Thread: Kids missing school

So, we have been talking a lot about kids staying home sick, or not. What are your thoughts on kids missing school for other reasons? For example, I am taking DD out of school at noon today so that we can spend some family time together, and then I might take her out for a day after Easter as we are going away. Is there an acceptable time frame to take them out? OK at some grades but not others? Any other thoughts?

I always think that's okay. If your kid gets the homework done and doesn't miss assignments, I think LIFE is very important. In my brother's family, they ALL take the day off for everyone's birthday. That's 5 a year (2 parents + 3 kids). I think it's lovely.

We once let my son take the day off to go to the circus with his grampas. I think that is great.

I think its okay as long as there is a special occasion tied to it. I would (and have) taken my kids out of school for a vacation and i could see it for a special event that you may not have a similar opportunity to do again, or something like Laurie mentioned where you make it a tradition around special days.

I dont' think I'd be too inclined to take them out of school on any day 'just because'.

My mother had taken me out of school for vacations and things like that...very rarely. I remember one day as a senior in high school, i said "ugggh, i don't feel like going to school today". Mind you, i probably had said that thousands of times since i had started going to school. And she said "Then don't go" I was confused at first, thought she was joking...and then realized she wasn't. I was floored. To this day, i'm not entirely sure why she did that.

I didn't go, and admittedly I felt guilty about it all day. I think its good that i felt guilty about it though and i probably wouldn't have had it been more common to just take days off for no special reason.

I let my kids miss school. I think sometimes they are learning as much from things around them.

So far DD has only missed a day or two for being sick, but we're taking her out for the first 2 weeks in June to go back east for vacation. She's in kindergarten. She's not writing exams or anything. While I don't really like the idea of parents letting their kids skip school often and for reasons like "I don't feel like going today", I see nothing wrong with a planned absence for a special occasion or vacation. If the work can be made up and important exams aren't being missed then I think it's okay. Every family probably has done it or will do it for valid reasons. But it just doesn't really appeal to me - randomly allowing my child to skip school. I'm pretty (and maybe overly) structured with the kids that way. Their weekly routine is pretty concrete with DH and I working full time.

One of the reasons I am asking is because I was very hesitant to take DD out this afternoon, as it isnt really a special occasion. Her Dad unexpectedly got the day off and we are planning to go swimming at the new aquatic center in the next town over and do some shopping, maybe dinner. I decided to do it because DH has been working even more than usual lately, and because of school there has been many days in the last few weeks when DD didnt even get to see him, and that makes her sad. So I thought we needed some family time.

Anyways, as I said, I was hesitant, as I dont think parents should take their kids out for no reason, but her teachers response when I messaged her last night that we were taking some family time was 'What a good idea!'. I thought that was a bit of an extreme reaction?

Originally Posted by ftmom

One of the reasons I am asking is because I was very hesitant to take DD out this afternoon, as it isnt really a special occasion. Her Dad unexpectedly got the day off and we are planning to go swimming at the new aquatic center in the next town over and do some shopping, maybe dinner. I decided to do it because DH has been working even more than usual lately, and because of school there has been many days in the last few weeks when DD didnt even get to see him, and that makes her sad. So I thought we needed some family time.

Anyways, as I said, I was hesitant, as I dont think parents should take their kids out for no reason, but her teachers response when I messaged her last night that we were taking some family time was 'What a good idea!'. I thought that was a bit of an extreme reaction?

I think you could easily impress upon her that this is somewhat of a special circumstance. Maybe special 'occasion' is the wrong word as this isn't a particular day or no specific event is going on...but the circumstances are special in that you are focusing on some family time that sounds like it has been lacking as of late since DH has been working so hard. So there is a reason...its a special opportunity.

As long as thats communicated somehow to the child that seems to still count in my eyes.

Originally Posted by ftmom

Anyways, as I said, I was hesitant, as I dont think parents should take their kids out for no reason, but her teachers response when I messaged her last night that we were taking some family time was 'What a good idea!'. I thought that was a bit of an extreme reaction?

You know, today is our last day before spring break and we were talking about just going to get our son out of school early just because. I may do it.

And re: the teachers response. . . I think she is just trying to say that she fully supports your doing it.

I've done it. I do call her in sick, though, so the school still gets their money because "experiencing life" and "family time" are not excused absences. One time we were camping up on Mt. Tam with no cell reception, and Tiven thought it was super funny that I drove down closer to town just to call the school. I also took her out early to celebrate my mom's 70th birthday. We headed out before traffic got bad, and then leisurely visited Sutter's Fort and Old Sacramento before making our way to the restaurant, and the day was so much nicer than if we'd sat in stop & go traffic all the way because we left her at school another three hours.

I think it is fine. We take the kids out for special reasons-- this year they missed 2 days so that we could take a whole family trip to the Midwest for Thanksgiving. And we'll take them out for a full week in May to spend a week at the beach as a family.

I think they learn just as much, if not more, with us for a week. They'll spend time with grandparents, reading, learning about the ocean, biology, we go to an aquarium, spend time on a boat, see a different part of the country, fly on an airplane, etc.

While it may not be measured on a test, it is learning, that IMO is just as important as the book stuff.

Were my children not thriving academically, I may take a different stance. And were the eldest older than 4th grade, it might skew my perspective. But at this point, it doesn't even give me pause.

Have fun!