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Parenting

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Original poster

Taking your kids out of school......

41 replies

Helenemjay · 11/07/2006 15:49

Have you taken your child (5/6 year old) out of school for days out? is it acceptable or are they better at school at that age?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Piffle · 12/07/2006 23:02

my mum used to advocate mental health days for each of us, so we got to spend the day otu with just her, maybe one or two school days a year each.
Fond memories
yes its ok

alexsmum · 12/07/2006 23:06

i'm thinking about taking ds out of school for a day next week.his grandparents are visiting from abroad.he hasn't seen them for 6 months and they are only with us for 3 days , one of which is a friday. would have to talk to his teacher etc but don't know whetehr to do it or not.what do you reckon?

expatinscotland · 12/07/2006 23:08

my parents were strict. they never let us have a day off from school.

so my sister and i became ace skivers.

i skived so much i nearly got thrown out.

then i skived some more.

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LaDiDaDi · 13/07/2006 00:09

Go for it alexsmum. Grandparents are more important than school work. School is always there, sadly grandparents aren't.

figleaf · 13/07/2006 00:47

Housemouse we went to Lego land today. Great time!!!!! weather good and crowds (or lack of them)good staff and rides spot on!

I did take both my boys out of school. I am an ex teacher and dont go in for this sort of thing in general but my 5 y.o hasn`t had a single day off all year (certificate to prove it) and my 8 y.o has only had 2 days off with a cold back in October. I filled in the form so did it by the book as it were.

Our school has not had a school trip this term. They normally organise a whole school trip to a park etc at quite short notice but OFSTED visited a few weeks ago so none has ben arranged. DH and I love taking them to LEGO land so we thought it`d be our own school trip.

SecurMummy · 13/07/2006 11:21

Housemouse - sheesh yourself! Re-read my posts without you high horse, you may find that my points were very general and not at all directed in any way to be offensive or otherwise.

If you want everyone to agree with you and be all fluffy about it I suggest that you put that in your post so we can all see it and make sure we PARP good and loud.

TBH - your message hadn't even registered on my richtorscale - so my messages sure as HELL were not directed at you in any way

Original poster

Helenemjay · 13/07/2006 12:06

Well i took ds1 out to our local childrens theme park yesterday 'on a whim' and we had great fun and he went to bed knackered and glowing with health i think he got more out of that then he did at school to be honest - not to say that i would ever do it on a regular basis i respect that school is very important of course and theme parks are by no means educational, BUT its lovely weather and we shared a very lovely 'family day' which imo is equally as important!! - you may now all feel free to tear strips off me.....

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mell2 · 13/07/2006 12:36

Have only taken the last day of term off before but i do get annoyed when schools wind down two weeks before they break up. After they have 'coached' them for the SATS and stressed the children out, that it is until the end of term. Then they have 6 weeks off and it probably takes them at least another 3 weeks until they are back at the level before they wound down iyswim.

I would much rather schools worked at a steady pace throughout the year and not heap it on at exam times.

So i can see why it is tempting during the last two weeks when they don't seem to be doing much!

SecurMummy · 13/07/2006 13:23

Helenemjay I am glad you all had fun! (I do agree that life for children is about having a good time as well as lessons!) - in fact you should see how cross I get about excessive homework for youngsters!

lazycow · 13/07/2006 14:06

Of course it is OK occasionally. I remember as a kid sometimes skivving off school. I would say 'mum my head hurts' or something. She would look at me me - make it clear she knew I was swinging the lead and would say - 'fine you can stay home but you need to ....' and would give me a list of chores I'd have to do if I stayed home . Sometimes I chose to go to school sometimes I stayed home for the day. I did this very rarely and generally liked and was good at school so I think my mum thought the occasional break was OK.

I am now if anything incredibly conscientious at work and feel incredibly guilty if I take days off even when I am ill.

I think saying that letting children have an occasional break from school for whatever reason is going to make them into long-term skivvers is pretty silly. You have to balance how often it happens, the reason for it and the personality of the child, how they are doing at school- Taking all those into account you make the decision. No answers fits all.

Original poster

Helenemjay · 13/07/2006 16:14

Oh thanks girls! - i was really expecting someone to say what a terrible example im setting and what a crappy mummy i am!! i dont usually do things like this, the last time i did was 2 years ago almost and we took him to 'The Deep' in Hull and when i told them that was what i was planning on doing they said it was fine as they classed it as an educational day out anyway! I agree SecurMummy - they do get too much homework! my poor ds sometimes spends all weekend practising or learning a certain thing for monday, which is all well and good but not so that they feel stressed out by it which my ds does occasionally! FFS he is only 6!!! he shoudlnt be feeling the stress of pressure already!

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Original poster

Helenemjay · 13/07/2006 16:16

Also - sorry i had no idea this was a 'sensitive' topic - was just curious thats all!

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singledadofthree · 13/07/2006 16:18

helen - no time to read it all - altho i never do anyway - but yes on odd occassions i have when theyve been young - even up to secondary school but checked first they wouldnt miss anything important. and was usually to go to the local theme park and only the odd day each year.

puffling · 13/07/2006 19:14

I suppose I'd be tempted. Being a teacher, I know that in many cases, quality time spent with family is probably as educational as school. However, my partner makes the good point that in doing so, you're not teaching your kids that they can't have what they want when they want it.

housemouse · 13/07/2006 20:51

Secur, perhaps I was being over-sensitive, the reference to Alton Towers and queues slightly rankled, I'm afraid. Don't be angry!

SecurMummy · 13/07/2006 21:04

Housemouse - thank goodness for that - I was sure I was not being that awful!

not angry (poss PMT though )

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