Can I pull my kid out of Kindergarten to go on vacation?

[Anonymous]

I am a primary teacher and the comments of "It's just kindergarten" make it seem as if there is no real learning in kindergarten. We are teaching them to read, writing skills in writing workshop, and early math concepts that will help them to be successful in first grade. Many of the things that some expect students to learn in first grade they are now learning in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a primary teacher and the comments of "It's just kindergarten" make it seem as if there is no real learning in kindergarten. We are teaching them to read, writing skills in writing workshop, and early math concepts that will help them to be successful in first grade. Many of the things that some expect students to learn in first grade they are now learning in kindergarten.

I agree. There is a lot of important learning going on in kindergarten. What your child learns in kindergarten will carry over into future grades. Kindergarten is important.

That being said, it's okay to take needed days off here and there but be careful how often it's used for vacation time. I'm sure it's just once it won't be the biggest deal, but be careful what messages your sending about school. You can carry over learning to vacations, which is good but it's also important that your child realizes that school is important. A lot also happens in a week.

Can you stagger the vacation over a long weekend (maybe a weekend where there is a professional development day or other day off) that way you don't have to miss too much school?

[Anonymous]

It's for a special trip I see no reason why it's a problem. We all know school is important but I think it's possible to emphasize a special occasion. There are exceptions to every rule. My dad had a business trip in Hawaii when I was in fourth grade and I missed a week of school - I'll never forget that trip for as long as I live. Long after our parents are gone we will remember special occasions but will not remember a week of elementary school.

I also think there are ways to take a special trip without teaching kids "school is not important." Come on, let's give our kids some credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's for a special trip I see no reason why it's a problem. We all know school is important but I think it's possible to emphasize a special occasion. There are exceptions to every rule. My dad had a business trip in Hawaii when I was in fourth grade and I missed a week of school - I'll never forget that trip for as long as I live. Long after our parents are gone we will remember special occasions but will not remember a week of elementary school.

I also think there are ways to take a special trip without teaching kids "school is not important." Come on, let's give our kids some credit.

I agree with this. If it's for something where you really can't go any other time (family reunion or once-in-a-lifetime trip) then, yeah, go. If it's just for convenience and to travel off-peak, I think it's time to get used to traveling when the rest of the country does (I'm not looking forward to this either!). It is important to teach your child that school is important and not something you can miss whenever you feel like doing something else more. It should definitely be the priority.

[Anonymous]

Everyone keeps saying pulling a kid out of school means you are giving your kids signals that vacation is more important than school. I disagree. If you are the type of parent who is taking a kid abroad and expanding their horizons that's as much learning as any regimented school classrooms. I taught my older kid and plan to teach my younger one that learning happens all of the time-not only in school. Getting good grades or completing an assignment is not what I want her/him to focus on but what they learn from it. Basically on education not results. So with this logic, i have had not qualms and will have no qualms in taking my kid out of school for week or even two..heck taking a month off to travel with them to China, Japan, India, Italy...what have you.

[Anonymous]

The poster did not say special once in a lifetime trips. He or she mentioned wanting to travel during off peak times. I am a teacher and I don't think it's appropriate to take kids out of school just to travel during off peak times. It's understandable to take them out every now and then or for a day or two. Take vacations during spring break, summer, Christmas, and all the other various breaks we get in school. We have 2 months off in the summer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone keeps saying pulling a kid out of school means you are giving your kids signals that vacation is more important than school. I disagree. If you are the type of parent who is taking a kid abroad and expanding their horizons that's as much learning as any regimented school classrooms. I taught my older kid and plan to teach my younger one that learning happens all of the time-not only in school. Getting good grades or completing an assignment is not what I want her/him to focus on but what they learn from it. Basically on education not results. So with this logic, i have had not qualms and will have no qualms in taking my kid out of school for week or even two..heck taking a month off to travel with them to China, Japan, India, Italy...what have you.

You can do all this traveling during school holidays. My parents did this all the time - I had been to 13 different countries by the time I was 11, but I NEVER missed school because of it. You can broaden your kid's horizons through travel, etc. but reinforce the importance of school by keeping them in it at the same time.

[Anonymous]

I am a teacher and I really don't have a problem with it - as long as your child is doing well and is going to be able to join back in without struggles - for kindergarten even this isn't an issue!

I agree with not asking teachers to prepare work or to be responsible for catching your child up - if you want your child to do work while away then find out the topic/skills being worked on and reinforce these. Also if they are older try and work around bigger/group projects if you can.

