THE TRADITIONS LIBRARY
Ditch Day
An ordinary school day takes an unexpected turn: a surprise pickup, a little adventure, and time together just because.
Shared by:
The December Family
0008
CATEGORY
Family Adventures
FREQUENCY
Annually
AGES
School Aged
COST
Flexible
The Story Behind It
My mom started Ditch Day with me and my brother when I was in high school. It was a chance to be silly, have fun, and spend time together when we were expecting an ordinary school day.
In 2018, I started doing it with my own kids. They never know when it is coming - it is a complete surprise. I sign them out of school for an “appointment,” and instead of heading somewhere predictable, we head off together for a fun drink, a little shopping, and lunch.
Part of what makes it special is the timing. They have already settled into their day, and suddenly we get this unexpected stretch of time together. Something my mom once did for us has become something I get to pass on to them.
What You'll Need
A little time together, a plan for pickup and transportation, and a budget that works for your family.
Choose a suitable day around school commitments, follow the school’s absence and sign-out procedures, and arrange any missed work. Drinks, lunch, and spending money are part of our version, but purchases are not required to make the day special.
Make It Your Own
Your surprise could be a picnic, a library visit, a walk with hot chocolate, or an afternoon playing games at home. Bring lunch from home, set a small shared budget, or choose something entirely free.
Make it a whole-family outing or spend time with one child at a time. If missing school does not suit your family, try a surprise after-school adventure, a weekend mystery outing, or an unexpected day together during a school break.
Keep the part that makes it yours: a break from the expected and time to enjoy being together.
How It’s Done
Once each school year, I choose a day to surprise the kids with Ditch Day. They do not know beforehand. I arrange their pickup through the school, and the “appointment” turns out to be an unexpected afternoon together.
We get a fun drink, head to the mall, and each child gets some spending money to use however they like (and I mean that, its free fun money to them to just be kids). We have lunch together before heading home.
The surprise is a big part of it, but so is having time to enjoy each other without the usual rush. We wander, chat, laugh, and do something fun in the middle of what everyone thought would be a normal day.