Former teacher and I absolutely would. Not only is it international travel but it's also time with her family and grandparents.
We moved overseas when I was eight and I missed a bunch of school over the years we lived there for travel. Didn't hurt me! (Anecdote)
And FWIW, in the school where I taught you could get an absence excused by going to the director and discussing it. She would absolutely have excused a trip with family to Germany. Private school, so no idea how public schools work, but I think many educators appreciate the learning that happens outside a classroom.
I'm not sure. I am not opposed to pulling kids for travel at all. My parents did it and I expect we will too. But, the only thing that gives me pause is the adjustment to k. This isn't a concern for everyone/every kid, but it is for us with J. And based on how things are right now, I'd say no for that reason.
But if you think she will adjust to K easily and not have any concerns there then yeah, I would do it.
Absolutely. We have been trying to stick to long weekends, but do take the kids out a few times a year for trips. The oldest is in 5th, and the last time we did a full week was when she was in 3rd. My parents are declining in health and live 8 hours away. I can't imagine regretting a single day I take my kids out of school to see them. And now I'm going to start tearing up.
A trip to Europe sounds amazing, and I think you should go!
Would your school consider those unexcused absences? My kid's school has a very strict limit on those each semester. I probably wouldn't, simply for that reason.
What exactly is the school going to do to Little Starry if she is unexcused for a week to go on a trip to Germany? I'm going to strongly guess absolutely nothing.
I find it interesting that some people say they wouldn't take her because she may not remember it...babies and kids don't remember much of anything we do for them, but we still do things like reading them books, taking them to music classes, etc. It expands their horizons and shapes their world view. I see this as the same sort of thing.
Some schools have extremely punitive policies. They will take you off their rolls forcing you to re-register. You may be placed in a new class when you return. Your might have to go to court or at least meet with a truancy officer. I'm not going to weigh in on the value of those rules but some schools do have them and it is at least worth researching what rules of the school before booking travel. The US is a big place -- I wouldn't assume my school experience is completely relevant to others.
In terms of the remembering statement: I don't think reading a book and taking a vacation are AT ALL comparable. It is relevant to consider if a person will remember a major weekly long experience before planning it. It isn't the only thing to consider but I'm in agreement with others that travel is probably better understood and learned from at an older age. It isn't that there is no benefit to travel when younger, I just thing the return on investment increases with age. Since travel with kids is expensive I've deferred taking any large trips until my kids are older.
Just another added thought. Last year we went to Cozumel and we went to Chichen Itza. She was 6 at the time. She went back and told her librarian all about it and asked to read any related books that she had. The librarian sent home a note to use saying how truly surprised she was about how interested DD was in Mayan history. She also sent us a book to look at the pictures since it was written in Spanish. To this day DD loves talking about it and has tons of questions. What I am getting at some kids really do dig the history and getting them interested earlier is good for them. Most public school consider it a excused absence and won't even bat a eye at this all. Just talk to your teacher about it. You might have talk to the principal. DD did not even miss one school day for being sick.
Of course if you want to make it a adult only trip...disregard all of this.
I would and our principal would encourage it. She tells us at the start of every school year that making memories and experiencing travel is so important so don't let the school calendar hold you back from these type of experiences.
My kids are missing three days in November when we go to Hawaii. We are tacking time on to an already existing school break. I give no fucks
I would. I missed a lot of school due to my sport, and my parents also let me go on trips with them. I was an honours student and never fell behind. Plus, this is kindergarten.
I plan on taking A out of school for trips (assuming she's doing well). Europe is much cheaper in fall and winter.
Also for those who are saying that this kind of travel is a waste of money, THE TRIP IS FREE.
Maybe I'm a huge brat, but if other people are willing to pay for things for me & my family, I care much less about the "value" of the situation. It obviously has value to them or they wouldn't pay for it.
Considering the fact that our school district only excused 2 days out of a week when my dad died unexpectedly and we flew back home, I don't think they would excuse a fun trip. So yeah, I would check the school's absence policy before making a final decision.
ETA: I missed the post where you said the school is not strict about vacations. That's good by letting the parents decide.
Also for those who are saying that this kind of travel is a waste of money, THE TRIP IS FREE.
Maybe I'm a huge brat, but if other people are willing to pay for things for me & my family, I care much less about the "value" of the situation. It obviously has value to them or they wouldn't pay for it.
I skipped to the end, but this is me too. My parents have been taking us on 2 week trips to Europe for years and DD missed 2 weeks last year, will miss another 2 this year, and hopefully will be able to miss 2 more weeks next year. But she loved her time in Europe and it was so awesome to share the experience with her.
