Keeping Up With Schoolwork On The Road

When family vacation time conflicts with the school calendar, there is often a cause for panic. As long as you commit yourself and your child to keeping up with the program during the trip, however, everything should go fine. In most cases, children can survive a week out of school and still pull off excellent grades at the end of the term.

To make sure your child fares well, you will have to do some advance planning for homework and other assignments. Make sure to:

• Contact teachers early – Let your child’s teachers know early that a trip is coming up and when your child will be absent from school as a result. Teachers can and sometimes will help by giving children assignments in advance so they won’t have to work on the road.

• Create a schedule – If your child will have to do homework during the trip, break up assignments so they can get them done without having to miss out on family fun. If possible, encourage your child to work on assignments during the trip to and from the vacation destination. Create a realistic schedule though so any assignments that have to be done during the trip get completed without spoiling all the fun.

• Make sure your child is prepared – Beyond bringing the backpack and books, create a “homework bag” for your child. Fill it with the writing tools, paper and even a portable desk your child might need to get the work done. A few treats for jobs well done wouldn’t hurt either.

Taking your child out of school for a family vacation doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Just plan ahead and do your part to keep your child on track.