Pulling kids out of school??

[momof2chipmunks]

I am planning for our 2011 trip. Our options are June 12-22 or October 22-29. October is more appealing due to lower crowds and more comfortable weather. However, I am having some reservations about having my then first grader miss 5 days of school. Our school district has a fairly looses attendance policy. I just don't want DD to fall behind DH is not worried about it at all! Am I being silly? I would love to hear from more people who have had their children skip school for Disney. Hoping I feel more confident after some encouragement! TIA!!

 

[yankin]

It's your child not the schools-we quite often pull our two out of class with no problems. Granted they are now teens which presents it's own problems. Your son is in first grade dont sweat it...we always inform the school a week before departing to get any missed work. As your son is so young he really is not going to miss much. A non issue-go and have fun!!

 

[daisyduck123]

Missing 1st grade? I wouldn't give it a second thought....I'd just do it.

And I have done it myself with my own kids every year up until this year (now I have a DD15, a junior, taking FIVE AP classes this year ).

As a 1st grade teacher for 20 years now, I can tell you that whatever your child misses in school will be covered again. We never teach a skill just once & then forget about it. We are constantly reviewing previous material.

Pull your child out & go have fun. The lighter crowds are so much worth it. If it weren't for DD's five AP classes, I'd be doing it again this May.

 

[sarah g]

I just posted almost the exact same question a few days ago. Our option was to go this coming summer when it is hot and crowded, or wait until October...DS has two days off school so I would only have to pull him for 3 days. He will be in first grade and now is doing wonderful in school. The almost unanimous opinion was to take him out so I think we're gonna do that...I just have to check with the school.

 

[JUJU814]

First grade and only five days? I wouldn't give it a second thought..go and have fun!

Especially when you say the school has a loose attendance policy..go for it.

Personally, I have strong feelings on this issue and firmly believe that my children are MY children and no one can tell me what I can and cannot do with them. I took my daughter out once in grade 9 for a week.

I would LOVE to go in October!!

 

[ancestry]

I wouldn't worry about them missing in the first grade. We are pulling our second graders out for six day this coming May. If they were in high school that might be a different story but not in elementary school.

 

[momof2chipmunks]

Thanks for the encouraging advice. I'm beginning to feel much better about DD missing school.

 

[drinkme]

I would definitely choose October over June.

If you don't want your child missing that much school, you could always shorten your trip. Work around the school's days off schedules. We go to a disney park once every 9-15 months, so we usually only go for 4 nights. We try to get an early flight into Orlando, and then a late flight home. And the kids know they have to go to school the next day no matter how tired they are! lol.

 

[happymommy]

First grade? Definitely I'd go!

You only have a few years, then they get older and it's harder. Now my oldest is in seventh grade, and I am envious of those with little kids! My son missed the whole last week of second grade, as we went to Disney. Of course that last week was nothing really anyway.

Go and enjoy!

 

[dzneelvr]

First grade won't be a problem...just make sure you plan for homework and assignment completion so everything falls into place when he returns to school. We go in June and have a wonderful time, so don't let summer stop you from considering that

 

[stitchlover]

I agree with everyone...go in October. Especially since your child is in 1st grade. Our daughter always misses the two days leading up to Springbreak because we fly to Orlando on Thursday morning to get a head start on vacation! Now next year she will be in High School and we might cut back and not miss two days of school. Depends on how many AP classes she takes and how her grades are doing. We will book the usual 9 night vacation and decide as the school year progresses and make adjustments as needed.

 

[Merriwind]

Another vote for October. You will enjoy your trip so much more. 1st grade? Not even a question, just pull her out. Worry about absences when she's older, much older.

 

[Saratoga Goofy]

October is a much better choice. I am a teacher myself, and I feel that a few days at Disney is much more valuable than a few days of school. There is so much to learn on a vacation such as this. Your child's background knowledge will expand which will allow all learning in school to be so much broader.

 

[FreeTime]

I say go in Oct also. My schools policy is that they child has to make up the work when they return. They do not give any advanced work. We have always done our own work while we take them out of school. The majority of the time when we have returned the teaches have said they did more than those in class and we had no make up work! You could have your child learn some new spelling words (Disney, ride, park, etc.) have them learn about stuff at Epcot, etc. if you are worried that they will miss too much. Have fun!

 

[gris gris]

We took our 1st grader to Disney the 1st week of school! She didn't miss much at school except I guess the excitement of the first day. We went to Epcot that day so she could at least say she was learning more than her friends probably were LOL.

We're planning another trip for November/December 2010 so she will miss a week of 3rd grade. I wouldn't even think twice about it.

 

[ilovejack02]

We missed 5 days in Kinder and 1rst grade for Disney. This year we missed 5 days of 2nd grade for Destin.
We always travel in the fall. Never been an issue, our school is pretty loose too about taking trips. As long as you don't miss more than 20 I think in a year we are good to go.

 

[MamaJessie]

I have pulled my kids out of school for disney vacation. When dd was in first grade every night she would write three sentences about her day. We then printed out pics of the day, made a little scrapbook and sent it to school in lieu of homework.

Last time we went ds was in second and his teacher gave us worksheets to do. Since we drive he did them in the car on the way there.

I honestly do not feel guilty about it at all. Go for it!

 

[mom2val]

DD missed 5 days in 1rst, 5 days in 3rd and next year will miss 5 days in 4th all to to WDW. Take the trip in October and have fun!

 

[Befferk]

Our DS is in 2nd grade and he will be missing 10 days of school in May for our trip. I talked it over with his teacher and principal months ago already. They are ok with it. If DS was behind and struggling, we would have made other arrangements, but he does well above average so the teacher said no problem. Now, once he gets into middle school/high school, we would never expect him to miss that much. For this year, this was the only time we were able to make it work.

 

[Pixie Princess]

If you school district's policy allows, I say go for it in Oct! My DD has a fall break in Oct. and we have taken advantage of the fall deals the last two years for Disney trips. It is a great time to go.