Also for those who are saying that this kind of travel is a waste of money, THE TRIP IS FREE.
Maybe I'm a huge brat, but if other people are willing to pay for things for me & my family, I care much less about the "value" of the situation. It obviously has value to them or they wouldn't pay for it.
I know the trip is free except for petty cash which changes the calculus here.
However there are large logistic concerns to consider. I consider any travel with an 18 M and 5 Y old children emotionally expensive. When you add in the school concerns I'd say no. I know I am in the minority here as most people are all about going because of memories and family but someone those things just don't matter as much to me I guess.
Also for those who are saying that this kind of travel is a waste of money, THE TRIP IS FREE.
Maybe I'm a huge brat, but if other people are willing to pay for things for me & my family, I care much less about the "value" of the situation. It obviously has value to them or they wouldn't pay for it.
I know the trip is free except for petty cash which changes the calculus here.
However there are large logistic concerns to consider. I consider any travel with an 18 M and 5 Y old children emotionally expensive. When you add in the school concerns I'd say no. I know I am in the minority here as most people are all about going because of memories and family but someone those things just don't matter as much to me I guess.
I'd actually argue the opposite logistics concerns - I'd feel bad asking someone to stay with DD1 and get her back and forth to school while I vacationed without her (on this trip specifically - not talking about adults only trips etc). DD2 is already going to be there!
Would your school consider those unexcused absences? My kid's school has a very strict limit on those each semester. I probably wouldn't, simply for that reason.
Kids in my district are allowed 18 days of absences (medical absences fall into a different category.) they don't distinguish between excused and unexcused. If you have more than 18 all that happens is an attendance committee meeting and it is decided to "place" the child in the next grade or to retain them. If the child has passed everything they are placed. The meeting is like 5 minutes if that. It's really not that huge of an ordeal.
Any chance they could pick a week with a Jewish holiday (if your school takes those off), Columbus or Veteran's Day, or try to do August to avoid missing as many days?
My dad wants to go to Oktoberfest but maybe I can convince him otherwise. If he is willing to skip we could do the trip in May and this issue goes away. He is aware Oktoberfest is $$$ but claims he doesn't care. Claims he's always cheap about travel and wants to go all out for once (lol forever). But he's been before (in the early 80s).
There are so many other festivals in Bavaria that are more authentic and are just as fun! We're taking the kids to the landshuter-hochzeit next summer, only happens every 4 years, we last went in 2009. It's like a real like renaissance fair in one of the most beautiful little towns in southern Germany. It conveniently lines up with some other summer fest hall drinking festival if remember correctly. See if you can get him to move his timeline up a few months!
Also for future me when she's 16 and asking why L got to go to Germany and not her
Because she was too young is your answer! Andy has been because I had to take him while he was nursing, the older two haven't yet. Them's the breaks lol.
But really come with us in June/July for the wedding festival instead! It's going to be amazing! DH is fluent and landshut is near the area he lived and all of his friends are there, several will be in the show and can get us decent seats. My sister will come down from Berlin, it will be so much fun. Bring your dad to MC next month and sit him next to DH so he can convince him that July would be so much more fun than Oktoberfest.
I'd take her since you're bringing the younger one, too. If she were the only kid going, I wouldn't.
But, as a teacher (non-K), it's making me sad to see all the people saying it's "just" kindergarten. I like the ideas of the travel journals and pictures she could share with her teacher and/or class when she gets back. I think it would be harder to miss the first week than later in the year, since that's when routines and rules are established.
I took my 3.5 year old DS to Prague, Oktoberfest in Munich and Heidelberg. Oktoberfest is fun for kids. No strollers allowed, fyi. There are tons of rides and activities. That said, I probably would not take my kid out of school for that long as they are just settling in to a routine at that point and I think it can disrupt their year.
Post by sparkythelawyer on Aug 3, 2016 14:02:50 GMT -5
The ONLY thing that would stop me from bringing my small child to Oktoberfest is wanting to drink ALLLLLLLLLLLLL the beer without having to worry about my kids.
Um, ok. If my child was literally going to be kicked out of school or held back against our wishes, then no I would not pull her out.
I would, however, raise hell to fight that policy and do whatever I could to ensure this was "excused".
Honestly, at this juncture, if I new my school had a policy this stringent, I'd plan for an early October trip and enroll her after we got back. I could probably handle one month of homeschooling a kindergartener :-)
I would, especially kindergarten. DD1 went to a competitive school for K and even so I just don't think missing two weeks of school would have been the end of the world, not when balanced against a great experience of family togetherness.