Gen X and Millennials Don't Agree on Pulling Kids Out of Class for Vacation
For generations, the school calendar was the undisputed compass for family getaways. Summer break, Thanksgiving week, and spring recess dictated when suitcases were packed, while term time was strictly off-limits.
Today, that unspoken rule is officially breaking down.
According to a new nationwide survey conducted by Atomik Researchon behalf of travel booking platform Omio, taking kids out of class for a family vacation has become mainstream behavior. The study of 1,000 U.S. parents with children ages 5 to 18 revealed that a staggering 9 out of 10 American parents (91%)have either pulled their children out of school for a vacation (67%) or would consider doing so (24%).
Dads are leading the charge, with 74% saying they have already pulled their children out of class for trips compared to 62% of moms.
Related: 10 Multigenerational Travel Tips for Seniors and Teens
The Generational Divide: Where Gen X Parents Stand on Travel vs. Class Time
While parents across age groups agree that the school year shouldn't stand in the way of a great family memory, a clear generational split emerges when it comes to how they justify missing class.
Overall, 44% of parents say missing a few days of school is worth it to create meaningful family experiences. However, when asked whether travel offers the exact same educational value as traditional schoolwork, Gen X parents are noticeably more traditional than their younger peers.
While 30% of Millennial parents believe travel can be just as educational as time in the classroom, only 23% of Gen X parentsshare that philosophy. For Gen X moms and dads—many of whom are parenting older middle and high school students with heavier academic workloads—skipping school is less about trying to replace formal curricula and more about managing practical family logistics, budget constraints, and precious time together before the kids leave the nest.
Related: This Is the Top Multigenerational Trip According to New Research
Cost, Crowds, and Flexibility Trump the Academic Calendar
So what is actually driving parents to ignore the school bell? The survey found that everyday travel pain points are doing far more to shape vacation dates than district schedules:
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Finding better availability and savings:22% of parents cite better flight and hotel availability as their primary reason for off-calendar trips, while 19% do it to save money outright, and another 19% travel off-peak to avoid extreme weather.
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Low price threshold:If taking a child out of class saves money, 92% of parentsadmit they would consider it. For many, it takes surprisingly little to tip the scale: 44% said savings under $1,000would be enough to pull their child out of school.
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Beating the crowds:16% cite crowd avoidance, while another 16% point to the flexibility of remote work.
The desire to travel outside school holidays spans all four seasons. More than half of open parents look to winter (52%) and spring (52%), while 47% eye fall shoulder season for their off-peak escapes.
As Facundo Viguie Aleman, CMO of Omio,explained: "This data confirms what we are seeing across our platform: family travel isn't bound by the school year anymore. Parents are booking when it makes sense—for their budget, their schedule, their sanity."
What Parents Actually Tell the Front Office
When it comes to explaining those mid-semester absences to the school attendance office, honesty varies widely.
While 45% of parents tell the school outrightthat the absence is for a family vacation, nearly a third opt for a more discreet explanation:
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18%cite a vague "family or personal reason."
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7%tell the school the child was sick.
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7%provide no specific explanation at all.
Whether dodging holiday airport madness or saving on peak resort pricing, the numbers make one thing clear: for today's families, the classroom schedule is no longer the final word.
This story was originally published by Parade on Sep 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
