To not send Ds 3 and 6 on school trip (2 nights)

[Pasanna]

Ds's school are organising a two night three day trip to the seaside in April. I am really reluctant to send them, ds2 is 3 and I think too young to go and ds1 is just 6 and had a terrible experience last year on an overnight trip with school, to the extend that he made himself sick with crying for the following few days everytime I talked to him about it. So I didn't return the forms to authorising them to go.

Tonight at school I was handed the forms and lists with everything they needed for this trip. I told Ds 2 's teacher that we didn't want them to go, to which she was really surprised. Cut a long story short, she said they would be missing out on an enriching experience and that all the class were going. Activities have been organised for the rest of the year around the outing. AIBU to keep them at home,I really don't know if I'm being overprotective. BTW school is in France.

[cedricsneer]

Er... No way in hell would I send either a 3 year old or a 6 year old who had been so distressed by a previous trip. What a bizzare thing to organise for such young kids.

They will have all the time in the world to go on trips.

[inlectorecumbit]

3 and 6 is too young to be away on a school trip. I would bet they won't be the only DC's not going.
YANBU at all

[Gatehouse77]

Not at that age, no way for a school trip.

Mine would happily go off to stay with family but, even for a slack parent like me, 3 and 6 is too young.

[OnlyThePurpleOnes]

Absolutely no way I'd be sending mine. They are the same age and would not cope at all.

[heavenlypink]

In the UK I couldn't see an overnight trip happening with 3 year olds - though that may just be my experience, and I certainly wouldn't be sending a child of mine. Six years ...... it really does depend on the child, some would love it. What are health and safety, safeguarding and ratio rules like in France.

[waterrat]

It's unimaginable to me to send my 3 year old away with School

It will make no difference to their lives whatsoever. Please don't send them if your don't think it's right.

[Floggingmolly]

A three year old on a residential school trip? . What year is he in??

[Pasanna]

Thanks, that's reassured me, I felt the teacher, who is lovely, was really trying to pressure me into letting them go. As in the rest of the class are going, he's going to miss out on shared experiences, turn a bad experience into a positive one, etc etc, so a position I was sure about became a bit unsteady.

[hels71]

YANBU. My DD is 8 and she is not going on her school residential this year...

[G1raffe]

Gosh no. Is this a cultural issue!?

[HeartShapedBox]

Nope, they're far too young imo.

Especially as your eldest was so distressed last year.

[Princesspeach1980]

Never heard of a school round here going on a residential any younger than year 4 or 5, I wouldn't be comfortable sending a 3 and 6 year old. Could you take the kids and join the group during the day for some of the activities so they don't miss out completely?

[WeDoNotSow]

I would probably let my 6 year old. 3 yo? No way!

[Onsera3]

No way would I send my children.

I'm a teacher myself Abd certainly wouldn't want to take children that young on a residential trip.

I think it's madness. What on earth ration would you need to care for 3 year olds overnight. My 3yo couldn't get himself ready for bed.

Sounds more likely to be traumatic than enriching.

I think my first overnight school thing was 8/9 years old. It was 2 nights and was just mock camping at the school. First proper trio the next year 3 nights when we were 9/10.

[Pasanna]

Ds 2 in in nursery, and Ds 1 would be in year 1. (5-6)

[maydancer]

It sounds a crap school

[Pasanna]

I did think about using the money,260 euros, to book a cottage by the sea and take them away myself.
Onsera3 I think the teachers are mad, nursery and primary are going for 2 nights, junior for 4!

[mommy2ash]

My dd is nine and I would really have to think about letting her go away for three days with school. Your kids are miles too young

[StuntBottom]

When we take Beavers (aged 6 to 8) on sleepovers, it's only for one night as we think that's enough for them to cope with at that age. Even then, we almost always get one who needs to go home. Two nights is too much for the 6 year old. The 3 year old is far too young full stop.

[Princesspeach1980]

Thinking about it, even on the day out to the farm with nursery and reception class, parents were strongly encouraged to come, and each teacher only had a group of about 3 children. That was only for a 20 minute coach ride and 3 hours at the farm.

[pudcat]

I would not send mine at those ages, and as an ex-teacher of Nursery through to Y6 I would not have taken children that young away. Even for a day trip from Nursery we made it a family trip so that each child was accompanied. I have taken Y5 on a residential and even some of those were upset at times.

[nancy75]

I'm one of those my mums who was pretty happy to let child stay overnight at gps from a very young age, in fact I'm quite laid back about most things BUT an overnight school trip for a 3 year old that is nuts!

[Marilynsbigsister]

I am one of the least 'mummy' mummies you will ever meet. My dcs were having sleepovers at 5 (for one night with best friend. - next door) .. I parent by benign neglect BUT hell would freeze over before I sent a three yr old and a six yr old on a school trip for two days without me.. No, you are definitely NBU?

[StealthPolarBear]

Three year olds are babies! By that age mine were both staying with grandparents regularly but it wasn't a relaxed affair, I was still worried about them. No way would I have sent them off with school.
Ds is going on his residential later this year, he will be ten and I'm nervous about thay. Otherwise he's had two nights separately away from us on sleepovers that weren't with grandparents

[miwelaisjacydo]

Are you in the uk op?