Feel silly for stressing about this

[lauritagoddess]

Yesterday, I booked a trip for December. My DS will be full time in pre-K in catholic school in the fall so I'm going to have to get permission to take him out of school. I know, I know it's just pre-K, but I feel weird having to ask in the fall about taking him out of school for Disneyworld. We just came back last week and it was no big deal telling his preschool (where he goes half days) that I was taking him out of school for a week. One of his teachers even had a long talk with me about it since she's going with her sister and nephew in April. I just feel silly for feeling stressed about this, especially since he won't even be starting there until September.

 

[3mickeys&me]

Don't stress over it!!! We have pulled our kids out twice to go to Disney World. Once for a 7 day land and sea cruise. Tell the teacher in advance its a family vacation. Our teachers sent along a few things for my boys to do while away. Nothing major. Life is short, enjoy every minute!!

 

[laceemouse]

I think it gets a lot more iffy when the kids get older, like high school or maybe even junior high, when the work load gets real heavy and there are lots of assignments and projects that are hard to make up. But for younger kids, I would not worry at all.

 

[pyrxtc]

I'm taking my DS out of Kindergarden in December for our trip. I know the teachers at our school think it's a great thing for family vacations!

 

[Haworthfamily]

I feel stressed about the same thing, we leave on March 22nd and we have just applied in writing for my DD 4 1/2 to come out of school the week before her offical Easter school holidays.
It's really frowned upon here in the UK, but I look at it this way, she's going to learn so much at WDW from science in Epcot, communicating with hundreds of people, using a foreign currency and the biggest one: - Family time! and this is so important to get away from the run of everyday life.

I'm stressed too - but I'm trying to focus on the great time we are going to be having.
i'm still waiting to hear back from the head teacher whether she's got permission to be out of school and there's 11 days to go until take off!

Sarah

 

[missymagic]

Definitely don't stress I have taken my daughters out every December my oldest is in 3rd grade. We take work with us and my youngest was in kindergarden and they had her do a picture journal. Draw her favorite things of the day. Of course you couldnt tell but it was he creative pictures.

Be professional, we have to have paperwork to turn in 2 weeks prior to leaving and I reminder to teacher 2 days beofre.

Goos luck.

 

[get_us_to_WDW]

Pre-school is mostly about social skills and kindergarten readiness. I wouldn't think twice about my kids missing pre-school for a family vacation. As they get older it is a little harder, but I still think the positives outweigh the negatives. Life is short and family memories need to be made!!

 

[nliedel]

I have pulled the boys out to travel as my parents pulled both my sister and I out to travel and we are both smart, well adjusted and one of us (not me) is a many degreed Engineer with a large company. I would not feel bad about it at all. I can honestly say I learned more traveling than I ever did in school, which was basically a torture fest for super sensative me.

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

A few years from now it will not matter that he missed a few days of school. But those family vacation experiences are memories that last a lifetime!!

 

[lauritagoddess]

Thanks everyone. I guess I feel stressed about it because I have no idea how they'll react since he has even started there yet. I know that missing a week of pre-K isn't going to make any difference whatsoever, although if he doesn't get into Harvard and blames this trip on me I'll have to live with the consequences, lol.

 

[shellynn24]

I have to reply here because I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I don't see anything wrong with parents taking kids out of school for a family vacation. In Texas, it's not even legal. I took my son out of Pre-K for 9 days this fall for a trip to FL and when I got back a truancy officer came to my house to have me sign a warning paper stating that if he missed more school I would be prosecuted. I really think this is stupid! I should have the right to take my son out of school for a couple of weeks. As mentioned before this becomes more of an issue in the higher grades and that is understandable, but the decision should be up to the parents. My husband is military and we are just stationed in Texas for a while, but if we were going to be here for the rest of the kids school years, I would have to home school because I do not like too many rules.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I am amazed at some of these rules. Here in NC your child does not even have to be in school till 7. I do not know any state where a child is required to attend preschool or many states where kindergarten is required. I know that I have some controll issues when it come to my child, but I refuse to ask anyone's permission to take my child on a trip. I will make myself aware of the rules and policies and the possible consiquences for my actions and take that responcibility but I will not ask the school's permission. i will inform them of our plans and our plans to make up any work missed.
As a director of an preschool, I can not image why they would not encourage parents of children of this age to travel as much as possible with their children. My guess is that this school includes higher grades as well and this is just an across the board policy. I truly would question the goals and mission statement of a preschool that had issues with taking preschool age children out to travel. Just this week we had a child go to a ski resort, a road trip up north and to WDW! They share the experences with the class and all benifit!!!

Do not worry. If you are unhappy with the way they handle this, perhaps this is not the right school for your child.

Jordan's mom

 

[liamandcaili]

I can't imagine they would have a problem at the preschool level! I took my son out of 1st grade in December for Disney and right now, it seems like every week this winter some other classmate has been out for the same reason.

DS attended Catholic preschool, and they were very understanding about family time. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[tcolbert]

Definitely tell them in advance. I'd find out what the class plan was for the week and see how you can work it into the trip.

 

[erddig]

I am a teacher, and strongly believe family time is precious and its important to have family vacations. While some teachers do have a problem with taking kids out of school, most will be ok with it especially if you are sensitive to the timing (testing time is very difficult to have students out) and make sure the kids do not fall behind because of it.

That being said, most "school break" time vacation destinations are very crowded and often more expensive, and its the only time when teachers can take vacations. So by going "off" season your making it less crowded for us teachers!!!!!

Pam

 

[shellynn24]

I have to reply here because I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I don't see anything wrong with parents taking kids out of school for a family vacation. In Texas, it's not even legal. I took my son out of Pre-K for 9 days this fall for a trip to FL and when I got back a truancy officer came to my house to have me sign a warning paper stating that if he missed more school I would be prosecuted. I really think this is stupid! I should have the right to take my son out of school for a couple of weeks. As mentioned before this becomes more of an issue in the higher grades and that is understandable, but the decision should be up to the parents. My husband is military and we are just stationed in Texas for a while, but if we were going to be here for the rest of the kids school years, I would have to home school because I do not like too many rules.

I'll quote myself to clearify one little detail. My son is enrolled in a public school therapy program for speech. Because it is the public school they hold him to the rules of all the other kids. I still think the rule is stupid though.

 

[pewing]

We pulled both of our boys out three times for WDW. The last time was when they were in 2nd and 4th. It never was a problem. They are good students and we made sure they did any work possible ahead of time. The toughest part for us was that we went the first week in December (GREAT time to go! ) and so when we got back...we had a week to get all our makeup work done before the break (and end of the grading period)!

Officially it was an 'unexcused absence' and the teachers did not have to allow them to make up missed work, but it never was a problem.

Our boys also don't miss a lot of school normally.

Go for it!

BTW...you're a mom...you are suppose to stress over all things great and small!

 

[jodifla]

I'll quote myself to clearify one little detail. My son is enrolled in a public school therapy program for speech. Because it is the public school they hold him to the rules of all the other kids. I still think the rule is stupid though.

My son is in public preschool for speech therapy, and I pull him out when I need to to travel. No one has said anything about it.

I'm shocked at Texas. It's like living in a police state there!

 

[shellynn24]

My son is in public preschool for speech therapy, and I pull him out when I need to to travel. No one has said anything about it.

I'm shocked at Texas. It's like living in a police state there!

You have no idea!!! I think Texas takes things a little too far sometimes.