Would you take your child out of kindergarten for a vacation?

[zurgswife]

I've pulled kids out of lots grades including kindergarten. It is sort of a personal decision...Lots of opinions on these boards

 

[disneyatl]

I agree with everyone else. We took my DD out of school for 5 days for her second trip to WDW. Actually planned the trip before we realized she would be in school. I worked out great! I informed her teacher beforehand and she didn't miss much at all. Her teacher really didn't give her a lot to make up. At that age, it is definitely easier to take them out. Once they get older it becomes much harder to do. That's why we are having to go next year in JULY - UGGGHHH! I sure will miss the October weather and crowds. Anyway, go for it. Again, this is the perfect age for it. She'll have memory of her WDW trip to last a lifetime!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Have a great time!

I laughingly tell my friends that I am a bad mother because I do believe that it's okay to take my kids out of school for a family vacation. In today's busy world we get so little family time and the vacation is exactly that.

I am taking my kindergartener and my 3rd grader. I have told both teachers already. I know the third grader will miss stuff since we will be away for a week of school, but we will do whatever we have to afterwards to make it up. The school doesn't like to give stuff in advance (I think that making the kids work to catch up is the punishment) but the 3rd grade teacher told me she might send something.

 

[GoofysPrincess]

Absolutely! We took our kids out of school up until high school -- when they actually didn't want to miss school.

 

[newtowdw1]

However, not once they hit 9th grade. As a highschool teacher I know how much they miss if gone for a few days. For example, we've done three labs in the first week of school. OTOH, if you don't HAVE to have straight A's, even missing highschool isn't the end of the world. But your grades will suffer!

DD missed over two weeks of K because of a broken ankle and recurring bouts of strep throat. I wish we'd gone away for two weeks (impossible) rather than had a sick kid to make feel better!

 

[xlstacey]

We'll be taking our 7th, 5th and 2nd grade girls out of school for 2 weeks in January. We did it 2 years ago too. My girls are ahead of their classes and academically it does not hurt them. Of course the 7th grader will have much work to do .. and unfortunately I booked the last 2 weeks of her semester ... not good planning on my part. I am exchanging into OKW and I had to take the exchange when it came available .. I was very lucky to get it at all

It really is High School that they will not be able to miss much of. I will not go in the crowded seasons .. been there done that and will not go back. Our family time is so wonderful for all of us. A time that will go into our memory banks forever.

 

[DVC-LEROY]

We're taking our Kindergartener out of school twice this year for WDW - once at the end of this month and once in February. Both times he will be missing 5 days and I have no reservations about it. His school has a policy of not assigning work in advance so we will need to make up the work. In addition they suggest students keep a journal of their trip - I'm sure we will have lots of drawings of the rides and happy, happy faces. As he gets older we will try to reduce the days out of school. For now, we are enjoying every minute we can!

 

[SHELL]

I will be taking my K out of school for 6 days the end of the month and I wrote a letter to her teacher and also discussed it in the parent meeting. They told me to have fun and bring back lots of pictures. I explained that since my husband and I own our own business that Sept and Oct are the only slow months for us. I told her I would have her make up any work. She said that is won't be a problem each year however she would suggest as she gets older to maybe go a little later so she can get into a routine first. Sounds like good advice to me.

 

[Kapp]

we are taking our 5 year old out of K and our 9 year old out of 4th for a week for WDW. We are always sure to talk to the teachers in advance. They have been very supportive as my wife is when her students go.

 

[2tinksmom]

As a former Kindergarten teacher, I say GO FOR IT!! Whatever your child misses can be easily made up. We are takin' our dds, K and 5th, out of school for a week this year to go on the Disney Magic. They will be missing the last week of school, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem for the 5th grader. Have a great time.

 

[pammypooh]

I would do it and in fact have done it twice! We believe our family time spent together is precious. Remember you won't be doing trig and chem homework - it is Kindergarten and I am sure you would work with your daughter on anything she misses while away. I guarantee in twenty years, she will remember her wonderful family vacation to WDW and she will not remember one particular week from kindergarten.

Make happy vacation memories with your daughter and have fun!

Pam

 

[eek40]

Yes I would take her out of school for a family trip...travelling in itself is a learning experience!
Aimee

 

[Mimi Q]

We took my oldest DD to WDW for a week when she was in kindergarten. The teacher and the school were fine with it. We had a great time! (we took her out of school in second grade too and it was fine)

 

[MrsMud]

YES! (But only for WDW)
Seriously, though, I took my older daughter out of Kindergarten 2 years ago for our first WDW trip. It was not a problem. We went on early Dec., and the parks were virtually empty. I wouldn't do it any other way! In fact, we leave in 17 days for our 2nd WDW trip, and this time we will be taking my older Dd out of 2nd grade, and my younger Dd out of kindergarten. I am not worrying about it one bit.

 

[Stepharia]

I am taking my dd out of kindergarten at the end of this month for our trip to Disney. This will be her second trip and the last time we went a friend of mine took her ds out for a week. Luckily when I got our school schedule she will only miss 2 1/2 days that week. I have already asked her teacher to give us any work that she needs to do so that we can do it before we leave (we also luckily have the Thurs. and Fri. before we leave off). I also found out that a friend from her class is also being taken out to go almost the same time we are going to be there. A good idea a friend of mine gave me was to get a autograph book and list a letter of the alphabet on each page and have dd find a character whose name begins with that letter and get their signature or even find something in the park that begins with that letter. I thought that was a great idea to keep their minds working while their having fun.

 

[Cameo]

We leave on Monday for 10 days and DD will be out of kindergarten at that time. Teacher said, "No problem." Her teacher didn't send anything home for us to study or anything.

Depending on my child, I would say that 3rd grade would probably be the last time I would take her out of school for a vacation, unless it was an emergency trip or something. I imagine it will get harder for her to make up work while missing school. I also remember that when I was a kid I hated missing school for fear I would miss something important. It was a stress for me to miss!

 

[Doc and Family]

Indeed, take 'em out.
We did it last year, and I cant believe it, he still passed. LOL.
Seriously, don't fret the decision. Just let the teacher know and have a great time.

 

[Pryncess'mom]

Go for it! Yes, they will miss things, but it will not be catatrophic! When I have families that go away, I usually give some review things like handwriting, or math work. Since much of what is done is "hand-on" it can't be given to take home.

The experience of going on vacation is educational in and of itself, and Disney is a great experience all the way around!! WE have taken our children out of school up until 8th grade. I am taking my own kindergartener out in January for a quick trip to Disney!!

Suggest to the teacher that your child will make a "trip box". Bring back small items from the trip, decorate a shoe box, and have your child show and explain what it is, where it came from, and other stuff about it, etc.... Epcot is great for this!! Maybe you could jot down a few notes to help the teacher prompt your child. The language experience of explaining things, and remembering will be beneficial to your child. The Kidcot stations around Epcot, where your child can make a mask, also write words in the home language. This is a great learning experience.

Remember, YOU are the first teacher your child has. You do what YOU think best! Good luck and have fun

Deb

 

[KathyFP]

We are taking our DD out of school for a week. She goes to a charter school and the principle and teacher we wonderful. They just asked that she do a journal so that it is an excused absence.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

Yes I would and yes I did.