Miss School for This?

As an ex-kindergarten teacher, I also am against missing school for play, but like CAWriterMom said, this case is different. If it were me in the situation, I would also pull my child out and allow him the extra play time with his "long lost" cousin :-)

Also agree with others that it is a good idea to communicate with her teacher to see if there is anything she will be missing, get any "homework", or material to review before Monday.

I'd pull her. It's Kindergarten. Frankly, I'd pull her out at any age. In my county in Virginia, Kindergarten is only 1/2 day anyway.

It's just Kindergarten. In Illinois it's not even required. I knew a girl who wouldn't let her son miss school for the birth of his siblings. Maybe I over think situations, but I would want family experiences to remember when I think back to my childhood verses school!

Take her out of school. Family relationships are important.

Trust me, schools do not have a problem with kids missing class for a couple or few days due to a death in the family.

We've been through more than our share of that.

It's kindergarten. I'm sure it will be fine and she won't miss anything too important.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I'm usually a stickler for not skipping school unless there's a *really* good reason. I'd say that spending time with family that you almost never see is a *really* good reason.

My answer would be different if your child was in 10th grade and had a midterm the next day. But Kindergarten? Yeah, go ahead and let her skip.

It's kinder, not middle school. By all means, take her out. This is actually more important. Your husband shouldn't look at this as "playing". This is one of the ways we come to terms with a loved one's death - being together. Funerals are something adults understand - being with her cousin is something that SHE will understand.

Dawn

Yep. Worth it. Get the work before you leave.

I would definitely take my child out of school under those circumstances, but I would also be clear with my child: "I won't let you miss school in the future because we went to the circus the night before, or because your friend wants you to go to a movie, or because McDonald's is giving away free happy meals at noon. This is family, and sometimes, maybe once a year, we will get to be with family at either happy or sad times, and if you are a good student, and try your best to do your schoolwork carefully, you will get the privilege of missing school for a really special family day". That way the boundaries have been established and the criteria is clear. And maybe your husband will feel comfortable with those boundaries, and he won't worry that you'll ever say "oooh there's a sale on manicures at the salon so I'm going to take little Susie out of school for the day for a girls' day out".

I would take her out of school to play with her cousins. It's important for her to spend time with them and seriously missing 1.5 days of school isn't going to really matter at all.

It's Kindergarten. I think it's fine.

I'm sorry for your loss.

I would take her out, and send a note about the funeral related time. It may count as excused absenses as it is a death in the immediate family. You could even ask for work for those days so she doesn't really miss it. Family is more important at this time.

Kindergarten? Miss it! Middle school or high school would be a different story.

I'm sorry to hear about your Grandpa. I hope you have a wonderful visit with your extended family. The opportunity to see extended family usually doesn't come around very often.

I'd look at it as part of the whole funeral process. This is going to be a long, confusing and often stressful weekend for your daughter and her cousin...they will both be out of their usual routines. Let them have some special time together for some fun and also to help them regulate themselves before they have to be around a lot of other people and on their best behavior at the funeral, etc. I don't really consider Thursday afternoon so much as "playtime" as a time for the girls to warm-up prior to a big, confusing and possibly a bit scary weekend ahead of them.

I would absolutely do it and not give it a 2nd thought.

She won't miss much not going for a day and a half. If you are worried, ask the teacher what they will be covering those days and review the material before she returns on Monday.

It is only kindergarten. I see no issue with picking her up early on Thursday. None at all.

I would take her out of school. Sounds like important family time and it's kindergarten. As long as you communicate with the teacher and see if there's anything she can make up I think absences for significant vacations, important family events, etc. are fine in the elementary school years and even into middle school years. It would be a different story in HS. Condolences on the loss of your grandpa and enjoy the time with your extended family.

Of course she can miss kindergarten. My son's kindergarten (a Montessori) encouraged families to travel and felt that spending time with family was a great thing for kids. My son's elementary school (public) also accepts spending time with family as a valid educational excuse. Seriously - it is kindergarten.

Make up work for kindergarten? Really?

I would say yes. Family time is very important after a death in the family. My grandma died last year and i kept both my kids out of school for the funeral & wake. It gives the family time to grieve together. Do not feel guilty, She may have a fond memory later in life as spending time with her cousin,

I'm normally against pulling a child from school for this kind of reason (not the funeral, the play time), but in this situation, I'd do it.

Miss school. Seriously, you can make up a week's worth of kindergarten in probably an hour. Family is way more important. Don't feel a bit guilty. She's your child, not the school's.

