Taking kids out of school the week before Thanksgiving

[BrotherCraig]

Hello, everyone. Wife is a teacher but has taken a couple of years off to spend time with the 1 year old. She believes it is okay to take the kids out of school for 4 days before Thanksgiving week so we would not be in the parks during the holidays (avoid crowds, etc). She says nothing much happens the last few days of school before a holiday week. I believe they should not miss. They have all As this year but that should not matter because they will feel lost when they return. Am I wrong for thinking that? The kids are 9, 7, and 1.

Any tips or advice? Thank you.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

At that age I wouldn't hesitate at all to pull them from school, especially if they are getting good grades. In fact, my own kids (15 and 12) are missing 3 days the week of Thanksgiving for our Disney trip. That said, it does get harder the older they get and I wouldn't pull them out if they weren't doing well. But we figure we only have so many years of "family trips" left with them, so we take them whenever we can.

 

[staceychev]

Former high school teacher here, with kids who are currently 16 and 11. Your kids will catch up. Go, and enjoy the trip. 9 and 7 year olds are so young. There is nothing so intense that they won't be able to catch up. Ask the teachers for some worksheets and spend time reading with them (or having them read daily on their own).

For what it's worth - my 16 year old, with 3 AP classes, is missing one day of school for our upcoming trip, and our 11 year old is missing 3 days. (They're in two different districts, thus the discrepancy.) I have full confidence that they'll be fine.

 

[persnickity]

I wish we'd done it more when our kids were that age - they're in middle/high school now, and they have a lot more anxiety about catching up if they miss school. (I don't doubt that they would catch up, but it's just not worth the stress.)

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Our rule with our kids was as long as they were working hard and doing well in all their classes, we would not hesitate to take them out for a few days now and then for a Disney trip. If your school-age kids are not struggling in class, they'll do fine catching up on the few things they might miss. If they have organized teachers, they might even be able to get an idea of what will be covered while they're missing those days, and perhaps do some reading in the evenings to stay caught up in some subjects.

Won't you be missing a few days of work while you're gone? You'll catch up, won't you? For a few days, they'll be fine. Our boys were, and we wouldn't trade the memories and experiences we had by taking them. Don't under estimate the educational value of that trip, as well - so much to learn at WDW. And the value of understanding airports and the requirements of flying (assuming you might be flying and not driving). But the family time and the memories are the key. If you go, have and awesome time!

 

[Disney.Dreamin.Dee]

All I will say is that my parents took us out of school every year the week before Thanksgiving.
We missed 8 school days total. We gave our teachers plenty of notice to get work together and we did the work so we were all caught up and ready to lean new material when we went back.
None of us failed a grade and we all went on to college.

 

[Rory607]

Go for it! I used to feel the same way, then I finally agreed to take them out a few years ago and regret nothing. Our kids are good students and were not behind. They hardly ever miss any school for other reasons. Their teachers never even gave us any makeup work. They did it in class. Now our oldest is in jr. high and those days might be over. The sheer amount do work is overwhelming, so do it while you can.

 

[magicalfoursome]

Take the kids and make amazing family memories. My kids are now in their 20’s and yes, I pulled them out of school a few times to go to Disney. Both now have Masters degrees and wonderful family memories from our vacations at Disney World. Children that young will catch up quickly especially as you say they are A students.

 

[AZMermaid]

First grade teacher here. Go! Have fun! You’re hitting the end of the window where it’s easy for you’re older one. Just please oh please don’t send in the silly excuse letter that is around the internet about how educational it is! I absolutely agree that travel is valuable and educational, but that letter is overkill!

 

[JediBonas]

We take the kids out for a full week every year for Disney - no issues so far. This will be the last year we're taking them out for a full week (5th grade), we plan on doing a long weekend next year in 6th grade since they'll be in a new school. Once we see how they do in middle school we'll make the decision if a full week would work.

 

[kimj88]

Absolutely take them out. Enjoy! They will catch up, and you will not regret it!!

 

[Kingdome8]

Who cares. Take them out. Teachers don’t care. In fact they use to ask us if they could come. Vacation time is best. In 20 years no one will remember the class work or grade they got but will remember the great family time you had.

 

[disney castle days]

I missed the week before Christmas as a junior in high school (about 4 years ago). Obviously, I was the one communicating with the teachers, but none of them minded. At that age, it really doesn't matter.

 

[CindysMice]

My son will be missing 7 school days for his first Disney trip beginning of next year. We are going for his 7th birthday. I was more nervous about the school having a problem with it than him missing any content, but they seem totally cool with it.

Hope your family has a blast!

 

[wfjny]

Personally, we never took our kids out of school for more than one day. We also never lied about it. We would have our children ask for the work they would miss. One of our kids teachers did send a note home once.

She said "Family time is just as important as school time. No work for your child, we will be here when you get back".

That was just for missing one day.

As others have said, it is harder the older they get. However, I also say that it is thanksgiving week, you are far from the only people taking their kids out of school. Many people travel for a variety of reasons that week. Our schools are actually closed Wednesday before Thanksgiving as well.

 

[Jen81NYC]

The week before or the 3 days of thanksgiving week? I could see the latter but I personally wouldn’t do the former. At least not after kindergarten. But I recognize I’m in the minority on the boards. When I was a kid, school was non-negotiable and there was never any discussion about missing it, unless I was sick and that’s what I’d like to convey to the kids too, tbh. We get plenty of family time on weekends and school breaks and COVID has made me so appreciative of the value of in-person school. Wanted to throw my 2 cents in so you don’t feel you’re alone! For me at least, the benefits of showing the kids how much our family values school are more important than a more convenient vacation for the adults.

 

[BrotherCraig]

Personally, we never took our kids out of school for more than one day. We also never lied about it. We would have our children ask for the work they would miss. One of our kids teachers did send a note home once.

She said "Family time is just as important as school time. No work for your child, we will be here when you get back".

That was just for missing one day.

As others have said, it is harder the older they get. However, I also say that it is thanksgiving week, you are far from the only people taking their kids out of school. Many people travel for a variety of reasons that week. Our schools are actually closed Wednesday before Thanksgiving as well.

Our kids' school are out the entire week of Thanksgiving. Taking them out for four days before that week to get a jumpstart on the vacation. Thank you.

 

[hhisc16]

High school teacher here: the week of Thanksgiving in our school district is just a waste with 2 days and half the students gone

 

[sponica]

Our kids' school are out the entire week of Thanksgiving. Taking them out for four days before that week to get a jumpstart on the vacation. Thank you.

If they have the entire week off, then I wouldn't worry too much about the days before. You're probably only missing a couple days and a couple days of filler

 

[pineapplepalms]

It must be a difference in state education laws. I’m in CA and we were told by our school that they are being very strict about unexcused absences and if they have more than a few (I believe 4?), they will lose their spot at the school, and there is a wait list so it’s not guaranteed they could get back in. If you don’t have that kind of policy, I don’t think it’s a huge deal to take kids out of school for a few days… in our case, we’re just planning trips during school breaks only.