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

[Anonymous]

To those who are saying it's 'just Kindergarten', I hope you carry this attitude forward when applying for schools. If it's 'just Kindergarten', you should probably leave the spots open in the 'elite' schools to those who do think it's a big deal have access to it. For you, with it being 'just Kindergarten', it shouldn't really matter where they go, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those who are saying it's 'just Kindergarten', I hope you carry this attitude forward when applying for schools. If it's 'just Kindergarten', you should probably leave the spots open in the 'elite' schools to those who do think it's a big deal have access to it. For you, with it being 'just Kindergarten', it shouldn't really matter where they go, right?

No problem. The "elite" schools are all yours.

[Anonymous]

My mom took me a Disney Cruise and a few days at Disney right as my sophomore year was starting. I missed the orientation day and maybe the first 3 days of school. No big deal. The only negative was that all of the used books had already been bought by the time I got back so I had to buy all new books. Not cheap. We went after Labor Day b/c it was much cheaper and it was the only way we could go. I would not worry about your K student OP. Chances are, he probably already knows everything he will miss those days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those who are saying it's 'just Kindergarten', I hope you carry this attitude forward when applying for schools. If it's 'just Kindergarten', you should probably leave the spots open in the 'elite' schools to those who do think it's a big deal have access to it. For you, with it being 'just Kindergarten', it shouldn't really matter where they go, right?

No problem. The "elite" schools are all yours.

FWIW, I'm a public school advocate, thankyouverymuch. Thanks for assuming though.

My point is that there is some overlap between people who say, "It's only kindergarten" and "My child must be in the best kindergarten in town or they're doomed for life."

[Anonymous]

I missed 2 months of 2nd grade to visit family in Australia. I ended up going to a great university despite the loss

[Anonymous]

I really don't think pulling kids out a few days or a week or two, is not a bid deal as long as the kids are not struggling already. HOWEVER, if the kid's teacher that matters the most. If the teacher doesn't like it, he/she will give "attitude" to the kid and that's where it matters and hurts!

So I'm going to ask the teacher in person about this. As long as the teacher is fine, I'm fine. I won't even care what the principal thinks, unless she/he could and would drop us out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those who are saying it's 'just Kindergarten', I hope you carry this attitude forward when applying for schools. If it's 'just Kindergarten', you should probably leave the spots open in the 'elite' schools to those who do think it's a big deal have access to it. For you, with it being 'just Kindergarten', it shouldn't really matter where they go, right?

Nope, it probably doesn't matter. I went to a half day kindergarten and have done just fine (have a Masters's degree, etc). It really IS just kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Sheesh this thread is getting as bad as the breast feeding one!

OP your child will miss some information, and time socializing, but will they be scared for life? I seriously doubt it. If you're taking your child to an education place, or if you can add in some educational value I think it would be more beneficial to your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NOT TRUE. Teachers can't even ask to retain a kindergartener when then think its a good idea. Retention by the school just doesn't happen. Ever. Absences or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those who are saying it's 'just Kindergarten', I hope you carry this attitude forward when applying for schools. If it's 'just Kindergarten', you should probably leave the spots open in the 'elite' schools to those who do think it's a big deal have access to it. For you, with it being 'just Kindergarten', it shouldn't really matter where they go, right?

The more "elite" schools mostly have "progressive" kindergartens, don't they? Where the kids get lots of time to explore and play and develop their imaginations and so on, learn to cooperate with each other, learn and explore at the child's own pace.

I'm sure as long as you let your child do all those things on vacation, he won't be missing anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NOT TRUE. Teachers can't even ask to retain a kindergartener when then think its a good idea. Retention by the school just doesn't happen. Ever. Absences or not.

Another teacher here and, at least in MoCo, this is true. Sad, but true. (at least at the elementary level...can't speak for middle/secondary)