DD taking mobile phone on trip to London?

[yummumto3girls]

I need a quick poll on whether I am being unreasonable to insist that school let my DD take her mobile phone on a school trip to London. School have said no phones as worried they will be messing around texting each other etc They are also visiting houses of paliament and not allowed them in there. However this is a big trip for her, leaving Devon at 5.30am, and I am worried about her safety. I know school will have everything in place but what if she got split up, if she has her phone she will have a way of getting help? AIBU She is 10 by the way.

[backwardpossom]

YABU. If school say no mobile phones, then no mobile phones it is.

[sandyballs]

No don't insist that she take her phone, I completely agree with school banning them on trips like this. She'll be absolutely fine and will love it. I've also got ten year old DD's who are starting to do a lot more without me so I do understand but you've got to trust her and the school and not worry.

[fuckmepinkandcallmerosie]

If it's a school trip, and you allow her to go, you sign up to obey the rules for the trip.

YABU.

[pozzled]

Yes, I think YABU. The school are responsible for her safety and will have done a thorough risk assessment, they will have procedures in place to deal with all sorts of eventualities. The likelihood of her being split up from the group is incredibly small, and if it were to happen she would get help a lot more easily by asking someone than she would by using her phone. I agree with the school that allowing the children to take mobiles would be quite disruptive to the trip.

[foxinsocks]

she will worry more about looking after it I would imagine

dd is going on a week long trip with school and they aren't allowed mobile phones (they get to write letters)!

[AdamJSusan]

YABU, I bet you went on school trips without a mobile phone?

[clam]

YABU. What they said up there ^

[foxinsocks]

she will be fine, honestly. Even in London, we don't tend to lose children randomly ;-). They will probably make them wear hideous bright jackets so they stand out a mile.

[pinkbraces]

YABU but I completely understand. My DD was 13 when she went away with school, to another country. Mobile phones were banned and I was at this, but they were right.

The main reason for this is they didnt want the kids phoning parents, and crying because they were homesick, we couldnt have done anything if that had happened.

They insist on this rule for a reason, dont let her take the phone.

MY DD is now 17, she was away last year for a month, touring a country with the same youth group, she still wasnt allowed her phone, she did however find an internet cafe :)

[yousankmybattleship]

YABU! The school will have very detailed plans in place to keep all the children safe and have plenty of experience looking after them. They have said no phoned for perfectly good reasons so you have to accept it. Why on earth should your daughter be treated any differently from the others? Sorry!

[ExitPursuedByAKitten]

YABU - People managed before mobiles were invented. And I see no reason why she should get split up from the group.

To be honest, it is more worrying when they do have a phone with them, but do not answer it. She will be fine.

[littleducks]

If you are really worried, then give her some change for a payphone and get her to carry a piece of paper with your and the school (who prob have teachers mobile numbers) telephone numbers on, there are still payphones in central London.

[yummumto3girls]

Well it seems I am being unreasonable! It's difficult letting them grow up. Thanks for your quick responses.

[mummakaz]

what pinkbraces said. My 9 yr old has gone a school trip today for 3 days and those are the reasons they gave. If it's any consolation I am worrying about my son too she will be fine :)

[PigletJohn]

There are still phone boxes in London.

[ExitPursuedByAKitten]

Phone boxes! Hands up those whose DCs would have the first clue how to use one!

[yummumto3girls]

Phone boxes in London, really?! I was not for one minute suggesting only my DD be given exceptional treatment. I do understand the reasons the school give, it's good to see that this appears to be standard across all school. Thanks for the reassuring comments, she has a weeks trip next term, dreading that already!

[yummumto3girls]

Exit - agree think we will go look at a phone box after school.....

[yousankmybattleship]

You sound like a very nice Mum and you'll wonder what you were worrying about when she comes back alle xcited and full of herself!

[yummumto3girls]

Ah, thanks!

[pozzled]

Just wanted to say that if you are concerned it wouldn't hurt for you to have a chat with her about staying safe- making sure she listens carefully to instructions, keeps the teachers/ adults in sight etc. And that if for any reason she were to get separated from the group (but she won't!) to stay calm and talk to someone in uniform (preferably police). And yes, make sure she has the school address and phone number written down somewhere.

[clam]

Our school often takes the kids to a "hazard awareness" centre where they're shown how to deal with a range of potentially dangerous scenarios: there are mock-ups of a house fire, railway track, canal towpath, bull in a field, building site etc.. one of the activities involved them having to make a 999 call from a phone box. They're videoed doing it! It's hilarious to watch back. First there's the conflab about how actually to use the phone itself, then the ensuing conversation with the call centre whereby they have to give their location and so on.
Actually, I say hilarious, but it's also a bit worrying.

[clam]

Oh, and I just spent a weekend down in the wilds of Somerset. Loads of telephone boxes (the "real" red ones!) around in villages - maybe they have a poor mobile signal. Point is, they all had signs on saying they didn't take coins. Might be worth geting her a card, or whatever you need to use these days.

[ExitPursuedByAKitten]

They don't take coins Need to find out more.