Taking kids out of School-AGAIN

[Don Disney]

My wife insists that we can't take our K,and 1st grader out for a trip this year,and I really don't think it's a big deal.She's talking to all of these other moms,and they are agreeing with her,saying that 5 days is too much for them to miss.They are saying that"this is their foundation",and if they miss this or that,they will be doomed for life-is this nuts or what!!??

 

[scrappingizlife]

That is nuts. I have taken out my 4th grader for one week every year since he started school. He is an awesome student and his teachers are talking about putting him in the gifted program. A week is nothing. K and First grade....reading, addition, subtraction. Nothing you can't teach them at home.

 

[erikawolf2004]

We are planning on taking our 5 yr old out of school for our DW trip in Dec., I feel if you find out in advance what they will go over you can teach them some of that on your trip or on weekends. The family memories and experiences(learning about the different countries in Epcot) they will have can far out weigh what they can learn in 1 week of school. Now if my child was behind in class I might feel differently, but she is far ahead of most of her freinds, so I figure we are good!

 

[princessmom29]

I think you are better off in elementary than middle or high school, but it really depends on the child as to how important a missed week is. For a child that is struggling it might be a big deal to miss a week of instruction in first grade, but no big deal for one who is worknig ahead of grade level. My dd is in K and missed 3 days in November for our trip with no problem, but there are kids in her class that really struggle to catch up after being out sick for a few days.

 

[crisi]

We've taken ours out for three days before. We took them out for two this year, and never again. My forth grader just couldn't do it - she couldn't keep up with the homework, couldn't get back into the swing. She's a really smart girl - works ahead of grade level, sits at the top of the standardized test charts, is in the gifted program, but she is "organizationally challenged" and it was too much to ask her to leave her routine. She also missed all of the forth grade girl "excitment" at school - which is rapidly becoming a bigger deal.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

My wife insists that we can't take our K,and 1st grader out for a trip this year,and I really don't think it's a big deal.She's talking to all of these other moms,and they are agreeing with her,saying that 5 days is too much for them to miss.They are saying that"this is their foundation",and if they miss this or that,they will be doomed for life-is this nuts or what!!??[/QUOTE]

Yes, yes it is nuts What's going to happen?? Is the kindergartener going to miss learning the letter R and spend the rest of his or her life cursing you for it No wonder children are having anxiety attachs and ulcers. So much pressure!!

PS..I took my children out for Disney and then turned around and went to St. Louis for 3 days the very next month. The children have not flunked out of school or become ax murderers.

 

[mjkacmom]

Those other moms must not have older kids - I can't imagine what they'd miss that they couldn't make up. I remember when my older kids were little, and how much importance I put in the beginning years of school.... Now, not so much.

 

[taitai]

It is so variable and really depends on the school and the kid. My kindergarteners are in an Immersion program. So, all day long, everything they do is in Mandarin. As I do not speak Mandarin, it would be very hard for me to help with their work. Will it scar them for life? Unlikely. Is it a slam dunk? No.

It also depends on the rules of the district. Some districts will dock the kids grades if they have long unexcused absences. Others make the parents go to court (crazy, but true). Will it keep a Kindergartener from the Ivy League? Unlikely. Is it a total hassle that might best be avoided? Only you can say.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Check out the title of my current PTR in my siggie

We are pulling our Kindergartner out twice this year. The first trip she missed 3 days and made up all her work in less than 20 minutes! The only thing you have to worry about is your school's policy. DD can not be pulled out for a week so that's why we are doing two shorter trips (gone are the days of 9 day trips )

 

[RMulieri]

You need to check with the school.Some have pretty strict policies on this.I would say that at that age it is no big deal.But be aware that Kindergarten is NOT like it was when we were kids.I was stunned to see the work my daughter is doing and the makeup work she needed to do when we got back( in addition to a trip journal)They are learning to read and do math in Kindergarten and a various host of other things that most of us did not learn till 1st grade or later

 

[bear_mom]

I think it is up to each individual set of parents.

I know in our family travelling off season is worth it. Our dds have missed 5 or 6 days in each of the following grades: K (youngest), 1st (youngest), 2nd (oldest), 3rd (oldest) and 4th (oldest). They aren't missing any school this year 3rd/5th, but will miss some next school year 4th/6th. I've already checked the middle school policy and they can miss 4 days of school unexcused.