If your child is struggling academically or doesn't deal well with changes in routine then it might not be a great idea - otherwise I am in the camp that life experiences (travel, new experiences) and time with family can be very beneficial educationally.

[Anonymous]

As a Pre-K/K teacher, I say that K is generally the last grade where this is acceptable. An appropriate kindergarten program will go over things often enough that an isolated trip like this won't have them "missing" anything. And, often times, trips can provide such enriching cultural experiences that are uniquely valuable from time to time (think visiting a foreign country, not going to Disney).

That being said, I emphasize the word ISOLATED. Too many instances and you do risk having your child miss important school experiences, particularly socially. It also conveys to them the message that school isn't that important, especially if you are skipping it for more mundane things (like long weekends at the beach).

If it's a special event (large family reunion, elder family member's milestone birthday, unique vacation opportunity), I generally encourage parents to do so. If it's nothing exceptional but isolated, I usually say no big deal. If a kid is out every other week, I think it's a problem.

That's just my two cents!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So with this logic, i have had not qualms and will have no qualms in taking my kid out of school for week or even two..heck taking a month off to travel with them to China, Japan, India, Italy...what have you.

Taking a full month off of school is going to be problematic unless you are in a private school. I think most public schools would give you some grief over doing this, although I don't know if there's anything legally they could do about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So with this logic, i have had not qualms and will have no qualms in taking my kid out of school for week or even two..heck taking a month off to travel with them to China, Japan, India, Italy...what have you.

Taking a full month off of school is going to be problematic unless you are in a private school. I think most public schools would give you some grief over doing this, although I don't know if there's anything legally they could do about it.

Without a doctor's note explaining an extended absence, too many days missed, even in Kindergarten, can lead to a child being retained. I'm not sure what the exact cut-off is, but taking a full month off (one that doesn't already have built-in vacations) would put one close.

[Anonymous]

I think maintaining a school routine with your child is important. I also think learning happens at all levels and in all places. One does not trump the other it simply helps to reinforce it. Traveling with my child has been a wonderful experience - he has learned and seen so much. Reading, writing, math and science etc are just as important. We try to strive for a balance in our son's life. Should we have the opportunity to travel to an amazing destination that is once in a life time and it happens to fall during the school year- we would do it. However, if it just happens to be a family gathering that can happen at any time of year I will not pull my child out. Personally I get annoyed when my in-laws respond to me by saying "but its only Kindergarten" when we tell them we can't visit in May. If its so important than come to visit us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents did it regularly when I was young. I used to not go to school for a variety of reasons including vacation, waiting for the plumber, big sale at Bloomingdales, taking care of a sick younger brother/sister, didnt feel like it, etc.

Still went to a top college and a grad school.

And yet, I can tell just from the tone of your post that you are an entitled pain in the ass. OP, I submit to you exhibit # 1 in favor of NOT pulling your kid out.

I dont know where you got "entitled pain in the ass" but my point was that I still valued education and took school seriously. I also still managed to keep up with my work and do very well in school. Missing a few days here or there should be be a big deal as long as your child still understands the value of education.

You can equate it to people who never take a vacation at work. Its important to work hard but everyone is entitled to - AND SHOULD - take some time off, even if its outside the "approved" vacation.

[Anonymous]

We pulled our kid out of kindergarten twice last year for two trips (one business related, one purely vacation). It's kindergarten for crying out loud. The teacher didn't seem to mind at all. She suggested that we keep a travel journal with our son (ie: collect trinkets, photos, draw pictures, write a few sentences about what we did that day). The teacher sent home a handful of worksheets he missed while we were away upon our return. It really wasn't a big deal, and I'd do it again if an opportunity for a fabulous trip presented itself. FWIW, we're in MCPS. Just give the teacher a heads up a few weeks in advance just in case any assessments are planned during that time period so the teacher can do them ahead of time (my sister teaches for MCPS, and she told me to do this since she knew the deadlines were around the time we planned to travel).

And to a PP who said it sends the wrong message --- that school is second to vacation fun --- I say this: "Enjoying family time and life are my primary goals for my family --- and a nice vacation where our family can thoroughly relax and have some bonding time is important and it sometimes can take precedence over school." Missing a few days of school really isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things. My kids will always remember the trips we take; I can't say the same for a random Thursday or Friday during their kindergarten career.

[Anonymous]

At our private school, people take the kids out of school for trips all the time. Like to go to Disney.