Buzz
There are times when the thought of going to school feels overwhelming, and occasionally, you might need a day to yourself. A bit of creativity is all it takes to avoid class and enjoy a day of relaxation and freedom. Here are some tips to help you skip school and come up with a convincing excuse for your absence.
Steps
Pretend to Be Sick
Set the stage. If you plan to pretend to be sick, start telling your parents a few days in advance that you’re not feeling well. Your illness will seem more believable if your parents notice some symptoms before the day you actually “get sick.’’
- To fake a stomachache, you could tell your parents that you might have eaten something strange at school.
- To pretend you have a cold, mention that your throat has felt a bit sore for the past few days.
- Stir things up the night before by waking up in the middle of the night and complaining about feeling unwell. You can mimic symptoms of a stomachache or flu the day before or simply say, “I feel like I’m getting sick” or “I feel so tired and off.’’
Wake up and "get sick". Wake up a bit later than usual. Tell your parents you’re feeling unwell. Act like you’re sick.
- Walk slowly as if your muscles are aching, and don’t bother fixing your messy bed hair.
- If pretending to have a cold, cough and sneeze a little, then mention feeling dizzy. If faking a stomachache, hold your stomach and groan in pain.
- Don’t eat much for breakfast. Sick people often lose their appetite, so eating less will help sell the act.
Fake a fever. Your parents might want to check if you have a fever, as it’s a sign of genuine illness. To convince them, you’ll need to make them believe you’re running a temperature.
- Before letting them touch your forehead, heat a damp towel in the microwave for 30 seconds. Ensure it’s not too hot, then place it on your forehead for about a minute. The warmth will make your head and body feel hot.
- Boil some water on the stove (this tip is for older kids only). Pour the boiling water into the sink and hover your face over the steam until it flushes. This will warm your face and make you feel chilly in cooler air.
- Do not hold your face directly over flames, stoves, or boiling water. These methods are unsafe and can cause burns.
- Warm a thermometer by rubbing it in your palms until it reads slightly above 37-38°C (any higher might risk a hospital visit). You can also warm it under hot water until it reaches a believable temperature.
First, act "heroic", then "give in". If your parents ask if you want to skip school, don’t immediately agree. Make it seem like missing a day of school is a tough decision.
- Pause for a moment, then say something like, "But I really want to attend gym class," before adding, "Though I’m not sure if I can handle a full day at school."
- Once your parents agree to let you stay home, you’re free to do as you please.
Keep up the act to make it believable. Even after achieving your goal, continue pretending to be sick throughout the day, at least when your parents are around.
- Act genuinely ill in the morning, then slowly pretend to feel better as the day goes on.
- The next morning, act like you’re still not fully recovered but well enough to go to school.
Skipping School While at School
Be aware of the risks. Many schools have surveillance systems, cameras, security guards, and teachers monitoring students who leave the premises. You could face significant consequences if you decide to skip school this way.
- Carefully review your school’s policies before deciding to skip and be prepared to face the repercussions if caught.
Leave school at the right time. If you plan to leave school during the day, choose a moment when you’re least likely to be noticed. This is usually when the school is bustling with students.
- Leaving during the first hour will draw attention, as most students are arriving, not leaving.
- Try attending the first class to at least be seen, then slip away during break time. You could also sneak out during afternoon breaks or lunchtime.
Keep track of time. You don’t want to be caught off guard when it’s time to return. While you’re out, make sure to check the time occasionally to know how much longer you have.
- Allow enough time to change back into your school uniform (if you changed earlier) and return to the school grounds before the final bell rings.
- At the end of the day, make sure to appear on time at the bus stop or where your parents usually pick you up. If a teacher notices and asks where you were, say you felt unwell in the restroom or were meeting another teacher. Just ensure your parents don’t hear from the school about your absence.
Finding Excuses to Skip School
Pretend you didn’t finish your homework. In the morning, make a fuss about not completing an important assignment—act panicked, cry, and frantically try to finish it. If your parents see you in such a state, they might feel sorry for you and let you stay home to complete it.
- This method doesn’t always work. Some parents will still send you to school to teach you a lesson about meeting deadlines.
Miss the school bus. If your parents let you take the school bus on your own, simply missing it can grant you a day off. Walk slowly to the bus stop to miss it, or hide somewhere until the bus leaves and then return home.
- You could also leave the house late (but don’t make it obvious), then run after the bus as if you’re trying not to miss it. Pretend to be upset when the bus drives away. If your classmates don’t live nearby, wander around to avoid being caught by your parents. Alternatively, head straight home, act disappointed, and tell your parents you missed the bus.
- If your parents are strict and still at home at that time, or if they return home for lunch, you’ll need to hide somewhere to avoid being discovered skipping school.
- Be aware of the risks! If neighbors see you miss the bus, they might inform your parents.
Change your parents’ alarm. This method can be simple if done carefully, but it carries risks: You might get caught, and you could also make your parents late for work.
- Take your parents’ alarm clock or phone while they’re asleep and set it 1-2 hours later (e.g., if it’s set for 6 AM, change it to 7 or 8 AM). Then reset the alarm. When it goes off, your parents will panic about being late and (likely) won’t have time to take you to school.
- If your parents only set one alarm, you only need to change that one. But if they set multiple alarms, you’ll need to adjust all of them.
Building Credibility
Fake a parent’s note. When you skip school, the administration will want to know your whereabouts. You can forge a note from your parents explaining your absence.
- Choose a believable excuse, such as attending a funeral, a dentist appointment, or the death of a pet.
- Type the note instead of handwriting it. Your handwriting likely won’t resemble an adult’s, which could raise suspicions. Typing is safer and looks more formal.
Talk about the day you were absent in front of your teacher. Come up with realistic details about that day—what happened, who you saw, and how you felt. Then casually discuss these details with friends so your teacher overhears.
- Mention how somber the funeral was with so many people crying, or how long and uncomfortable the dentist’s cleaning session felt.
Ask for the lessons you missed. Teachers often assume students skip school to avoid homework, so they’ll never suspect you were absent if you ask for the next day’s assignments. This also makes you appear responsible.
- To be more convincing, act eager to catch up, even if you’re not.
Tips
- Convincing your parents you’re sick can be harder if they’re stressed or anxious, so ensure they’re in a good mood that day.
- If caught, don’t lie—come clean. Lying will only worsen the situation, and honesty might reduce your punishment.
- If you’re not a good actor, simply turn off your alarm and claim it malfunctioned or didn’t ring. If your parents usually wake you, say you fell back asleep after they called (this depends on their determination to get you to school).
- Make your fake illness convincing, or at least understand the risks. If caught, your parents might not believe you even when you’re genuinely sick later.
- You can rub your forehead to fake a fever.
- Don’t get out of bed.
- Ensure your parents aren’t easily stressed; otherwise, you might end up taking medicine.
Warnings
- These tips usually don’t work for homeschooling.
- Frequent absences can lead to expulsion, so only skip school if absolutely necessary.
- If you’re being bullied or facing similar issues, skipping school won’t solve the problem. In such cases, talk to a trusted adult immediately.
- If you’re in elementary school, never go out alone.
- Skipping school is called “truancy.” Frequent truancy can result in legal consequences for you and your parents.
