residential trip in yr 4

[popsocks]

My DD is 8, will be 9 a week after the trip, and her year are going on a 2 night trip about an hour away from where we live. They are going to be doing arts and crafts aswell as nature walks etc. This is the sort of thing my DD loves to do, but she dosent want to saty overnight, and gets herself into a state crying and getting really upset if we keep on about it. She is quite an anxious girl and wont go to her friends for tea or stay at her nans overnight even though they have a great relationship. She also still has nighttime accidents (we are waiting for an appointment at the enuresis clinic). Ive spoken to the teacher and she says its not a problem, she isnt the only one and it is dealt with dicsreetly. Ive treid asking DD why she dosent want to, but she keeps saying she dosent know she just dosent want like being away from us. I know she would have a great time once she got there because its what she loves doing. I guess i just want advice on how to explain/persuade her to go, or should i just accept she dosent want to, because i dont want to force her or make her anymore upset. Has anyones child not wanted to go, and then had a great time when they went? Thanks for any advice x

[Butkin]

DD (8- yr4) has similar thing happening next month. She is looking forward to day times but is nervous about nights - especially as we're not letting her take her bedtime snuggly for the first time ever (in case he gets lost).

At the moment she is saying she is going and we've paid the deposit. Just hoping that. when she finds out what dormitories she is in, she is with some of her best friends. If not she may not be very happy!

[Lizcat]

My DD is a bit younger 7, but in the summer she went on a 2 night PGL camp. It was her choice to go, but as it got closer we had the same things crying etc. Whether I was right or wrong what seemed to work for us was reassuring her that if she really hated it we would come and get her. She went had a great time wants to go for a week next summer. She has said the days were really great, but she didn't like the nights. We reassured her that it is normal to miss her mummy and daddy.
I suspect others maybe along with greater wisdom.

[thebeansmum]

Is there a possibility of discreetly collecting her and dropping back in time for breakfast? I know one girl's family did this during a Y4 residential trip at our school last year.

Not 100% sure, but I think the girl has mild ASD and school and parents (and the little girl) decided it would be best for them.

Is there any way you could pursuade her to do an overnight with grandparents in the meantime? Or have a friend for a sleepover? It may just give her a little bit more confidence. You're right though - don't force her.

[popsocks]

Thanks everyone. I have an appointment with the lead teacher after school on monday so will ask about the possibility of collecting her and dropping off early. Will also keep reassuring her and hope she will change her mind about going.

[lilackaty]

On all the overnight trips I have been on, it has been an option for children to be collected discreetly and then brought back in the morning. But when my dd went in Yr 3, they were over 1.5 hrs away so there was no way we could drop off and pick up if needed. I guess that's not a problem here though.

[anthonytrollopesrevenge]

My DS is yr 4 and has a 4 night residential course in November, about 2 hours away by car. He is taking his soft toy and so are all his friends, his teacher spoke about it in class and said it was fine to take soft toys. Luckily for me he is looking forward to it and the idea of being away from home has made him want to do lots more things for himself, brush hair, make own drinks, learn how to wash up, started making his own bed without being nagged. I wasn't expecting this and am happily surprised. Am expecting a few wobbles nearer the time of departure though.