Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Flip

Original poster

would u take your 5 yr old out of school for a trip?

19 replies

hermykne · 08/03/2007 11:37

my dd will be 5 in october and starts her primary school 3rd sept . my mum has rented a house in france for the month of sept and wants us to visit.
i am going to take her out of school but just wonder when - i suppose after the middle of the month.

its unfortunate my mother picked sept but its too good a trip to miss. she'll miss 4 days of school. and i do feel bad about that ...

OP posts:

IdrisTheDragon · 08/03/2007 11:38

I wouldn't. Partly as it will be right at the beginning of her being at school and she will be settling in, getting to know things and people, as well as the educational aspect.

DimpledThighs · 08/03/2007 11:39

yes

but it is a very personal thing

tissy · 08/03/2007 11:40

no, I wouldn't.

She'll be having enough trouble settling into school without you taking her out of the setting, and bringing her back again.

expatinscotland · 08/03/2007 11:42

Hell yes!

She's FIVE, not 15 and studying for GSCEs.

And for only 4 days. Absolutely!

I plan to take mine out when they're older to see family abroad, as the time will come soon when my father is too old to come across here - he already has poor health.

Education is more than just school.

Albert · 08/03/2007 11:43

Yes, wouldn't give it a second thought tbh.

lapsedrunner · 08/03/2007 11:44

Yes

Saturn74 · 08/03/2007 11:45

What Expat said.

fireflyfairy2 · 08/03/2007 11:45

Yes!!!! They'll not be doing any work that quick into their first year. France will be good experience for her

Blu · 08/03/2007 11:48

I would see how she settles into school, tbh. I wouldn't be worried about the educational aspects, but the social. They settle in and make friends in groups of friends in the first month.

If you are hellbent, I would leave it as late as possible so as not to disrupt the familiarisation, as Tissy says.

PestoMonster · 08/03/2007 11:48

Yes, I would. You might even find that the start dates are staggered at your school and the older ones (ie Sept b'days) don't even start until later in the month. That's what happened at our school. So, you might not even have to take time off at all. Good luck.

Original poster

hermykne · 08/03/2007 11:48

more yes's than no's.
shes in a montesorri preschool at the mo just 3 morns and tbh there isnt much diff to what she'll be doing in the first month in primary as to what shes covered already (ABC, numbers, writing and irish). i'm in ireland so the structure is diff to the UK.

its really the making firends aspect i'd be most worried about. but she'll have one friend from her preschool there too.

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 08/03/2007 11:54

She's only going for 4 days, though, not the whole month.

Original poster

hermykne · 08/03/2007 11:55

yes expat, she could be sick for fours day and off school couldnt she?
just have t o persuade dh now.
ta

OP posts:

PandaG · 08/03/2007 12:00

No I wouldn't, not in the first month. Think the settling in period is so important. Your call though.

GrumpyOldHorsewoman · 08/03/2007 12:25

Agree with expat. It is only 4 days after all and she is only 5 - what could she possibly miss? At that age meaningful friendships are not formed - My DD never had any real friends until Yr2 so you're not likely to socially disadvantage her. Agree strongly also that education is more than just schooling. I think there can be a tendency to place too much emphasis on what you learn at school with scant regard for what you can learn and experience outside of school. I was regularly taken out of school in the 70's because we had a home in the US and would spend a great deal of time there, but it really opened up my life and I was lucky enough to experience a great many wonderful things. I achieved 9 O-levels and 3 A-levels so I think that what you accomplish throughout your life contributes to the kind of person you become, regardless of whether you put all your efforts into what is taught at school.

Now watch the floodgates open! I sense I am about to get lynched!

Blu · 08/03/2007 12:30

But at only just 5, if she is feeling a little fragile about settling in to school in, out, in isn't, perhaps, ensuring the best start.

All the educational / wider experiences arguments are sound when applied to older more settled children, but depending on hermykne's dd and how she is settling in, may not apply to her.

or she may be fine.

And some people have surprises. MotherInferior has written eloquently about how her confident happy communicative child, well used to being in groups of chilc=dren and away from home, found it very very hard to settle.

That's why personally, I would wait and see. And my choice would be not to do anything to compromise a happy start to school.

But you know your child, hermykne, and you will know how she is doing!

expatinscotland · 08/03/2007 12:39

I honestly don't see where 4 days is going to make a difference.

It's not like she's missing her 11+ exams.

People don't give kids enough credit, they're extremely adaptable.

I mean, if you took her to France and enrolled her in school there, she'd learn French and settle in eventually.

This is just a short break.

Also, things are different in Ireland v. the UK.

Don't beat yourself up, hermykne.

expatinscotland · 08/03/2007 12:40

It's such a beautiful time of the year to go, too!

Original poster

hermykne · 08/03/2007 13:27

thanks all for your thoughts. with hindsight i didnt make friends at school proably til i was 7 , ie they came back to mine.
and her present friends now are children of my friends so they are alwasy going to be there. plus we were away last week for a week and she missed preschool and went in on tues this week and it was fine (i know shes there a lot longer).

i think if we are careful about the timing and also settling her in and familiarising her with the new people then it should be ok. i'll probbaly know some of the mothers too.

thanks everyone again.

OP posts:

Flip