Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you let your child go on this school trip?

214 replies

Bubblegirly · 02/05/2025 11:22

Hello

7yr old in year 3 has the opportunity to go to London to see a musical. It’s for those children who are involved in performing arts at school. It’s an evening performance and coach will likely not be home to midnight. It’s on a school night (organised by school) and children are allowed in later the next day.

1 parent is point blank saying no because it’s too late!
other parent thinks 1 late night is ok for a child that has a well established routine generally and that they will be sad to miss out!

YANBU = let them go
YABU= don’t let them go it’s too late

OP posts:
mindutopia · 02/05/2025 11:33

If my dc wanted to go, definitely. He’d sleep on the coach anyway.

We went to Spain last year and flight got delayed. Didn’t land back in the UK until nearly midnight, then had to collect car from car park, then 2.5 hour drive home. He was 6 in Y1 at the time. He slept a bit on the plane, then slept again in the car, then I tipped him into bed circa 3am ish. We were up at 8am and to school as normal for 8:45am.

He was tired, but fine. It was an amazing experience and he still talks about that trip nearly daily. Just had an early one the next night. He’s not an 8 week old baby, he doesn’t need some strict routine anymore.

Thelnebriati · 02/05/2025 11:33

Let them go. Its fun staying up late, and they need to have the experience at least once so they can know what it feels like the next day, it helps them to regulate their own bedtime in the future.

Lamelie · 02/05/2025 11:32

Does the parent who thinks it’s too late not want to collect them? I can see if you live a distance away from school without transport it could be difficult/ impossible but based on the op of course dc should go.

Stickortwigs · 02/05/2025 11:32

They’ll sleep on the way home and all be on the same boat the following day, which schools have endorsed.

I’m pretty strict on routine and never keep them up late for events, doing afternoon activities instead. But I would 100% let them go on this trip.

ThejoyofNC · 02/05/2025 11:30

What a stupid trip. Who on earth arranges for 7 year olds to go to an evening performance? The performance will finish around 10:00 at night, A lot of them will probably fall asleep.

No, I wouldn't send my child.

Needmorelego · 02/05/2025 11:30

A fantastic opportunity.
Most will fall asleep on the coach home.

Leeds2 · 02/05/2025 11:30

Wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. I would happily let DC go.

TheNightingalesStarling · 02/05/2025 11:30

They will all fall asleep on the bus home.

edwinbear · 02/05/2025 11:29

Yes, I'd positively encourage it. They'll be tired next day, but that's not the end of the world for one day and they will have so much fun - going to a 'grown up' event with their friends, how lovely.

ComtesseDeSpair · 02/05/2025 11:29

Yes, absolutely. The school themselves have recognised and mitigated that it’s going to be a late night by actively saying those who attend can go into school later. It’s one night, and will be a great experience.

CalypsoCuthbertson · 02/05/2025 11:28

There’s no one answer for these things! What’s right for your child? If they want to go, can cope with an odd late night and you can accommodate a lie in the next morning around work or whatever you do, then sounds great.

yeesh · 02/05/2025 11:28

It’s one day

sweeneytoddsrazor · 02/05/2025 11:27

One late night isn't going to hurt them. Most of them will sleep on the coach on the way back anyway

dairydebris · 02/05/2025 11:25

Gridgingly yes. It'd be so fun for them.