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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Taking child out of school for birthday - yes or no?

45 replies

Wormsarecool · 20/09/2021 06:26

DD is soon to be six and having a bit of a difficult time at school at the moment but just about coping. I’m tempted to take her out of school on her birthday as I think it’ll be pretty miserable for her to be there on the day. What would you do?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Zarene · 20/09/2021 06:27

Keep her in. School isn't optional.

PileOfBooks · 20/09/2021 06:28

No as it sets a precedent. You dont want to always be taking her out for her birthday. Plan something fun for after.

FawnFrenchieMum · 20/09/2021 06:28

No I wouldn’t unless it’s to a do a one off thing that can’t be done any other day (ie a theatre show only in the area for that one day) otherwise your setting a precedence that she gets her birthday off school for the next 12 years. It maybe cute now but so be so cute when they are 15 and don’t want to do nice things with mum on their birthday.

Whinge · 20/09/2021 06:29

Why do you think it would be miserable? I'd send her to school. There's plenty of time to make the birthday special even if they go to school for part of the day.

HelenaJustina · 20/09/2021 06:31

They have all missed enough school and who knows what this winter holds, they need to be in when they possibly can be.

Also taking her out for the day doesn’t address the root cause of her unhappiness. Surely better to tackle that?

PileOfBooks · 20/09/2021 06:32

Can she wear a birthday badge to school? Here tradition is to take sweets to share too (given out end of day) which makes the child popular that day! She might get some fuss at school on her birthday?

bigbaggyeyes · 20/09/2021 06:32

No send her in. My dd's primary school used to encourage kids to being in cakes or sweets in their birthday, might be an option?

CassandraTrotter · 20/09/2021 06:33

Also taking her out for the day doesn’t address the root cause of her unhappiness. Surely better to tackle that?
This. What is causing the problem and what is being done about that?

daisypond · 20/09/2021 06:33

No, don’t take her out of school.

Mybalconyiscracking · 20/09/2021 06:35

Every birthday my DC had was on a Saturday until they were seven or eight.

Indoctro · 20/09/2021 06:36

No my son is 7 on Wednesday and he is going to trampoline park after school.

School isn't optional and I wouldn't want to give that impression

Original poster

Wormsarecool · 20/09/2021 06:38

Thank you that’s fairly unanimous. I genuinely didn’t know what to do so that’s helpful, I’ll send her in and try to make the rest of the day special.

OP posts:

Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 20/09/2021 06:39

A friend of mine did this for both of her children until they recently left school. Didn’t affect their life negatively.

She may feel guilty though which would probably stop me.

FreeBritnee · 20/09/2021 06:40

Take her out. I’ve done it loads of times and we’ve had a great time. Brilliant memories 😍

Beautiful3 · 20/09/2021 06:55

No, don't. You're teaching them that school/uni/work is optional. It's not normal to take the day off. My daughters friend always had the day off primary school for her birthday. Now she's in secondary school, she will expect the same. But in secondary, one missed day, means alot of missed work and catching up to do.

HelstonaireMonty · 20/09/2021 07:03

She can wear a giant birthday badge, the children in the local primary where ones the size of a side plate. Everyone wishes them happy birthday, children and staff. It is lovely.

Is she struggling with the transition from reception to year one? Or just a general start of the school year, new routines in school, new teacher etc?

Megistotherium · 20/09/2021 07:11

I agree with wearing a birthday badge. Everyone says happy birthday, it will be lovely for her.

10ColaBottles · 20/09/2021 07:21

Don't keep her off.

If school is hard for her a day away really won't help her. Plan nice things for afterwards instead. Have a fancy breakfast etc

ChocolateHoneycomb · 20/09/2021 12:13

Don’t take her out for the day.
Do special breakfast, badge to wear for school, send in a cake /sweets if allowed and plan something nice for after school.

pianolessons1 · 20/09/2021 14:08

No of course not. Awful message to send. You don't get the day off work on your birthday.

Pumpkinstace · 20/09/2021 14:11

@Mybalconyiscracking

Every birthday my DC had was on a Saturday until they were seven or eight.

Eh?

That's not even possible.

clarrylove · 20/09/2021 14:14

One of my favourite memories of Primary is my mum took me out of school just for lunchtime on my birthday. We just went to the local park but she had prepared a lovely picnic and it was very special. Do that!

redtshirt50 · 20/09/2021 14:20

@pianolessons1

No of course not. Awful message to send. You don't get the day off work on your birthday.

It's actually getting more common for companies to give you an extra day off for your birthday.

The last two companies I worked for did, it's a nice perk.

BoreiPuriHagafen · 20/09/2021 14:25

@Pumpkinstace

Mybalconyiscracking

Every birthday my DC had was on a Saturday until they were seven or eight.

Eh? That's not even possible.

You didn't understand the point that post was making. He/she was saying that they always told their kids that their birthday was on the Saturday and celebrated on that day instead of the school day.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 20/09/2021 14:28

I always sold it to mine as double birthday - presents, cake and a fuss on the day even if at school, plus a celebration with friends and wider family at the weekend. Who doesn't want two birthday cakes?

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