It starts with a stomachache.
Then a headache.
Then silence.
You check their temperature. Normal. No fever. You wonder if they’re trying to skip a test or just tired. But then it happens again. And again. And eventually, deep down, you know: your child isn’t sick. They’re scared.
Many children fake illness not because they’re sick, but because they’re scared. Repeated stomachaches, headaches, or school refusal can signal unreported bullying or emotional distress. If your child pretends to be sick often, it may be their only way of asking for help.
If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve felt that pit in your stomach – the one that whispers, “Something’s wrong at school.”
And you’re right.
Sick Days That Aren’t About Germs
When a child pretends to be sick, they’re not always lying. They’re translating.
Fear shows up in little bodies in strange ways:
- Stomach pain
- Headaches
- Shakiness
- Nausea
For some kids, especially the quieter ones, this is how they cry for help without using words. When school becomes a place of emotional threat – bullying, isolation, chaos – the body takes the hit. It becomes easier to say “I don’t feel good” than “I’m being hurt and no one is doing anything.”
Why So Many Schools Miss It
You report the bullying. You send emails. You call. You hear:
“We’ll look into it.”
“Kids will be kids.”
“We didn’t see anything.”
But that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
The truth is, many schools are overwhelmed. In overcrowded classrooms, it’s easy for administrators to focus on grades, behavior charts, and test scores – and completely miss the emotional well-being of the individual child.
Kids who are quiet about their pain get overlooked. And when a child does speak up, too often they’re asked to “toughen up” while nothing changes.
This is how trauma takes root. Slowly. Quietly. Internally.
The Real Cost of Feeling Unsafe
When a child dreads school, it doesn’t just affect attendance. It impacts everything:
- Confidence crumbles
- Curiosity shrinks
- Motivation flatlines
- Trust disappears
You might see:
- Frequent “mystery” illnesses
- Refusal to talk about their day
- Emotional outbursts before bed
- Sudden drop in grades or eye contact
And worst of all? They stop believing adults can or will protect them.
What Healing Starts to Look Like
Healing isn’t just about removing the bully. It’s about rebuilding safety from the ground up.
At Nerd Academy, we’ve seen what happens when children finally feel protected:
- They start to speak again.
- They make eye contact.
- They laugh.
- They raise their hand.
- They walk into the building without looking back in fear.
How?
We don’t rely on vague policies. We act:
- Small class sizes where teachers know every child by name and nuance
- Daily emotional check-ins
- Staff trained in conflict resolution and SEL
- A no-tolerance policy for bullying, favoritism, or labels
- Real consequences for harmful behavior, not excuses
Because for some kids, this isn’t just about education. It’s about survival.
If This Sounds Familiar, You’re Not Alone
Maybe you’ve blamed yourself.
Maybe you’ve stayed up wondering if you’re overreacting.
Maybe you’ve begged your child to just “hang in there.”
You’re not crazy. You’re not overreacting.
You’re doing what every protective, loving parent does – listening to your gut.
If your child keeps saying they’re sick…
…they might be telling you the truth – just not the kind you can diagnose with a thermometer.
What You Can Do Next
We built Nerd Academy because we were those parents. We heard too many stories that sounded like yours. And we decided to do something about it.
- Schedule a private tour. Come see what safety actually looks like – in the faces of kids who once felt afraid, and now feel free.
- Ask us anything. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just honesty.
- Download our Safe School Checklist – take it with you wherever you’re considering next.
Because your child deserves more than just “not sick.”
They deserve to feel safe. Every. Single. Day.