When should children stay home from school?
Back-to-school guidance highlights when symptoms warrant rest and recovery at home
8/27/2026
Ashley Schuelke, NP, Aspirus Family Medicine
As students return to the classroom, parents can expect their children to encounter plenty of germs. Children average more than two to three colds each year, according to the American Lung Association, making it important for families to know when a child should stay home from school and when it is safe to return.
While many mild illnesses can be managed with appropriate rest and fluids, some symptoms signal that a child should remain out of school to recover and reduce the risk of spreading illness to classmates and staff. According to Ashley Schuelke, a nurse practitioner with Aspirus Family Medicine, children should stay home if they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea or are simply too sick to participate in learning.
"Your child should stay home from school if the child has a fever, is nauseous, vomiting, has diarrhea or is feeling too unwell to participate in learning," Schuelke said.
Not every symptom requires missing class. Mild cold symptoms alone are not necessarily a reason for a child to stay home if they feel well enough to participate in school activities.
"It is important to keep a sick child home from school to prevent the spread to other classmates and staff at the school," Schuelke said.
Children can typically return to school when they are feeling well enough to participate in learning and have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Parents should contact a health care provider if symptoms worsen, if a child has difficulty breathing, or if there are concerns about dehydration, Schuelke said.
"For the back-to-school season, parents should trust their instincts, monitor symptoms and, when in doubt, contact their health care provider," she said.
Understanding when to keep a child home from school can help prevent illness from spreading while supporting a safe return to the classroom. For more information about family medicine services, visit Aspirus.org.
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