Day off school on birthday?

[Givemeabreak88]

What are your thoughts on giving a child the day off school on their birthday? If they are asking for the day off..

No

I replied early on and have just skimmed through to read your comments only op.

I can see that you're giving him the day off, as you were always going to do.

But you are focusing on the wrong thing. Agreeing to the request of a 7yo because he doesn't like school is nuts. You should be showing him that school isn't optional and finding ways to help him to enjoy it more, not avoid it.

If you'd posted that he loved school but that you wanted to give him the day off for a big, planned treat I'd say to go for it. But, in the circumstances, you're sending the wrong message imo.

Just do it, it’s one day, it really doesn’t matter. I don’t know why you asked on here though, you’re the parent.

But I would try to deal with the reasons he doesn’t like school and try to help him with that.

No.

Attitude to learning starts at home. I’d not be allowing this and I’d have plans for after school. My dc wouldn’t ask for a day off school for their birthday because they understand the importance of learning and school. The dc of parents who would allow this are almost certainly the naughty dc and with puzzled parents who can’t understand why.

There’s no way on God’s green earth that a teacher in a UK school has managed to “book” off her birthday as a family wedding repeatedly. Not unless they are on supply or move school every year. That one just doesn’t add up to anyone who knows how schools operate. Requests for term-time leave of that nature are really unusual, there’s no way that wouldn’t be noticed as a pattern and leave for a “family wedding” abroad would only be granted for very close family members in any case. It just isn’t plausible, so I suspect you’ve misunderstood something there.
Leaving that to one side, one day off for a 7 year old is not going to ruin their entire educational future. I would be wary of using a day off school as a treat for a child who already dislikes school though. It’s reinforcing the idea that going to school is something not so nice that you wouldn’t want to do on your birthday.

No, I’ve never done it. My dds birthday always falls in school holidays, but ds is always during term time.. we celebrate on the weekend x

No... he will then ask for a day off every time he can think of a reason... don’t give him that control. Instead sell him the benefits of being in school... he will be able to see his friends, have a treat afterwards etc. My kids are allowed tto bring wrapped sweets or lollies in to share.... maybe he condo that too 😁

Well of course they would insist he went to school ? Why would they not
How comes you haven't homeschooled during lockdown as he hates school?
And whilst having one day off for a birthday isn't the end if the world , what about when he asks for just one day off for your birthday ? Or because something else is happening as kids often will push for more that would be my main concern and also getting to the bottom of why he hates school so much

@Givemeabreak88

I wouldn’t care if the teacher didn’t go in on their birthday, why would I? My kids teachers are off occasionally they never say why, it’s not like they are never off.

now you are just making things up

Always did it with mine ,no one ever noticed

Also don't believe a teacher has had multiple times off in term time for family events and birthfdays, it just generally doesn't happen.
My sil a teacher she has struggled to get an hr away to see her own child in sports day etc

@Springsnake

Always did it with mine ,no one ever noticed

Their school will have noticed. Unless you phoned up and said they were ill?

Because I’m happy for him to go to school. It’s ONE day off not 3 months. I’m not going to home school him forever because he hates school. It’s ONE day.

And yes of course their teachers have days off sometimes, who knows why I don’t really care why their teacher isn’t in. Are you saying teachers are never off?

Why bother asking for opinions, you’d clearly decided you are going to do it anyway.

Can you get some counselling for him to help with the school dislike?

@ddl1

But I do find some of the responses extreme. One illicit day off won't set a child up for a lifetime of absenteeism!

the OP asked for people's thoughts about a day off requested for a birthday.

Most parents happen to think it's not reasonable, and would not consider it. Most kids DO go to school on their birthday.

Even without the current context of a pandemic where half the kids had to miss school already.

I know this year our local primary have banned the distribution of various birthday haribos on the day, but parties are sadly banned to. It doesn't stop a school day from next week.

Definite no, call me old fashioned but I think part of being a parent is teaching your kids that there are rules they need to follow and they should respect them even if they disagree with the substance. You can make a fuss about birthdays at the weekend.

If it worth having another shot at talking to school about why he didn't enjoy it there? I'd be more worried about that than having a day off.

As long as you're happy with their teacher taking a day off for their birthday too, and maybe for their children's birthdays, go ahead.

No one is saying teachers are never off as they are allowed to be ill too or maybe have ill children.
You asked on a public forum you can't expect all the answers to agree with you.
What are you doing to address his issues with disliking school? Are you working with the school?
I mentioned homeschooling during lockdown instead of going in as if he hates it that much maybe a brief time of homeschooling would of seen if it was work , structure , environment .
As long as your prepared to give him the day off every year as you will set a precedence

@donewithitalltodayandxmas

Also don't believe a teacher has had multiple times off in term time for family events and birthfdays, it just generally doesn't happen. My sil a teacher she has struggled to get an hr away to see her own child in sports day etc

As a teacher I never saw my children's sports days or their GCSE/A level awards ceremonies when they were daytime, I even had a battle royal to get a day of for a graduation.

@Springsnake

Always did it with mine ,no one ever noticed

They absolutely will have noticed. I’ve known of a few families that do this. Patterns of absenteeism are tracked. The issue is not a missed day of school. It’s the attitude to school that you will be encouraging.

Yes, I always let my D.S stay home on his birthday. It’s one day. I book a day off work on my birthday.

"And yes of course their teachers have days off sometimes, who knows why I don’t really care why their teacher isn’t in. Are you saying teachers are never off?"

Teachers are off if they're ill, on a course, attending a funeral for a close friend/family or moving house.

We're allowed three days off if an immediate family member dies, and a day to move house.

I've been teaching for decades and can only remember one teacher getting a day off for a wedding, because she was the MOH.

@Givemeabreak88

Because I’m happy for him to go to school. It’s ONE day off not 3 months. I’m not going to home school him forever because he hates school. It’s ONE day.

And yes of course their teachers have days off sometimes, who knows why I don’t really care why their teacher isn’t in. Are you saying teachers are never off?

on which planet are teachers allowed to book random time off during a school year?

Just because they don't tell you if exceptional circumstances actually justifies a leave (or a medical reason), it doesn't mean teachers can take off any random day they feel like taking.