What would you do re. Disney trip and school

[autismgoesdisney]

AHH! I am losing my mind I tell you! I have 3 kids. My oldest is 5 and just started kindergarten this year. She is also on the autism spectrum. We heard of the 4/3 deal that DIsney is having for January and got a pretty good rate. We booked it for MLK holiday because my daughter has two days off of school that week. So really she's only missing 3 days of school. The school does frown upon vacations during school.

However, I feel that this is last year that I feel comfortable taking her out of school. She's ina full day kindergarten and does a lot, and I do worry that she will miss out on too much, but after kindergarten I just wouldn't feel comfortable doing this so that means our trips to Disney will only be during the summer or holiday breaks, which of course means $$$ and means we won't be able to go as often.

My whole family adores Disney and we really feel that we can use a break from stressful things that have been going on around here. Yet, I feel awful for taking her out of school when she is struggling in several areas.

What would you do???

 

[happymommy]

She's only 5, only in kindergarten. I'd go and enjoy!

I actually took my kids for the last week of school when my DD was in K, and my son was in 2nd grade. I just called them in sick every day. They didn't really miss any real work, as it was just cleaning out desks and stuff. Their old school really was nasty about taking kids out of school for vacations (and they weren't going to go back to school talking about it, as it was then summer break).

I hope you have fun!

 

[abcboys]

Don't worry about it!! I took mine out in kindergarten and 3rd grade (granted that is the only time I've done it, they are 2nd and 5th now) My kindergartener was naturally very bright and knew he would be fine. However my 3rd grader has always struggled in school. His teacher was so awesome about it. He's in 5th now and still has to work very hard for decent grades. I guess what I'm trying to say is a week out in 3rd grade didn't make or break his school career....how come the perfect smart kids should have all the fun?

 

[Poohbug]

It sounds like you think that this vacation will be good for the family. You just seem to be worried about the school's reaction.

At the end of the day they are your children and you have to make a decision that is best for you and your family. I really don't think missing three days of Kind. is a big deal. Other people freak out about taking their kids out of school at all and would never consider taking kids out of school for an unimportant little vacation.

Everyone makes their own decisions about what is important to them. If you and your family really want to go-go and have a great time. I do not have one regret for any vacation I have ever taken-just the ones I haven't taken.

 

[ireland_nicole]

here's my take on it. I have kids w/ multiple disabilities, including DD's ASD. Her anxiety level is way too high during the more crowded seasons, so we always take her out the second week of school. (well, when we can afford to go). So far, the parks have been pretty much empty and there's free dining to sweeten the deal. The kids school has been very understanding, and by taking them out so early, they have time to meet their classmates, but aren't doing any work yet. (I work with them all summer, so they go in without needing review.)

Another thing you might need to consider is that in many districts, part of the IEP for kids w/ autism is ESY (extended school year.) If that's the case w/ your DD, chances are you'll have to miss school to vacation anyway.

Follow your heart as to what works best for your family. If you have any questions about Disney w/ autism, there are a lot of us around the disabilities boards.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Well, we're talking kindergarten, here. And since her school routine would already be disrupted by the 2 days off, there's some logic in extending that, versus taking a different week off.

I would definitely weigh your child's need to travel during the less crowded time, versus the need to miss a few days. And that's something concrete you could discuss with the school, if they do hassle you.

Keep in mind, the park hours tend to be much shorter in Jan., so plan accordingly. Also, it can be a bit chilly (for Florida), so have sweatshirts and maybe hats/gloves, especially for morning EMH.

MLK week was my favorite time of year to go, until my kids messed it up by growing older! I hope you have a great time.

 

[susykt4]

I took my son out of K for 10 full days last Jan/Feb. My job doesn't allow for vacations during school time off. He isn't the best student, needs to keep a schedule and I was terrified about what the long vacation would "do to him."
However, it was likely the only time we'd ever be able to take a two week family vacation and it was very needed.

Anyway, his teacher raved about how well behaved he was after the vacation for the entire rest of the school year! It was really hard for us to make up that much work- even in Kindergarten. I'd never do two weeks again, but I wouldn't hesitate to pull him for three days. Do it!

 

[ilovejack02]

I have taken my 2nd grader out every Sept or Oct. for a week since he started school. My school doesnt say a word and I let them know about 2 weeks in advance. This might be our last year, because I know it will be harder to catch up the older he gets. Do it now when she is little.
This year both of his teachers wrote him a little note to have fun on his trip and at the parent teacher conference today I asked if it had created a problem and both assured me that it had not.
I know there are school districts that freak out about this, but mine is ok with it thank goodness.