Family first when there are extenuating circumstances. Heck I used to let my middle school/high schools kids take off four days to spend time with aunt n uncle.

miss school.

people that let their kid skip (even Kindergarten) when ever the "KID" feels like it bug me,

but in this circumstance, it is perfectly understandable.

You guys need some fun. and some family.

Perfectly ok with me,

I would lump it in with all the goings on for a funeral. Family comes in, there's viewings and services...you can explain to the teacher that she wont' be in school and get the homework. The school may even have a form for her.

I would definitely let her miss school. It's kindergarten. It's not that big of a deal. My son is also in kinder and I wouldn't think twice if I was in the same situation.

I am so sorry for your loss. This has been one of the hardest things for me as a mom to decide for my kids - when it's ok to take them out of school....here is what I learned ( one daughter 11th grade, one Jr in college) There times when missing school outweighs going....it's sometimes hard to decide, but as they get older, they seem to miss for such a variety of reasons... being sick is a no brainer, but what about when they just need a "mental health day" as we call it? My girls know it's a big deal to miss school, and it doesn't come cheaply, if they miss, they have to make it up- even if it means staying after school for days if needed, but sometimes it's worth it to them. I just think teaching them when they are young, that school is their job and that it is to be taken seriously. In the case of a death in the family, I look at it as a good teaching time. Explain to your daughter that school is very very important but sometimes missing is ok but only on special occations.... It's so hard to know what to do sometimes, with experience it gets easier .Everyone will have their own take on it and you will have to make your own family rules....my take on it is - take her out! She will be ok and a good time to learn about missing school.....good luck to you.

Since Christmas Break is coming up and they are sort of on Christmas time stuff I would take her out for as many days as I wanted. This is a wonderful opportunity for her and you to see relatives that you may never see again.

Please take her and go spend as much time there as you want. They won't flunk her, she won't miss much more than coloring Santa and doing some basic stuff, and she'll have wonderful memories.

I don't see a problem with it.

Well, before Winter Break per schools, the classes typically have a party, before school ends. And some kids bring X-mas presents for their friends or classmates.
Is your child's class having a party???
If so, and you take her out of school on Thurs. she will miss the party or anything that is given out to the class, if it is on a Friday.
At my kids' school, the class parties are on this Friday, for example. And all the kids are eagerly waiting for it.

And, at least at my kids' school, the Teachers do send home homework, typically a "packet" of homework for Winter Break.
So, you'd need to... make sure... you know what your child will be missing and get her homework packet or anything to bring home, over the Winter Break.
And yes, even when my kids were in Kindergarten, they got homework over Winter Break.

If this week is the last week of school, before their Winter Break, then think about it, what I said above.
But if this is not the last week of school and your child's school does not have their Winter Break, yet... then just decide which is more important... sledding or school? And mostly, missing a day and a half of school, is not much.
Just tell the Teacher and get her in-class work and homework ahead of time.

I say ask the teachers for her work for Thursday and Friday and go for it. They might not even have anything for her to do. They are used to kids being out for a death in the family. For all they know you have to get up there and help make arrangements. Don't feel guilty. This is a time of loss for your family you need as much fun and enjoyment right now as you can get!!!!

I'd take her out, it's just kindergarten.
kinder is mostly play anyway

i am so sorry for your loss of your grampa. I don't think it is a big deal or even a little deal whatsoever for your daughter to miss school. take her out of school and let her play with her cousin! a day and a half is nothing! safe travels to you and yours!

Haven't read the other responses, but I would absolutely take my two daughters (both in kindergarten this year) out for a half day to play with a cousin who was unexpectedly in town. To be honest, I'd take them out the full day and maybe even two.

My girls missed an entire week for my sister's wedding in November and it was no big deal. They didn't even get behind.

When my father was dying we took my son out of kindergarten every Friday for months! We would travel to spend every weekend with him. It was an agreement we had with the school and his teacher. It all worked out (apart from my father's death), and my son is a good student, doing well in all aspects of school.

I wouldn't feel at all bad about taking your child out of school for one afternoon to be with family.

my daughter is very close with my brothers daughter and she goes away for the entire summer each year. they see eachother throughtout the year otherwise. anyway last year when she was in K, my brother invited emmy to sleep over for 2 days before she spent the summer wit her mom.
I was hesitant but asked the K teacher and her teacher said GOOO family is important. she's on track

even if it werent J. K, i'd send her again. as long as she's on track and not missing tons of days she'll be fine!

BTW I;d J. have her skip tomorrow and spend the whole day with them