Page 14 | Day off school on birthday?

Givemeabreak88 · 2021-03-06T09:36:10+00:00

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

HaroldandGeorge · 06/03/2021 13:37

@OverTheRainbow88 Yes, a bog standard primary school in the Midlands.

Andv · 06/03/2021 13:37

Nope. I'll make sure the day is special one he/she gets home and then weekend to celebrate. You never know what they will miss that specific day at school

Blondeshavemorefun · 06/03/2021 13:41

And what will they be doing if not at school.

Not if anything fun for kids is open

If you say yes now then will want it every year

funinthesun19 · 06/03/2021 13:42

No I wouldn’t let them stay off unless it was to do something extra special like going on a big day out when it’s not busy. But then there are things to consider like their age and what they’ve got on at school. I wouldn’t just blindly keep them off.

ddl1 · 06/03/2021 13:43

Most parents happen to think it's not reasonable, and would not consider it.

I don't think it's reasonable either! I recommended against it.

However, I think some of the doom-laden statements about 'if you do it once, they'll do it forever for the future' are a bit extreme. At most allowing a child off for their birthday might make them always want to take their birthday off - which is bad enough. But 'a lifetime of absenteeism', if it happens, won't be for that reason.

ChildOfFriday · 06/03/2021 13:44

@RevolvingPivot

Luckily both my kids birthdays are in the holidays. I'd hate for one to be at school and not the other.

For the people who say end of May is exam season my dd is end of May.

As others have said, 'late May' covers more than just May half term. My birthday is the 20-something of May and always fell in the week before May half term, and I can assure you I had plenty of exams on my birthday! Your DD may be lucky with her birthday in half term for school exams, but it could still be an unfortunate time to have a birthday with uni exams.

Nnovember · 06/03/2021 13:47

I would say no, whether that's what he wants to hear or not. If he is only 7, he has years more education to go, he can't request every birthday off. In some job, he won't have this as an option either. He can celebrate on the weekend, or after school. School isn't a punishment, it isn't a treat not to go!

SleepingStandingUp · 06/03/2021 14:06

@Nebulacoffee

Tangent, but why not ask your son why he doesn’t like school? Ask him what would make it better?

But it isn't always fixable. I'm in the same boat with DS except I'm contemplating lying about which day is his birthday.

He does like school
Why
Because he doesn't like learning
Why
Because learning isn't playing.

He reads and is read to, will happy watch educational YouTube stuff, asks questions constantly so it isn't because we're bad parents who have taught him ignorance is bliss. He just doesn't like sitting still in class being "taught" which post covid has reinforced even more.

Greenmarmalade · 06/03/2021 14:07

Absolutely reasonable!!

I’m a teacher. One day, aged 7 😂 I think it’ll be fine! Go for it and I hope you both have a lovely day.

If you want to teach some life skills, maybe ask your child to do some extra reading every evening the week before to make up for it. Job done.

RootyT00t · 06/03/2021 14:08

@therealteamdebbie

Absolutely not

I love that schools are barely reopening and parents are already talking about taking their kids off school for various days off and holidays...
And sadly around here it's usually the ones who blagged a "key worker" space (and are not remotely close to being a genuine critical worker)

We were always open.

It's not possible to blag in most schools.

Ops son is disabled.

zingally · 06/03/2021 14:11

Absolutely not.

And they'll have a nicer day at school, with their friends, than sitting around at home doing nothing.

therealteamdebbie · 06/03/2021 14:12

Makes so much more sense to take off the day AFTER
so you can celebrate in style in the evening and recover in peace the following day

therealteamdebbie · 06/03/2021 14:14

@zingally

Absolutely not.

And they'll have a nicer day at school, with their friends, than sitting around at home doing nothing.

that

but not for the OP\s child apparently

SleepingStandingUp · 06/03/2021 14:25

@zingally

Absolutely not.

And they'll have a nicer day at school, with their friends, than sitting around at home doing nothing.

Yeah cos what's more fun than being sat in school quite possibly not next to your friend because COVID and kids not moving around, set seats etc, school work you don't enjoy, whatever meal school has that day that might be your least favourite meal, 15 minutes of playtime in the morning, 30 at lunch.

