Sick kids should stay home from school if they have a fever, are nauseated, vomiting, pink eye or have diarrhea. Kids who lose their appetite, are clingy or lethargic, complain of pain, or who just don't seem to be acting "themselves" may also benefit from a sick day.
Otherwise, it's important that kids arrive at school on time every day, because having to catch up with class work and homework can be stressful and interfere with learning.
If your child is missing a lot of school due to illness, make sure to check with the teacher about any work that needs to be completed. It's also a good idea to know the school's attendance policy.
Sometimes students want to stay home from school because of problems with classmates, assignments or grades, etc. This can result in real symptoms, like headaches or stomach aches. If you think there's a problem at school, talk with your child — and then perhaps with the teacher and/or administrator — to find out more about what's causing the anxiety. The school social worker also might be able to help.
Also try to avoid late bedtimes, which can result in tardy and tired students. A consistent sleep schedule also can help students.