out the Ferris Bueller in your Family: 5 Signs that Your Child is Faking Sick

As the spring approaches, allergy season is upon us, and you’ll probably be dealing with illnesses in the family. At the same time, however, you’re a busy working parent who can’t really afford to stay home whenever your kid has a mild case of the sniffles. Staying home to care for a sick kid is of course important, but knowing when your kid is faking will enable you to take the necessary time off when your child is truly sick. Here are a few tell-tale signs, gleaned from parenting experience and the helpful advice of my husband, a doctor:

1. The symptoms are vague and change from one area of the body to another in a short period of time.

This is usually a dead giveaway. Although older or cleverer children may think to report symptoms consistent with a specific illness, the younger ones are usually not so careful. If your kid is complaining about aching stomach one minute, then says her head or ears hurt the next, keep your guard up.

2. Your child conveniently gets sick at the same time something unpleasant in school is going on (a test, a PE class, etc.)

Many kids often fake sick as a way to avoid a problem over which they have a certain level of anxiety. Tests, performances, and sports events are common ones. Anxiety is normal of course, and in this case, you should talk to your child about their problems and coax them into confronting them. However, sometimes children’s aversions could be more serious, like bullying or conflict with teachers or administrators. It’s very important to be communicative with your child and keep in touch with what’s going on in school to avoid the frequency of your child faking sick.

3. Your kid doesn’t consistently register a high temperature.

An above average temperature is the hallmark of illness, and if your child has a fever after checking the temperature twice within an hour or two, then she definitely should stay home. As Ferris has shown us, temperatures can be faked, but it’s hard to fake them for more than one or two trials. If your child doesn’t have a temperature but she insists that she’s sick, check for other signs of illness.

4. He or she is droopy-eyed one moment and energetic the next.

Most sick kids aren’t enthusiastic about doing activities they normally enjoy. If your child is having too much fun watching TV and doesn’t feel the need to sleep more than usual (another sign of illness), then you’ve got a faker on your hands.

5. Your child refuses to go to the doctor and is hesitant about taking medicine or other measures that an ill person would likely welcome.

Although some kids hate the doctor and hate medicine, they will usually comply if they are truly sick. If, in combination with the above signs, your kid refuses to see a medical professional or turns down medicine, then you know they are likely making things up.

These are just a few ways to tell if your child is faking sick to avoid school. The best way to tell if your child is sick, however, is by simply knowing your child well and noticing physical changes. Mothers are on the vanguard when it comes to this sort of intuition; you really don’t need medical knowledge to be able to discern the real thing from the sham. At the same time, however, be aware that constantly faking sick is a textbook symptom of early on-set depression, chronic anxiety, or some other psychological ill. If you suspect this is the case, talk to a mental health professional as soon as possible.

This guest post is contributed by Kitty Holman, who writes for nursing colleges.  She welcomes your comments at kitty.holman20@gmail.com.

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Shawna

I think I’m going to post this on the fridge!

Reply

beth

Well I put a lie dettor app on my iphone
And it said my kid was lieing and then I saw her stick
Her finger down here thoat . But she is better.

Reply

Kennedy

Learn how to spell

Reply

Vicky parket

Learn to not be a complete jerk

Reply

Taryn

Burn

Reply

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