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

[momof3disneyholics]

We think it is ok to do. We are taking out oldest out of first grade for a week and our twins out of prek in Nov. I told their teachers about it when we first met and it should work out fine. Now, when they get up into higher grades I will have to rethink it. I think it might be harder to do then

 

[cooderbrown]

One week AFTER they return from spring break. We took our son when he turned five on his birthday so we are taking our daughter on her 5th which happens to be in april.

Our son will take his 1st grade homework and do it on the way.

With K or 1st grade - you really have to keep life in perspective.

Maybe you'd really be hurting your kid trying to yank him out of his last year of Law School as he studies for his Bar - but I have a feeling most young kids come out fairly unscathed!

 

[Muffy]

We take our DD out every year for our WDW vacation. We go during her Christmas break but our vacation extends into Jan. She does all her makeup work in advance before our trip and is usually ahead when she gets back. She will make up a few quizes and test the week she returns. I think family time spent together is very important. She is a very good student and her trips have not affected her grades.

 

[magsmom]

Yes, do it. I did it last year for Kindergarten and I will do it again this year for 1st grade.

 

[jdads2]

Give the teachers an early heads up. If you don't want them to to know that you are going on vacation tell them your going on family business.

We have taken our kids out of school every year the last 2 yrs and are taking them out in early December. I give each of my kids responsibilities during the trip. Adding up receipts, keeping track of PS's, drawing pictures where we have been or of favorite things seen.

We are together as a family for very few hours during the week, about 27 a week, so vacation time together is important.

 

[2tinksmom]

I never thought about adding up the hours we spend together as a family during the week. Kinda puts things in perspective.

 

[Kapp]

our kindergartener for a week in November as well as our 4th grader. We believe (and my wife is a first grade teacher) that if you let the teacher know well in advance and offer to make up or do early any assignments that the teachers are very understanding and supportive. Although this varies from system to system and teacher to teacher and this could be something that some folks could use more than once a year.

 

[Reeniebean]

We just got back yesterday, after our oldest son only had 3 weeks of kindergarten, and he got right back into the swing of things today. I think your daughter will be fine, because she will have made a few friends by January, and she will be familiar with her routines and schedules.

Have a great time and definitely go when you can beat the crowds!

Doreen

 

[KIS]

I was surprised to learn from my daughter's kindergarten teacher that kindergarten was not mandatory in NY. I had thought it was. She said a child is required to be in school according to state law at a later age.

Anyway, I hope your kindergarten teacher is reasonable. I imagine there might be ways to tie in some relevant skill or focus while on your vacation such as what the one family did with the Mexican artifact while studying Spanish.

My daughter's kindergarten is forever reminding parents that the children are just 5 years old. She thinks learning should be fun.

I am not fearful of taking my daughter out for a break this year. Next year, I do not imagine I will be as comfortable doing it. I think, if my daughter sees a video reinforcing nutrition or sees some animals on a Safari, it is part of her education.

What I worry about is setting a precedent for not going to school in the future. I hope I can set reasonable expectations for school and it's import. This year, I think I can get her work in advance (she has a writing book where she copies the day, date, and weather) and look for tie ins such as the countries (her school focuses on geography, dinasaurs, how plants grow, various animals, the senses, music, putting on plays, among other things.

I hope my note gives you something to think about.

KIS

 

[DiznEeyore]

Didn't read the other posts; just answering the original question.

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

Would and did.

Am also taking said child out of fifth grade one month from today (yay!!) for a vacation. Told his teacher the first time I met her, told her I'd send a reminder note in advance requesting homework, and she was absolutely fine with that. The child *will* do the homework, all of it, and we will assist him with any other "catch-up" that might be necessary upon return (though I don't think much will be required).

HTH!

 

[TomM]

We are taking our daughter out for a week in Feb. What better place to learn letters, numbers, shapes, etc. With a disney coloring book they can identify things that start with "M", "D" and shopping they can learn change.
Tom

 

[newtowdw1]

Just got back from a trip to Santa's Workshop with DH, DD, and DS. It was DS third birthday, and we figured if we didn't go now, DD6 wouldn't believe any longer. We had a great time, and my principal knew dh and I were playing hookey in the afternoon and wished us a great trip.
DD missed a day of first grade. Can't see that it hurt her. We're taking her out to accompany my senior Bio students on our Susquehanna River field trip for two days. She learns a lot of important social skills on these trips, and is the only six year old I know who can identify a dragonfly nymph! She's gone since she was an infant, and can't imagine fall without this event. DS goes too, but he's not missing school--yet!

 

[bratdeb]

I have taken my my daughter out of school 2 previous years(2nd and 3rd grade). This year we are taking her sister out of kindergarten for 4 days to go to WDW. I honestly do not see anything wrong with it. There are lots of people that can't take vacation time in the summer, schools should understand. We take our vacation-family time whenever we can! You never know what tomorrow brings....

 

[llane]

yes

We have missed some pre-k, k and will miss some 1st grade this year.

 

[cinmell]

Originally posted by jfranklyn
Would you do it?

Yes I would.

 

[miche61]

Would I take my child out of kindergarten to go on a family vacation???? Definitely! Oldest DD- did it (one day for WDW), second DD (3-4days for WDW) and now DS will be out for 2 days at WDW. Kindergarten is easy to catch up on usually. The other two now in 5th and 2nd will be a little more difficult. But our time as a family is very important to us. Our youngest two have only been part of our family for three years, so the bonding is very necessary for us. What better place to do it than WDW????

 

[tink&cinderella]

I took my then 4 1/2 year old dd out of junior Kindergarten for a week during January last year. It was no problem at all. The teacher sent along her homework for the week and we incorporated her letters into all things Disney at the Park. Even now for Show and Tell she is looking for something from disney to bring.

This January/February we are taking her (now in Senior Kindergarten) out for 2 weeks. Here, Kindergarten is optional and it is up to the parents whether to send their children. I will be taking her homework again and try to somehow encorporate counting, sounding out letters and writing notes to Mickey into our trip to keep her little mind from shrivelling up during these two weeks. (We'll spend one week at WDW, staying at CBR and the next week we will be on the 7 day Eastern Cruise) We'll be learning about the countries before we go and I always take a small size photoalbum that she uses to collect things in to remind her of the place we are visiting - we will use this to help with the ABC etc.

Have fun. When are you going??

 

[Hawk]

Is this a trick question???

 

[tink&cinderella]

The question was for the initial person who sent the thread. There was no countdown on the bottom of the post and I was interested to see when they were going in January.

 

[jfranklyn]

Thanks everyone for your great replies to my original post. Since starting kindergarten, I've stopped worrying about my daughter missing school. She's doing incredibly well, and we are certainly not worried about her falling behind!! We decided that we will tell her teacher at our parents conference that is just before Thanksgiving. I'll let the teacher decide (she's a bit of a battleax) how she wants to handle homework and stuff.

And to answer someone's question - we are leaving on the 1st from NJ, and driving down. Our first day in the parks will be the 3rd, and we are staying until the 11th of January, and we'll be at Pop Century. Can't wait!!