Neither of them has had a hard time getting caught up after missing school and none of the teachers have had a problem with us taking them out.

Emily

 

[crisi]

You need to check with the school.Some have pretty strict policies on this.I would say that at that age it is no big deal.But be aware that Kindergarten is NOT like it was when we were kids.I was stunned to see the work my daughter is doing and the makeup work she needed to do when we got back( in addition to a trip journal)They are learning to read and do math in Kindergarten and a various host of other things that most of us did not learn till 1st grade or later

I had out my college algebra book two weeks ago to help my fourth grader with her homework. The same one who does great on standardized testing but has a hard time missing two days of school. Yeah, they are moving through math concepts so quickly (they do a "spiral" math program) at at such complexity starting so young that two days is a big deal - because in two days they've covered that topic and have moved onto something else (they'll cover it again maybe later that year or next year, but with each step, it gets more complex - hence the spiraling.....)

 

[daisyduck123]

1st grade public school teacher chiming in....

TAKE THEM...for goodness sake it's K & grade 1, not high school.

I have done it every year with my own kids, and I pull myself out as well.

 

[mamaLori05]

ARE YOU SERIOUS??? Yes, they are crazy! Since you are typing in complete sentences, I'm positive you and your wife are smarter than a first grade level, I'm pretty sure you are going to be able to catch them up with whatever they miss. I could see not wanting them to miss Junior High or High School, but K and first grade? I can guarantee missing one week for Disney in K or first grade is not going to scar them for life. Pay attention to what they are working on a week or two before you leave, and I bet you can predict what they will be working on next. Some of the things you can work on at Disney while walking from attraction to attraction. Reading signs, adding/subtracting stores ( I see 4 stores here, and 9 stores here, how many are there all together). I'm sure whatever they are working on you can find a way to teach them the same thing in the real world, which in my opinion will be an even better lesson.

Family time is just as important as "school time". Just because you are on vacation, doesn't mean it can't be educational. Oh, and this is coming from a licensed teacher.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I wouldn't take my kids out of school for vacation, but that's just me. Everybody is different.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We take the kids out every year. This year DS is in 5th grade, DD kindergarten. DS had no trouble making up his work and got right back in the swing. DD - the teacher worked with her when we got back.

We already have our trip planned for next year. The kids will miss 5 days. DS will be in 6th. DD , 1st grade. I have no doubt they'll make up the work just fine.

 

[carj]

Is there a reason why you can't just go when the kids are off?

There are a couple of things to consider that are important in this situation.
I would first consider you wife's point of view. Some people, including WDW fans, do not believe in taking kids out of school for vacations. We don't do it. I don't particularly care if other people do though. Your wife may feel as I do, that vacations are important family time but that missing school is avoidable with so many days off. There is nothing wrong with her for believing this, regardless of what other people may tell you. She has a right to her opinions and a vote in this discussion.

The second thing to consider is that your children will not be scarred for life by missing a week of school, but they will miss something. The majority of instruction at those ages happens through interaction, not paper and pencil tasks. My kids would probably say they wouldn't mind missing school for WDW but in reality they would miss it. They would miss special events, projects and relationships. Would this be the end of the world? Nope, but I would consider this in making your decision.

Best wishes with whatever you decide. FWIW, we loved our trip at the end of June! You don't have to go in the off season to have a great time!

 

[lathamary]

I'd ask the teacher's opinion.

Our first grader will miss almost two weeks for our upcoming trip, and his teacher is fine with it. His teacher actually thinks it's fabulous, as we're driving down in the RV and stopping at all sorts of educational places along the way

 

[ShannonMB]

A week in K and 1st is no big deal IMHO. My DD missed a full week in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and is no worse for wear. She did tell me that next school year she doesn't want to miss more than 2 or 3 days, so I'll tweak our plans to respect her wishes on the subject.

 

[cogero]

We were going to start watching when we took dd out of school this year. then my husband went back to working midnights with rotating days off so we get almost no family time.

We decided we will take DD out of school for 4-5 days in January. We are planning on extending MLK weekend. My DD will be in the 4th grade in September. Our second trip will be a summer trip.

I do believe family time is super valuable and for those that don't work traditional schedules things have to be worked out.

During 1st and K I wouldn't think twice about taking a child out of school.