5 days no contact with 10 year old (school trip)

[embarrassedabout]

DC (10) is going on a school trip, Monday- Friday.
We've been advised they're not allowed mobile phones but have been given a mobile number to contact in case of emergency, school also have our contact details of course. We've been told they discourage the kids to contact us if they ask as they want the kids to get on and have a good time, contacting home may make them homesick and they can't have 90 odd kids all making calls home etc. I understand what they mean, but I think 4 nights/5 days is too long to not see or speak to my child, especially baring my mind the kids are only 10, some just turned 11. Just wondering what other people's opinions were on this?

This is normal, I went on a residential trip like that 25 years ago!

I think it's actually easier for the children not to have contact. They will then just be immersed in the trip.

I think teachers find that homesickness is made worse by speaking to mum or dad as then they're reminded of what they're missing.

I went on a 5 day school trip at the age of 9 (some kids would have been 8) and everyone was fine. No contact with home as far as I remember.

Absolutely normal.

We have a local centre and parents have been know to sneak up and peek in bushes, Rock up with cakes as a treat etc and they have to be told to leave. These parents are e reason they have to crack down.

It’s 5 days. They’ll be fine.

Its normal practice. It seems a lot of time at first but they are kept so busy on these residential trips.

Perfectly normal imo. My two dc went on multiple residential trips in primary school from year 3 onwards (before the age most kids even have mobiles). No mobiles allowed, no calling home. No problem.

Perfectly normal. Kids will be fine. If you are lucky school will send out a few updates through the week. If you are unlucky they won't.

Is this not what every year 6 residential trip has been like, for every school in Britain, since before any of us can remember?

It’s completely normal and standard across the whole country

Normal. I completely understand as I felt that way too. but its better.

Totally normal. If course they will all take their phones anyway to play on

Come to think of it, I'm sure I went on a week long trip at the same age (this would've been almost 20 years ago) and was obviously fine.
It just feels different now it's my own child going...I just can't imagine going a whole week with no contact

I imagine she'll get quite homesick but she'll have all her friends there which will hopefully be a good distraction.

It's completely normal for that "last year of primary school" trip. Both my DDs did it and they weren't allowed mobile phones. We had the emergency school number same as you. It reduces the chance of the kids getting homesick and crying to be allowed home. It'll be worse for you than them because the children will be far too busy having fun and getting exhausted from the activities. It's extra difficult if your DCs have never spent much time away from you. The days will seem long for you OP, but you'll get through it and your children will learn some independence. It's good for them.

It's normal. I've worked on a lot of school trips and kids tend to find phone calls home upsetting rather than helpful. The staff will let you know if there is a problem.

If it helps, think of it as 3 days away, given that you'll be seeing them on both the Monday and the Friday.

Very normal. I think year 6 residential trips are an important opportunity to learn independence, both for the child and the parents.

You'll have similar trips in Year 7.

Schools often put photos on twitter.

Maybe when I asked for opinions I used the wrong word...maybe I should've said feelings/experiences? I realise this is the norm as I have friends with children at other schools who have done the same, as did my school when I was younger.
I personally just feel like it's such a long time to not see/speak to my child. She seems way too little

It’s normal and fine and for the best.
Yes it’s hard and feels unnatural, but it’s honestly fine - mine was back last week!!

Please, please don't plant the seed that you imagine she'll be homesick. In fact very few children are. Most children get on with it secure in the knowledge that their parents are happy at home and that they will see them soon. Often the ones who struggle are those that have been told by their parents that they will miss them dreadfully or be so unhappy without them etc

Phoning home often makes the child homesick when they’ve been fine until then. Especially because some parents don’t think and go on about how much they are missing them.

I think it’s important to remember that it’s more likely going to be harder for you than your DC to have no contact. The staff will be experienced in this kind of trip and will let you know if there are any problems

God, I was boarding overseas from 11 and only spoke to my parents every 3 weeks for a full term.

She is not tiny, she will have a great experience. Worry away but don't project that onto her.

I did get a call about my dd on the school residential trip but only because she fell on the dry ski slope and ended up in A&E with a buckle fracture to her wrist! She stayed for the rest of the trip too.

Our prep does it from year 4! It’s fine. They post lots of photos and the kids come back having had lots of fun.

Totally normal for schools to do this but you're right it does feel strange when we live in an age of instant communication with our kids!

Sounds like the trip is a "learning lesson" for both the child and you OP!

I'm not a parent but all the parents I've seen on here seem to relish time away as a chance to sit down and breathe for five minutes!

Entirely normal! From experience, they will have far too much fun and be too tired to be homesick. DS when on a week long scout trip in the middle of y6 in the Easter holidays. They were allowed to take phones but hand them in to the leaders. They could then ask to have them back to phone home if they wanted. No one did. Not a call, a message, nothing. Until they were on the coach coming home.
They will be fine.

I’ve done residential trips with this age group 10-12 and although it’s a bit counter intuitive we have far fewer problems with homesickness when they can’t phone home. Phoning home, and especially talking to Mum seems to trigger getting upset for many kids.

I run a camp every summer, age range 6-12.
no phones allowed.
no-one contacts home
kids completely absorbed in camp, not bothered by parents!

Parents worry a lot ahead of time, I reassure, but it is hard to hear - your kids will not be thinking of you reaaly much at all !