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Post by Shandawn on Sept 19, 2005 17:48:00 GMT -5
I'm having a dilemma here.  As we await the assessment (actually REassessment) process through the school, dd is struggling something awful with math & spelling. Her disorganization is causing missed assignments & LOTS of homework! It was suggested to me that I give her a day off school "A mental health day". Ok, that sounds great to me & dd would most likely LOVE it. My dilemma is, would letting her miss a day just cause a bigger backlog of homework, and , as a result, MORE anxiety for dd?? And then, if I do choose to give her the day off, what kind of excuse do I write? And do I expect dd to lie if asked why she missed a day or do we tell the school the truth? Is that an acceptable excuse? Have any of you given your child a day off like that?? UGH! WHy does it seem that even the simplest ideas give me the biggest headaches sometimes?  |
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Post by snorkeler on Sept 19, 2005 18:05:33 GMT -5
SHandawn,
I would give a mental health day if you think she is really just too anxious to concentrate and cant settle down. I have done it many times before although I
try not to have son miss Mondays or Fridays. You can write an excuse and say exactly that. She needed a mental health day. OR just simply write she was sick.
They do not need to know why, IT is your prerogative.
You are the parent. They are not the police.
Just make sure your daughter knows that it is not a TV day all day. She will need to do the missed homework but you can take it in slower steps with snack breaks
And get some exercise. It helps kids clear their minds!!
SNorkeler
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Post by wetmores on Sept 19, 2005 18:51:33 GMT -5
We are huge believers in giving kids mental health days from school. We have found that they gain so much from an occasional day off, far more than what they have missed in school. My daughter now gives my g'sons the occasional day off too:) peace, marge www.net-haven.net |
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Post by Shandawn on Sept 19, 2005 18:57:17 GMT -5
LOL!! Marge, you are the one who suggested it to me! I liked the idea & want to do it...I just wasn't sure about the excuse or whether the make up work would defeat the purpose!
Snorkeler, I was thinking about taking her to the zoo....She ADORES all animals & this is the best time of year to go....the animals are more active now than during the hot summer. Our zoo has a new "Tiger encounter" exhibit we'd both like to see!
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Post by ohmama on Sept 19, 2005 21:33:16 GMT -5
A mental health day with a field trip to the zoo is a wonderful idea. I agree with everyone else! I have also done this and called it just that, a mental health day. When your child is suffering from anxiety she needs treatment and that means taking time off and relaxing. It's perfectly alright as far as I can see. Good advice!
Just explain to the school that she will complete what homework she is able to and they will need to trust you with this, due to her circumstances and she should not be overloaded. I hope you both have a wonderful day.
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Post by TexasMom on Sept 20, 2005 20:38:10 GMT -5
I can't even get my kids to stay home when their sick! Our youngest is in third grade and she hasn't missed a day of school ever! She had a bad stomach ache last night and when I told her she might have to stay home today she claimed to have an almost instant healing.
Our school really rewards perfect attendence so much so that our kids feel like failure if they are sick.
At our son's 5th grade "graduation" the teacher that was handing out the Perfect Attendance awards made the comment, "How bad is it at home that they would rather be at school?" It made me laugh. I wish our youngest would miss a day so that the pressure would be off.
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