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Migraine at school
School migraine plans can help children and teens manage attacks, medication, hydration, rest, light sensitivity, and missed work.
Migraine at school can affect learning, attendance, tests, sports, and social life. A plan helps the child avoid negotiating from scratch during an attack.
The plan should be written before the next attack. During migraine, a child or teen may be nauseated, light-sensitive, overwhelmed, or unable to explain what they need.
What a school plan can include
- Medication instructions from the clinician
- Access to water and snacks
- A quiet low-light rest space
- Screen brightness or light adjustments
- Nurse office instructions
- Parent contact plan
- Make-up work and test rescheduling process
- A plan for physical education or sports if symptoms start
- A transport plan if the child cannot stay at school
What teachers may notice
A child with migraine may put their head down, avoid lights, ask to leave class, stop participating, look pale, become irritable, vomit, or struggle to focus. Some children have abdominal pain or dizziness more than obvious head pain.
Medication at school
Medication instructions should come from the child's clinician and follow school policy. The school should know where medication is stored, whether the child can carry it, what dose is allowed, and when parents should be contacted.
Missed work and tests
Migraine can make screens, reading, bright classrooms, and timed tests harder. A make-up plan reduces pressure to push through a severe attack and can prevent a single migraine day from turning into a week of academic stress.
Download a checklist
Sources
- American Migraine Foundation: Managing your child's migraine in school
- American Migraine Foundation: Migraine in children
- Mayo Clinic: Headaches in children symptoms and causes
Migraine Manager is a personal health journal, not a medical device. It does not diagnose or treat any condition. Always follow your clinician's advice for diagnosis, medication, and treatment decisions.
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