When is it okay to pull your kids out of school for vacation?
There’s not really one correct answer.
As a teacher, I got asked this question a lot, and being an advocate of travel altogether, my answer was “It’s always okay!” But plenty of teachers and other parents don’t agree with me.
In Minnesota, this is the time of year that I most often hear people talking about travel. Everyone is sick to death of cold, dark days, and dirty snow, and they need a break.
Most local schools have a week long spring break, but some years our school district does not. Frankly, I could go completely mad if I don’t get some sun, so that just doesn’t work for me. My family, who has to live with me, agrees. I need sun. So my kids will be missing some school.
If you are stuck trying to decide what would work best for your family, there are a few things to consider that might make it a little easier.
1. How will it affect your child? Will they be an emotional wreck before you go or after you get back?
2. Does your child struggle in school?
Personally, I think having new experiences promotes learning by allowing kids to connect with things they read or hear about. Struggling academically does not mean it’s a bad idea to miss a little school, but if it’s going to set them back for the rest of the school year and make them miserable, it might not be worth it.
3. How old are your kids?
It gets more complicated to miss school as kids get older, but on the flip side, if they are organized and used to travel, maybe it’s not an issue?
4. What are the school policies?
They are your kids, but if you have chosen to enroll them in public school, their may be some hoops you have to jump through. Usually the school is just following state law, so cooperating with what they ask for is probably the best advice.
Travel is such an enriching, formative experience, and I just don’t see how it could ever be a bad thing, but that’s just me. You may feel differently. I respect that. But if you are on the fence, and asking my opinion, I say go for it.
What is your opinion on kids missing school for a family vacation?
Sedona, Arizona
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I think it’s ok if your kids are doing all right in school so that missing some time won’t set them back too far. I also think it’s important to work in something educational along the way. Personally, I’d have a hard time justifying pulling kids out to go to Disney. Washington, D.C., though–I won’t blink at that. Likewise, I’d take the kids out to spend a day at the state legislature, but not to go to a less-crowded Nickelodeon Universe (as suggested by a friend).
I would also try to go around a vacation to minimize the number of days they’d miss.
Hi Linda,
Thanks for sharing your opinion. Your example illustrates that there are definitely different points of view. I guess each of us makes the choice we think is best at the the time.
Thanks for stopping.
Debbie
We pulled our kids out once in a while when they were younger, but since they hit middle school they beg us not to even think about it for more than a day. Catching up from missing one day is bad enough but beyond that it is pretty overwhelming for them. Our schools give 3+ hours of homework a night and the kids have a test or quiz almost every day so it isn’t just the homework, it is making up tests and projects too. Even official school vacations are hard for our high schooler as they always have a couple of projects that are assigned to be done over the break. Forcing them to do homework on vacation is not fun so we schedule shorter trips that allows for a couple of days at home during breaks to do the homwork. For us, it is as much the teen’s and tween’s decision as ours to put school ahead of travel– I just wish youth sports tournaments were also on that page. I can’t believe how many youth sports tournaments expect the kids to miss school….but that is another discussion for another day. Thanks for the article, I enjoyed it.
Hi Mary,
Wow. Three hours of homework a night. Yikes. Kids need a break. I can’t imagine having to work three hours every night on the same thing I worked on all day. Sounds like a recipe for burnout to me.
I agree though. It sure does get harder as they get older. And the sports? Don’t even get me started:)
Thanks for stopping!