i think a sit down with the kids to tell them that pretending to be sick is a bit of a slippery slope...'boy who cried wolf' might be a good bedtime story lol

no, but in all seriousness, sometimes (and this is from my memories of doing this as a kid) you just need a break. they are probably tired considering how close to end of term it is, or maybe they do need a bit more time with you and a feeling of some security (i remember that my girls have all found it hard a few months down the track after a baby is born and needed a bit more reassurance that all is good in their world ITMS).

I reckon you could use this as a great opportunity to have a chat and a cuddle about how awesome they are and how much you dig them, but that it is really really important to be upfront about your feelings (and that includes if you feel actually sick or not). we have had this convo before in short bursts here and there and it does seem to give a bit of confidence to my girls to express what they are feeling. I also found that sometimes the 'sickness' was the feeling of butterflies and nervousness...but that DD1 didnt have a way to conceptualise that and called it 'sick' feeling in her belly.

many not an easy one to deal with when you realise you have been played and so hard to make that judgement call to believe it or not! but like the others have mentioned, when it does happen straight to bed with pjs on! when they are truly unwell, it is all that they will want to do