You really think a parent can't make a day more fun than that?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

mbosnz · 06/03/2021 14:27

Nope. Not after DH's family member having an absolute hissy fit that she had to work on her birthday - a grown woman. She could have taken annual leave, but nope. . .

therealteamdebbie · 06/03/2021 14:31

Yeah cos what's more fun than being sat in school quite possibly not next to your friend because COVID and kids not moving around, set seats etc, school work you don't enjoy, whatever meal school has that day that might be your least favourite meal, 15 minutes of playtime in the morning, 30 at lunch.

blimey

I am glad most schools manage better days than that

Even when only half the kids were accepted it wasn't a prison!
If nothing else, the incentive being on "fresh air", they spend a lot more time playing and "exercising" outdoors.

During a lockdown, it's a bit shit to deprive your kids from their chance to see their friends that day, you have the rest of the day to make a special birthday.

(let's pretend people don't break all the rules and have indoors gathering for kids birthdays shall we )

LadyDanburysCane · 06/03/2021 14:32

@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?

If a teacher is off it will because they are ill, on training, on jury service maybe. Compassionate leave following the death of a CLOSE family member is a possibility. Medical appointments that can’t be made of school time are allowed but at my trust not usually paid.

I was allowed a day for my DDs graduation (unpaid) but not for my BILs wedding (I’m not a teacher I’m school admin). We are allowed one day unpaid for moving house if during term time.

There is no way a member of staff anywhere I’ve worked would have got away with time off for a “family wedding” every January!

RaraRachael · 06/03/2021 14:36

Completely agree with all of this.
A school is paying supply cover for the same week every January for a "relative's wedding". Absolute nonsense

SleepingStandingUp · 06/03/2021 14:39

@therealteamdebbie

Yeah cos what's more fun than being sat in school quite possibly not next to your friend because COVID and kids not moving around, set seats etc, school work you don't enjoy, whatever meal school has that day that might be your least favourite meal, 15 minutes of playtime in the morning, 30 at lunch.

blimey

I am glad most schools manage better days than that

Even when only half the kids were accepted it wasn't a prison!
If nothing else, the incentive being on "fresh air", they spend a lot more time playing and "exercising" outdoors.

During a lockdown, it's a bit shit to deprive your kids from their chance to see their friends that day, you have the rest of the day to make a special birthday.

(let's pretend people don't break all the rules and have indoors gathering for kids birthdays shall we )

But for a child who doesn't like school it isn't much different. DS has to sit in a set seat next to P because of covid. He likes her but I'm not sure he'd be her choice 🤣. They're not in and put like they were before and moving around as much which is absolutely fine, it is what it is and teachers are trying their hardest. But it still isn't as FUN as it used to be. And I'd argue frigging phonics never are. He doesn't like school meals half the week so makes do with pasta. At home he'd have food he CHOOSES and likes. Again, school can't provide for my son only so not a criticism just a fact. If it was pie and mash day for example he'd have pasta which is fine but isn't a favourite. 15 minutes break with no touching again understandable but not like it used to be and ok maybe lunch is longer but DS dawdles but again still restricted to what he can do. Can't take anything from home to play with, not meant to touch each other. Can't mix with older siblings because bubbles.

I'm sorry but school isn't more fun than home unless you really enjoy learning / your parents suck

Lollipop1234 · 06/03/2021 14:40

I’m guessing op was not very keen on school herself and therefore this attitude is being passed onto her dc?

TurquoiseDress · 06/03/2021 14:40

Hmmm....definitely NO

therealteamdebbie · 06/03/2021 14:42

SleepingStandingUp
He doesn't like school meals

why on earth don't you send him with a pack lunch then?

I honestly never understood people making life more complicated than it needs to be.

Original poster

Givemeabreak88 · 06/03/2021 14:42

I’ve already said I like school, I’m a lone parent so trust me the break is very much appreciated! I also have 2 older ones at school and they have no issues with school so don’t try to turn it into “me” being the reason 🙄

OP posts:

TurquoiseDress · 06/03/2021 14:43

Surely being at school is the better option?

You get to see all your friends & be centre off attention for a bit

At DC1 primary school (pre Covid) the birthday child brought sweets to hand out at the end of the day

Sirzy · 06/03/2021 14:45

I don’t for a second think you are the problem. I know how tough school refusal can be, been there done that and got the t shirt. I just don’t think letting him have days off for the sake of it is going to do anything to tackle to issue long term. There is obviously a deep rooted issue which as hard as it may be you and school need to figure so that the support can be put in place if possible.