Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

US road trip. Should I take DD out of school?

138 replies

Dogsandbabies · 21/08/2016 10:21

My DD is 4 and due to start school in September. DP and I want to go to the US for a road trip, total of 3 weeks. The plan is to go to museums, theatres, sights. Incorporate New York, Washington, Chicago.

AIBU to want to take her out of school for 2 weeks (we would be using half term) in February? She won't be 5 yet so I think legally I am OK to do that, but would you do it?

OP posts:
spanieleyes · 21/08/2016 10:22

Wouldn't she rather go to DisneyWorld?

Noonesfool · 21/08/2016 10:23

Will she, at 4, enjoy that kind of trip?

Temporaryanonymity · 21/08/2016 10:25

I can't think of anything I'd want to do less with a 4 year old. Without one, yes....

LittleBearPad · 21/08/2016 10:25

Won't New York and Chicago be really cold in February. That time of year I'd stick to the West Coast.

Washington would be better with an older child too. There's so much to see.

Hoppinggreen · 21/08/2016 10:25

I wouldn't do it, not so much because of the school thing but because it sounds like a bit of a rubbish holiday for a 4 year old.

Dbsparkles · 21/08/2016 10:26

Yes because we should never expose our children to anything other than Disney Confused
I'd take her out of school for this at 4.

LittleBearPad · 21/08/2016 10:27

Also which theatre productions are you going to take a four year old to? If I were going to Beoadway plays I wouldn't want a four year old with me. Musicals maybe but then you really have to go to matinees.

ThatsMyStapler · 21/08/2016 10:27

Washington would be good, there is lots to do there that is free, does she like seeing things (like exhibits)

MatildaTheCat · 21/08/2016 10:28

No. The first few weeks are all about settling in, meeting classmates and staff and learning how Big School works. Miss that and you are at a big disadvantage. Friendship groups will have formed, topics started etc.

My ds missed a week or less at the start of term ages 6 and I had a nightmare resettling him. I learned from that.

Sorry but for the next 12 years you book your holidays around the school holidays.

mamapants · 21/08/2016 10:28

I have to say I would save that kind of trip until child is older but no problem with taking time out of school for it.

MatildaTheCat · 21/08/2016 10:29

Sorry, I misread your short OP and missed the February bit. I'd still say no but for some of the same and some other reasons.

ThatsMyStapler · 21/08/2016 10:29

Do you have plans for 'chill out days' as well?. It can be hard work doing stuff all the time. I'm not sure a 4yr old would be able to 'cope'

Also parking can be expensive in cities, have you budgeted for that?

davos · 21/08/2016 10:29

I would take my kids out of school to do this.

However my youngest is 5 and I would wait until he is older.

There isn't much on the trip that for that age. Neither of mine would have sat and watched a Broadway show, or been interested in endless sight seeing.

davos · 21/08/2016 10:30

And it's going to be freezing

panegyricS1 · 21/08/2016 10:31

Time out of school in February at that age is fine, but that sort of trip should wait until she's old enough to enjoy it. It won't be a "holiday" for her - it'll be you dragging her around cities and hours spent in the car.

Tweennightmare · 21/08/2016 10:33

Agree trip does not sound appropriate for a 4 year old and the wrong season. I would be worried about the driving they can get a lot of snow.

LiveLifeWithPassion · 21/08/2016 10:35

Id do it and my kids would have loved it.
I took ds1 out at 4 for week in December for a Xmas break in the US. We had a fab time.

LiveLifeWithPassion · 21/08/2016 10:39

Good point about the weather though. I wouldn't go if it was going to be freezing.

Hulababy · 21/08/2016 10:40

I'd have no problem with taking her out of school.

I'd have no problem with taking her in a city road trip. Dd always liked cities and definitely preferred it to beach type holidays. Plenty to do for little ones in NYC and Washington. Try to break up travel where you can and build in lots of family friendly activities.

You know you're child best and if it is something they'd enjoy. At that age dd would have. At 14 she would still like it.

dingdongdigeridoo · 21/08/2016 10:41

I wouldn't personally because my 4 year old would find it boring. Plus, dragging them around the crowds in freezing cold New York sounds like a nightmare. If you want to do the USA there are lots of family friendly places that aren't Disney.

Fluffsnuts · 21/08/2016 10:42

I'd definitely take her out.

However, New York in February is FREEZING: -15℃ one day we were there.

Muskateersmummy · 21/08/2016 10:44

If it wasn't for such a long period I would take her out for that kind of trip. It's a sort of once in a lifetime kind of thing. But two weeks out of school is quite a lot. We will be taking an extra couple of days after half term off because the date of our trip is unavoidable but I wouldn't want to do more than a week of missing school.

NicknameUsed · 21/08/2016 10:44

February is a miserable time of year for this kind of trip. What are your snow driving skills like?

suit2845321oie · 21/08/2016 10:45

I would take her out but not in Feb as it will be freezing. I don't think that the trip is inappropriate at all for a 4 year old, it sounds great and I'm sure the OP will be ensuring that there's plenty to entertain her DD. We took our youngest on that kind of trip when 4 and it was fab. You do everything in small chunks and find stuff they will enjoy. Sounds fab

JagerPlease · 21/08/2016 10:45

Shorten the trip and do it at easter - leave out Chicago and stick to the East coast? That way no school missed, plus it will be warmer

Swipe left for the next trending thread