 

[MainStreetMania]

We took our daughter out the week before finals last year. We simply went tot he school let her teachers know. Most gave her work she could do on the trip. With a 5 hour plane trip from California and working when we were at the hotel on free time. She managed to complete all her work and actually get better grades this year then the previous year. Best thing is simply check with her teacher

 

[tinkerfan1]

I say go and have fun. We do the same thing at Thanksgiving time and our children are older (one in high school and one in middle school). The schools do frown upon them being out. In fact, when we took them out the first time in middle school, the principal told us it would be unexcused even though we planned in advance and got home work, etc. We did it anyway and have done it since, still telling them ahead of time and getting the homework for them to do. We feel that being up front with the teachers is the best way. Interestingly, we ran into one of their teacher's on the monorail when we were in WDW on that trip in which the principal said it would be unexcused!!! She was there with her husband, mother, and children as well!! We could have called in sick and it would have been excused but I just wasn't going to do that. I'm glad now that we didn't. It certainly is a small world!

 

[CLR4321]

I say take her out of school for the trip, no matter what her school thinks about taking kids out of school for trips. It is not the school's place to decide if your child can miss school for a trip. It is the parent's choice, whereas the school's job is to educate your child. WDW also has many educational aspects. It's not like your kid is sitting watching mindless cartoons for a week or something. A trip is much different than parents who are negligent and just do not take their kids, or make their kids go to school.
Ask her teacher if he or she can put together some schoolwork that she would be doing in the classroom and ask if there is anything that she should plan for, so she doesn't feel behind when she gets back to school. My son is in kindergarten also, and his school is fine with us taking him out of school. We have taken him out for 5 days for the Sept WDW trip and 4 days for a trip to CA for my brother's wedding. We will be taking him out again for 8 days at the end of Feb/early March for the 4/3 deal plus a day at Universal. We are also driving, which will add 2 days (one stop each direction).
People are so concerned about their kids missing school, but seriously...it is not a big deal. Schoolwork can be done outside of a classroom, many schools even offer a homeschool option where you get your work once a week and turn it in to the teacher at the end of each week. I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy your trip!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Go!!!

Talk to the teacher and see if there is anything you can do while you are on vacation. Maybe have her do a letter search using letters she finds on attraction signs? Help her make a simple journal from your trip?

 

[kpgriswold]

I say take her out of school for the trip, no matter what her school thinks about taking kids out of school for trips. It is not the school's place to decide if your child can miss school for a trip. It is the parent's choice, whereas the school's job is to educate your child. WDW also has many educational aspects. It's not like your kid is sitting watching mindless cartoons for a week or something. A trip is much different than parents who are negligent and just do not take their kids, or make their kids go to school.
Ask her teacher if he or she can put together some schoolwork that she would be doing in the classroom and ask if there is anything that she should plan for, so she doesn't feel behind when she gets back to school. My son is in kindergarten also, and his school is fine with us taking him out of school. We have taken him out for 5 days for the Sept WDW trip and 4 days for a trip to CA for my brother's wedding. We will be taking him out again for 8 days at the end of Feb/early March for the 4/3 deal plus a day at Universal. We are also driving, which will add 2 days (one stop each direction).
People are so concerned about their kids missing school, but seriously...it is not a big deal. Schoolwork can be done outside of a classroom, many schools even offer a homeschool option where you get your work once a week and turn it in to the teacher at the end of each week. I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy your trip!

Teacher here. It IS the school's job to educate your child. It is NOT the school's job to make up for all of the bone-headed choices parents make about keeping kids out. It is also really unfair to expect a nice little packet of work to take with you ahead of time. Your teacher already spends unpaid time outside her work hours to create lessons plans for her regular class and grade assigned work. Please don't make her do yet more more work for just your kid. If she does, please bring her back a pair of mouse ears!

At my school, you get the packet of stuff that you missed when you get back, with the expectation that the parent who chose to have thier kid miss will work with that student to make it up.

That said, your child is only in kindergarten. Up til about 2nd grade, it is not that big a deal. I took my kids out for 3-4 days each year when they were small so we could do Disney just before Christmas. Now that we have a high-schooler doing AP, we can only go in the summer.