Pulling kids out of school for vacation - thoughts?

[Anonymous]

For high school I agree with you.

But for kindergarten and first grade? Come on lady, get real. It’s fine and not an issue at all.

[Anonymous]

It’s fine. Two weeks is a lot, but a week, fine. We are away now for spring break. Airfare was $800 each and hotel is $6000. If we went in two weeks, airfare would have been $200 each and hotel $2400. It’s a significant amount of money for many people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm more with OP, I don't have this lackadaisical attitude toward it. I get a couple days here and there or something really special that can't be done any other time (destination family wedding or something) but I would do my best to avoid taking them out of school.

I do think it sends a message to kids that school doesn't matter. I mean, if you are telling them that school is important and that it's important to try their best every day and to pay attention, this conflicts with that message, no?

And my kids are older now, so it's not like I'll realize later that elementary school wasn't that important. Actually the kids I knew whose parents used to take them out all the time (like for Disney trips, just because there were fewer crowds then) now are not all that serious about school.

I think it sends the message that there is more than one way to learn. School is one way. Traveling is another way.

Keep telling yourself that's why you do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine. Two weeks is a lot, but a week, fine. We are away now for spring break. Airfare was $800 each and hotel is $6000. If we went in two weeks, airfare would have been $200 each and hotel $2400. It’s a significant amount of money for many people.

On DCUM during spring break? You sound like you're having a great time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm more with OP, I don't have this lackadaisical attitude toward it. I get a couple days here and there or something really special that can't be done any other time (destination family wedding or something) but I would do my best to avoid taking them out of school.

I do think it sends a message to kids that school doesn't matter. I mean, if you are telling them that school is important and that it's important to try their best every day and to pay attention, this conflicts with that message, no?

And my kids are older now, so it's not like I'll realize later that elementary school wasn't that important. Actually the kids I knew whose parents used to take them out all the time (like for Disney trips, just because there were fewer crowds then) now are not all that serious about school.

I think it sends the message that there is more than one way to learn. School is one way. Traveling is another way.

Keep telling yourself that's why you do it.

?? I do. It's not like we pull the kids out to go to Disney three times a year. They've traveled to all different parts of the world.

[Anonymous]

I will pull my elementary schoolers out of school for a day or a half day every now and again for no reason at all, just because I want to spend time with them one on one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do it at least once a year. Travel is more important to us.

+1. Travel and family time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha ha. "Sometimes these vacations are more meaningful than school." No they're not -- kids barely remember vacations taken at that age. You're not taking your young kids on vacation and away from school for them, you're doing it for you and because it works better for you.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it. But own what you're doing.

Agree.

And you’re setting up the idea that school is less important than fun vacations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha ha. "Sometimes these vacations are more meaningful than school." No they're not -- kids barely remember vacations taken at that age. You're not taking your young kids on vacation and away from school for them, you're doing it for you and because it works better for you.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it. But own what you're doing.

Agree.

And you’re setting up the idea that school is less important than fun vacations.

But I do think in some cases, that's true. We're talking about elementary school here.

[Anonymous]

My kids learned so much more visiting family in Europe last October than they would have learned sitting in a classroom. We visited 4 medieval castles. They reinforced their language skills. They experienced the cuisine, culture, architecture, etc. of their father's home country. The bonus was that they strengthened their relationship with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins.

We took them out for two weeks. I'm already planning next year's trip which will again require me to take them out of school. I don't travel to Scandinavia during school breaks because it's way too expensive. October is the cheapest time to travel there. All three kids are straight-A students and easily feel back into the routine when they returned and they did not backslide at all academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha ha. "Sometimes these vacations are more meaningful than school." No they're not -- kids barely remember vacations taken at that age. You're not taking your young kids on vacation and away from school for them, you're doing it for you and because it works better for you.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it. But own what you're doing.

...and you think they are going to remember those few days of school?

In the early Elementary grades I think this is fine. Mine are in 2nd and 5th now and we are pulling them out for a special vacation in May because that’s when DH is visiting from overseas and it’s the only time that works. Not saying I would want to do this regularly, certainly not as my kids are getting older but certainly in K or first grade there is absolutely no reason that missing a few days of school will matter in the big picture.

[Anonymous]

I try to avoid it, but I think it's okay to miss a few days. I would not take my kid out for 2 weeks unless it was a once in a lifetime trip, and if they had not missed a bunch of other days. At the end of the year if your kid has not been sick often, and they get good grades, it's not as big of a deal.

[Anonymous]

If your kid is in elementary, and generally does well in school, it’s fine.

[Anonymous]

I think we did a handful of times for trips. Also one of mine is an international athlete and travels a few weeks a year to compete. We just make sure our kids make up their work.

It’s more difficult in MS and HS because there are consequences for unexcused absences.

[Anonymous]

Until middle school, with a good student, I see no issue. Really until HS credit is at stake, which for many kids starts in 7th with language and Algebra.