Would you take your child out of school for this?

Question

My family and I accidently, and stupidly, signed a lease for a shore house for the week, not realizing my son would be in his second week of kindergarten during that time. My aunt suggested to just take him out of school that week. My husband says it's irresponsible. I pretty much think it's wrong to, but I don't know what else to do. My aunt is paying for the house, my mom, me, and my 4 kids are all going. My husband was just coming on the weekend. What would you do?

Answer 1

If the kid is only in kindergarten I wouldn't worry about taking him out for the week. I don't think he would miss too much.

Answer 2

I would not let him miss the 2nd week of school. The first couple of weeks of school is the time the teacher gets to know the kids and the kids the teacher. Kindergarten is not like preschool. They do work and have homework and he will miss out on all of that and will have to make it up or he will have to take all of the work with him for the week and you will have to teach him everything for that week. Just let him stay home with dad. It could be a bonding thing for the two of them.

Answer 3

Just give the teacher a letter. My cousins visited us for almost a month but they are allowed.

Answer 4

Honestly if both of you think it is wrong to do so, is there any way you can set up a playdate/babysiter for the weekdays after school until you husband gets off of work since he is

not going to be joining you until the weekend? If that option fails then go ahead and take him.  After all the second week

is not a bad time to go since he will still be getting used to

it and doing small activities like the rest of the kids before

the real learning comes starting the third week. (that's what my 3 kids did: 2 weeks playtime/introductions/activities then learning)

I wish you good luck on this conflict of beliefs and lots of fun on your little vacation.

Answer 5

Ok, you really can't contact the teacher now because you won't know who it is until it is too late to make any kind of plans.  What you can do however, is contact your school and ask how many un-excused absences are allowed each school year.  Most schools allow 5 unexcused absences a year but after using up those 5 all other missed days must be excused (needing a dr. note).  You can call the school now and see how many unexcused absences you have to use for the year.  Using all 5 in the beginning of the year will make the school year difficult and stressful in my opinion.  I would go on the weekend and have him miss 3 days of school.  That would give you plenty of time to enjoy the shore house and not put you and your son in a bad position.

Answer 6

With a teaching background yourself, I'm sure you know how much bonding and routine learning goes on in those first few weeks of school.  Kindergarten is an especially trying time as our young ones go to school for the first time, meet a bunch of new potential friends, and try to make their way in the world.  Sending him for the first week to start to form bonds and then taking him away for a week while the group becomes more adjusted to one another and to the routine may start him off behind.  Luckily little ones are more forgiving in their social bondings, but I would also consider his needs to stay and adapt to his changing world.  Sometimes leaving the nest can be very tramatizing for a child and then to have an immediate return to life as he's always known it then another restart to his change may confuse him and make him more likely to develop issues.  While I'm not saying your child will, I would consider it as a parent before taking them out, particularly for something as trivial as a week at the beach.  While it will be exciting, no doubt, his little world will be changing and growing without him.

Answer 7

Last year we let our daughter who was a freshman miss the first week of school so that she could go on vacation with her grandparents to California.  We made sure she knew it was a one time deal and that just because we let her this time didnt mean she could just blow off school all together.  The first couple of weeks of school is more about getting into the routine and getting books things like that and in kindergarten there isnt a lot going on those first weeks that you cant work with him at home.  Go to the teacher and explain the situation to her and ask her if she can give you the worksheets etc the class will be working on so you can help your son with them while he is gone.  If your husband just flat out refuses it isnt worth a big blowup let him stay with dad during the week and come down and join you on the weekend, it might be good bonding time for him and dad to be bachelors for a week.

Answer 8

Think about how you would feel if you were him. If the rest of the family was going to the beach without him. Wouldn't feel so good, would it? I don't see the hurt in taking him out for his second week. There will be plenty of other kids gone in the first few weeks and they don't do much anyways. So, if I were in your situation, I would take him. Maybe you could talk to his teacher and tell her/him that you are going on vacation and need his homework (if he has any) so yu can do it over the week so he doesn't fall behind.

Good luck!

Answer 9

I would take him out.  Kindergarten isn't even mandatory in most places.  Being out 1 week at the beginning isn't going to hurt him.

Answer 10

Most school have a pre arranged absense (sp) form you can fill out.

Answer 11

Well I think just take him out. It's sorta a family vaction. You should bring all the kids, or not any of the kids. It doesnt seem fair. Just take him!

