Give her a break?
New Jersey mom Noel LaPalomento posted a TikTok last week explaining that she lets her 6-year-old daughter Giada take a day off from school once a month — and not because she’s sick.
The viral video is sparking a debate among parents about letting kids take unofficial days off from school.
“I told my daughter she can pick one day each month to stay home without being sick,” LaPalomento, 26, wrote on her TikTok, which has scored 6.2 million views.
In the 12-second clip, LaPalomento and Giada spend the day playing, drinking bubble tea, and eating cotton candy at a shopping center.
“Last year, there [were] times she would literally come home from school, she’d be sleeping on the step before I could get her off, then she’d be sleeping in the hallway. It was like, the kid was a zombie,” LaPalomento told “Good Morning America” this week.
“And then she comes home, and I don’t even have time to spend with my kid. I’m making dinner, trying to do homework [with her], and then it’s time for bed,” she added.
LaPalomento’s video caption says, “Mind your business,” but surprisingly, many of her followers shared their support for her parenting practice.
Several of them likened Giada’s day off to a “mental health day.”
“A mental health day off would have done so much good for my hurting brain and heart when I was growing up. This is amazing!” one TikToker exclaimed.
“I’m a teacher and I’m not even mad about it. Especially if she’s so little!! Mental health days are super important and let kids be kids!” shared another.
“My dad called it a ‘snow day’ even tho it was like 80 degrees,” laughed a third.
Some were more skeptical of LaPalomento’s decision to take her daughter out of school so often.
“This is nice but don’t most schools only have so many days you can be out without a doctors note?” one wondered.
“Once a month? We do maybe 3 a school year,” offered another.
“Honestly I would hate this cause in the schools I went to, the work would just like up and they would teach something important which would mess with my grades making me feel even worse, but I’m so glad she loves it,” enthused a third.
“I know she’s good in school and she gets good grades, and she does all her work so she could stay home for a day. It’s not gonna hurt her,” LaPalomento told “Good Morning America.”
The Post reached out to her for comment.