How old were your kids when they went in their first school residential?

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We’ve been told that our kids are going on a residential (2 nights ) activity trip. They’re 8/9 yr olds.
How old were your kids when they went on their first one and how did they cope?

Same age I think? Y4 as I recall. Was one night and she coped fine. By that stage though she'd already done brownie camp and numerous sleepovers with friends/family so it wasn't a big deal.

DD is now 11 and in year 6 (no residential since covid).
She went on one in year 4 (her first one- she was 8 or had just turned 9) and it really was wonderful. She loved it!

DS1 is 19 and he went on his first one in year 5- 10 years old, then another in September of year 6 (still 10 years old).

Both kids had a whale of a time. Of course, I anxiously awaited their safe return! Part of me is relieved that I haven't had to deal with DD's year 6 residential trip this year. But for her, it would have been great and I'm sorry she had to miss out on this.

Where's the trip to, OP?

Not till year 6. But they'd done sleepovers with Beavers from age 6, and Cub camps for a week from 8 so were very used to being away from home.

Y6 aged 10, but the school down the road do a two day activity camp in y4.

Yes, 8-9, Year 4, two nights camping.
The sleeping in a tent thing was more of a culture shock than the being away from home. They had a great time.

Its all yr 6 round here.

Year 5 for a whole week (Friday to Friday!)

Quite a long time I think.

The year 6 residential is only 5 days though.

My kids' school eases them in gently with a one night sleepover in the school hall in Year 2, before taking them to a local campsite for 2 nights in Year 4, then away to PGL for 4 nights in Year 6.

Age 8 (Y4) for 3 nights and he absolutely loved it.

Sounds like it’s the norm then, all the parents I’ve talked to are thinking it’s too early but it’s our first experience as they’re all first borns. Covid also means they’ve missed out on a lot of sleepovers at a time they’d be having them.

It’s only an hour away by car.

Year 3 (so 8), one night; then Year 4, 2 nights, and Year 6, 4 nights. Mine loved them.

My DD is going on her year 6 residential next month, she's 11. It will be her first time but I'm pretty sure she be fine

Year 4 - they were 8. They went Monday-Friday. It felt young, but they had an amazing time.

On a school residential it was Y6 but they'd all been on Cubs/scouts/brownies things before.

11 (Y6 were the only year to do residentials) BUT we'd have rainbow/brownie/beaver camps from age 6 upwards. They loved it and didn't give us a second thought.

Year 4 2 days I think year 5 3 and then 5 days in year 6. Mine started camping at beavers from 5 1/2 so were prepared.

Year 4 for mine - school and Brownies. They weren't particularly outgoing at that age, but loved it.
If they hadn't they were very close to home, so we could have got to them very quickly.

With school was year 6 but both went on cub camps before then. DD went on a 4 day camp a few hours away when she was 8 and was not phased in the slightest.

8 for 4 nights.

Sorry whatever year year 2 was... 6 or 7? For 4 nights.

Our school does one night in year 2(!), two nights in year 3 and 4, building up to week long trips in year 6.

Sadly DS in year 3 has missed last year and this year. Really hope he gets to go in year 4.

They only do it in year 6 at my DC’s school and DS is missing out this year due to covid, they rearranged it from January to a weekend in July but Wales have a ban on residential trips till September so had to cancel it. Gutted for him.

I went on one in year 5 and year 6 at school.

Both in Yr 4 - so 9, but they'd both been going on beaver/cub sleepaway camps for 3 years previous to that anyway

DD was 8 in Y4 and had just moved to a new school. She bloody loved it! It was a great bonding experience for her.