Answer 12

it depends what kind of kid you have.  if he's the type of kid who adjusts easily to new situations, then i think it's no big deal if he misses school.  if it were my kids, who are really shy, i wouldn't have them miss the second week of school because it would make it really hard for them to adjust when they got back.

can you talk to whomever you signed the lease with and see if they'll let you switch weeks? it's not the end of the world to miss a week of kindergarten, but it's not ideal for it to be so close to the beginning of the year.

Answer 13

If your husband is only coming on the weekend, leave your son with him. That way he can go to school, and then come on the weekend when there is no school. Because the first month of kindergarten is important, that's when you start meeting friends at school, and I am still best friends with one of my first friends from kindergarten, and kindergarten was a long time ago for me.

Answer 14

there are plenty of kids who miss school in there 1st weeks. just take him out of school and let him enjoy himself before he has to go to school for the rest of his life.

im sure he will be fine.

Answer 15

I would go ahead an pull him out of school.  Many people schedule their vacations when children are in school.  I don't think its that big of a deal.

Answer 16

My kindergartener and second grader both missed a week of school this year for vacation.  Just let the school know that you are going on vacation, see if there are any papers he should be working on while he's gone (although I doubt it since it's only kindergarten and it's the 2nd week).  It won't hurt anything when he's this little.  The 2nd week of 6th grade?  That'd probably set him behind, but I have students in my classroom (6th graders) that miss for vacation too.

Answer 17

Take him out of school! My friend just went to Florida in the second week of our new semester. She (a high school student) missed a week within the first 2 weeks of school. It is no big deal. Plus, it is kindergarten, if he were in high school or junior high, I would be worried.

Answer 18

It is 100% fine that you take him out for the whole week. Im pretty sure theres not that much work he's gonna miss and also let him have some fun

Answer 19

He'll be fine, if you don't have time than you don't you can't force yourself, or if you disargree with me, then be with a babysitter for the week?

Answer 20

I say take him out.  He's only in kindergarten.  Anything he learns there, you can teach him.  Just find out before hand what he's going to be learning that week and incorporate that into your trip.  I'm sure he'll learn more while on vacation (being in a different spot is a great learning opportunity) with his family.

Answer 21

I don't think irresponsible is the right word. It is kindergarten, and his learning will not be harmed by missing a couple of days while the kids are just beginning anyway.

On the other hand, the first couple of weeks are an adjustment period for kindergartners and you wouldn't want your son to go back to school feeling like he has missed something or doesn't quite fit in like the other kids.

A compromise sounds like a good idea to me - and so does talking to the teacher. You could go for the weekend and perhaps another day or two but not the whole week.

Answer 22

Let your husband take him to school and then bring him down on the weekend.

Answer 23

I would let him stay home that week AFTER talking to the school (make sure you put an educational twist on the vacation, and not just for the benefit of the school). Also, if you talk to the school in advance, they could supply you with that weeks assignments for him to do.

Answer 24

If your son were older, I would agree with your husband and keep him in school.  But in kindergarten, there is a LOT of repetition of learning new skills and concepts, so it's unlikely that he will miss anything of great significance over the course of the week.  Ask his teacher for some assignments or work that you can help him complete during vacation time.  Then go ahead and enjoy your trip!

Answer 25

He is too young for it to make ayn difference at all. It is not really irresponsible- not like you are taking him away from exams/tests!!

He will settle right back in, let him enjoy being a child and not have to worry about working just yet! Have a great time!

Answer 26

I honestly can't see it hurting anything! It's only a week. Just inform his teacher of the situation. Ask her what lessons he will be missing. I am sure he / she can give you the school work ahead of time, that way once you get back, your son will be on track with the rest of his class!

Answer 27

They are learning so much about 'how to be a student' during those first few weeks of kindergarten, that I would be hesitant to take him out of school that week.  Could he stay home with dad, since dad isn't coming anyway, and come on the weekend, too?

Answer 28

We took our kids out of school for half a week about 3 weeks into school when my daughter was in kindergarten.  We took them to Disneyland.  We told the teachers ahead of time and they sent some things for my kids to work on. (not much, because school had just started).

Answer 29

Yes, I would take him out. Most teachers in the lower elementary grade levels recognize and encourage any kind of family time. I'd be surprised if the teacher wasn't fine with it. Combine some reading and other educational activities. Your son will be fine.

Answer 30

Um--it's only kindergarten, what is the big deal. Take him out, go enjoy your vacation.

Answer 31

We will have to take my daughter out of school for the first week of second grade to attend my dad's wedding. It's early in the year, he'll catch up. It's so difficult to adjust to the school schedule,especially when you haven't had to in the past.