When my kids were little, my husband and I pulled them out of school to travel all the time. Now that they’re older, we’re a little more careful. It’s one thing to skip a week of finger painting and shape-sorting, but quite another to miss a unit of pre-algebra.
Often it can’t be helped though.  Whether it’s for a family wedding in New York or a long-overdue visit to a national park, sooner or later your kids will miss some school to travel. Here are a few ways to make it easier for everyone.

Examine Your Motives

Only you can decide what’s right for your family, but let’s face it: a week at Disneyland isn’t the same as a trip to Colonial Williamsburg. If traveling off season when prices are lower is your only option, then by all means go. Just be sure to minimize missed instruction days, and try to limit yourself to one good trip a year.

Plan in Advance

Assuming you have any say in the matter, it’s better to miss the end of the term rather than the beginning. The days just before winter, spring and summer breaks aren’t the most academically rigorous. (Also, it’s easier for your child to rejoin the class after a break than during the mid-term). Check the school calendar for standardized testing dates, special field trips and school pictures before inking anything into your calendar.

Try to Make Up Missed Work

You can ask your teacher for your child’s assignments and homework ahead of time, but be considerate with your tone and timing. Preparing lesson plans, homework packets and tests for one child to take on vacation is a lot of work, and chances are your teacher already puts in lots of unpaid overtime.

Do Extra Credit

Even if your child’s teacher doesn’t assign make-up work, travel provides lots of other learning opportunities. Pick up books about (or set in) your destination for your child to read in the car or on the plane. Try to visit at least one cultural or educational attraction on your trip. With the teacher’s permission, your child can even make a poster about your destination, keep a journal or do a presentation to the whole class. Travel is important, but so is learning—make sure your kids see that you value both.