Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

Has anyone taking a Kindergarten child out of school to go on a vacation with them? If so, for how long? Is that a terrible thing to do?

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

Plenty of people do it. How long are we talking about?

Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

I've done it every year for a week and my kids are now in 5th and 8th grade. I've never had any problem, and most teachers will give you work before you go to do while traveling so they don't fall behind.

Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

We're taking our son out for 5 days at the end of April to do Disney. He's in kindergarten. I keep meaning to tell his teacher so we can get the work he will miss beforehand. I don't think I'd do it past 1st grade or so, but that's just me personally.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

My son is going to miss a couple of days for a holiday (not a vacation, but still missing school). The days were supposed to be vacation but were put back into the calendar due to snow.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

We did, out for a week. No harm, did the work while we were away.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

My DD's (1st grade and Kindergarten) are missing the first week in April for vacation. I told their teachers a while back and will remind them again the week before. They said they will give us the work for the girls to do while they're out.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

I think this is the time to go. DS is in PreK now and I took him out a few days in the Fall to go to Disney and just a couple of weeks ago for a week bc we have a timeshare in Aruba. When I spoke with his teacher and said I felt bad, but he's still young she told me now is the time to go. You don't get family time so much bc of school, work, money, etc. If you have the time and can afford then go and enjoy family time. My DS always comes back well rested and ready for school. The teacher always praises how vacations have helped kids.

I spoke with someone else who's kids are older and they said that if the children are doing very well in school then they take a vacation and just get the schoolwork from the teachers. Their thing is... if they are not doing well enough in school then they don't go, but one week for family time is fine and they've been caught up.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

We pull DS every year in June for a week. We figure until he's old enough for finals, it's not like he's missing much. They pretty much stop getting homework in June anyway and the teachers are starting to pack up their rooms. He will also be missing 3 days in April because they pulled snow days from spring break and we already have a trip planned.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

I don't think it's terrible at all. We went on an out of the country vacation, and my son was out for 3 weeks (supposedly 2 weeks only, but because of Sandy we lost a week of Spring break). Principal called me, thought it was a typo with the dates I put in. But he allowed it, noting that once he's in 1st grade, it cannot be longer than a week and suggested we leave during summer break instead. The teacher gave my son a journal, and he was instructed to write on his journal everyday. School didn't allow activity sheets and homework to be given prior to vacation, but my son got all these when we got back. They were not required to be handed in, but we did.

Enjoy your break!

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

we took DS out last year (Kindergarten) for 6 days. When we returned the teacher gave us all the work to catch up on.

If my DS was struggling in school I might think twice but at this point he has no academic issues so we plan our major vacations during the year to get better pricing and avoid high crowds.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

We did. A week for Disney. No problems whatsoever. I'll do it until they are in middle school, probably.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

I have done it every year and my oldest is in third grade now. I have done 3-5 days at a time. My boys do very well at school and didn't have any issues catching up. The only year I saw him miss too much is 3rd grade (and only 3 days) b/c things move much faster now. Not thinking I will do it much more after this year esp if he gets into the advanced learners class.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

We have taken my dd for a week every yr since k. She's in 2nd and I think this yr was actually really hard the math lesson that she missed was pretty vital for the upcoming math assignments. I got her a temp. Tutor who got her right back on track. I probably won't do this going fwd. I do think kindergarten is fine though.

Message edited 3/13/2014 7:37:38 AM.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

I plan to take my DD out of school EVERY time we go to Disney. (Other places it's likely not necessary) But with Disney, I refuse to pay ten times as much and deal with insane crowds just so she doesn't miss school. In the grand scheme of her education, a week of missed school here or there won't make or break anything.

We're planning to go to Disney this fall, likely Nov, and we'll be pulling her out of school (1st grade) for a week to go.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

Ok before DD was in K I swore to never pull her. Then I realized everyone in creation was pulling their kids for Disney, skiing, cruises, great wolf lodge, Bermuda, the Caribbean etc. Parents said do it when they are young. I hear many in our district do it until 2or 3rd grade. I did it last year and will do it this year. Teachers were very supportive. I ask for her homework, the teacher asked for her to keep a journal last year and add pictures. She presented her trip to her class. Her teacher this year is having her do the same thing. I think if your school is ok with it - go for it while they are still in the lower grades. I hear it is much harder and frowned on once they hit 23 rd or 4th. But it depends on how many days you are taking. I hear people will take advantage of 4 or 5 day weekend breaks and add a day or two at the beginning or end to get more days out of the tr but miss fewer days of school.

The Jewish holidays when they get Thursday and Friday off if you are not observant is a good time. They would go ties-Sunday or Wed- Sunday so they only miss one or two days.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

Not specifically kindergarten, but I've taken my girls out of school twice for three days each. This included pre-k, 1st grade, and 3rd grade. Was not a problem at all in pre-k and 1st. I'll be honest, I probably won't do it for more than a day or two going forward...three days was a LOT to catch up with in 3rd grade.

Re: Terrible for taking a vacation during Kindergarten

I dont see anything wrong. It will be cheaper for you and a few days away from school will be fine.