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Original poster

No phones on ski trip

512 replies

AreTheyMad · 18/02/2026 08:06

DD is going on a ski trip with school next week. We've just been informed they won't be allowed to use their phones during the day, only for an hour in the evening.
Would you be happy with your DC not being allowed to take their phones on the slopes?

I think it's mad, and I'm trying to formulate a mail which doesn't sound over protective pub! It means they can't call if they get separated from the group, check the map, if they injure themselves. What if the visibility is bad? Am I overreacting here?

OP posts:
tripleginandtonic · 18/02/2026 08:08

Yes you are overreacting.

Pussert · 18/02/2026 08:10

Yes you are overreacting. They will not need their phones.

CurlewKate · 18/02/2026 08:10

If there was a possibility of my child being separated from the group and injured on a school ski trip I would be seriously questioning their safe guarding.

bitterexwife · 18/02/2026 08:10

I know what you’re saying, but teens managed school ski trips 30 years ago without mobile phones just fine.
A ski resort map in her pocket is a must, there will be plenty of sign posts and other skiers to ask, and she can stick with a friend at all times

cramptramp · 18/02/2026 08:11

Yes, I’d very happy. You’re massively overreacting. They don’t need their phones during the day.

Screamingabdabz · 18/02/2026 08:11

Have you ever been skiing? They’ll be so busy on the slopes they won’t even care about their phones. They will have a responsible adult with them if anything untoward happens.

HelloCheekyCat · 18/02/2026 08:12

CurlewKate · 18/02/2026 08:10

If there was a possibility of my child being separated from the group and injured on a school ski trip I would be seriously questioning their safe guarding.

Absolutely

Much more likely to be daft kids trying to take selfies or.do silly tiktok videos in potentially danger of places

MissingSockDetective · 18/02/2026 08:13

I think not having their phones with them all the time will be far better than having them.

Original poster
AreTheyMad · 18/02/2026 08:14

Yes! And I've taken the wrong slope many times 🤣 and needed to check the map to find my way back to the meeting point. If visibility is poor it's easy to miss the slope, get separated from a group.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 18/02/2026 08:14

They won’t need their phones
There will be staff around

wouldn’t you be cross of a phone got damaged - snow, ice and velocity = chance for damage surely

PrioritisePleasure24 · 18/02/2026 08:14

Kids went on ski trips when i was at school 30+ years ago. No mobile.It was fine. They’ll be all dressed in their gear and busy anyway. If they have an hour each day that’s plenty of time to catch up. I’m sure there’ll be a contact number too.

Phones were around when i travelled Australia in my early 20s but i didn’t take mine. We emailed and phoned home.

Motherhubbardscupboard · 18/02/2026 08:14

I don't think a phone would be very helpful for checking a map on a ski slope, and not sure how it would help with poor visibility either. There's also a risk of the phones getting wet from snow or rain, or even just condensation whilst stuck in a pocket next to a hot person (happened to me). Plus many of their contracts won't include roaming, so it's best to just use them on WiFi at the accomodation.

ChocHotolate · 18/02/2026 08:14

My son’s school as a total phone ban and this extends to all school trips (they go skiing too). You get used to it quite quickly and on the whole I think it’s a good thing

welshweasel · 18/02/2026 08:14

Mine went on the school ski trip in December and they weren’t allowed to take any electronic devices with them at all, not even to use in the evenings. Unsurprisingly they all came back in one piece, having had a delightful time. Anyone who didn’t want to comply, didn’t go on the trip. They will be skiing in small groups with instructors, not gallivanting round the mountain with their mates!

BrendaSmall · 18/02/2026 08:15

What would you’re reaction be if she took her phone on the slopes and lost it?
No doubt you’d blame the school for allowing her to take it!
Also, if the weather is cold it would knacker the battery up anyway!

Fupoffyagrasshole · 18/02/2026 08:16

How is she going to get separated from the group - even if she did there would be heaps of other people to help

Claudiasboots · 18/02/2026 08:16

My DD’s old school had no phones on trips at all rule. Included ski trips. I thought this was great. It’s so good for them to have a break from screens and social media. They’ll be in groups with an instructor and maybe a teacher too, so no danger of getting lost. This is good news and you should be pleased, not challenging it. Hope she has a great trip.

Original poster
AreTheyMad · 18/02/2026 08:16

Nope, absolutely not! That would be on her. It's not a school wide policy, the other group is allowed theirs.

OP posts:
Jellycatspyjamas · 18/02/2026 08:16

I’d be much happier with that than having kids pissing about on their phones on a ski slope tbh. Keep a paper map (valuable skill) and pay attention to their surroundings and they’ll be fine.

xyzandabc · 18/02/2026 08:17

Are you a skier?

I only ask because they will only be on the slopes when they are in ski school lessons.
They will not be anywhere on the slopes without an instructor, quite likely a teacher too. Ratio will be 1:10. Ski school is very strict, you follow the rules. You follow the instructor. They stop frequently, wait for everyone.

The instructor will be assessing the conditions and the ability of the group at all times and keeping them on suitable terrain.
Having done 3 kids and many years of ski school, the only time they would ever use their phone would be if we were late to pick them up and they needed to know where to meet us as older teens. On a school trip this is not needed.

If anything were to happen, the instructor will know almost immediately and be able to either assist or call for help. The student is not going to need to call for help, neither will they get lost or separated.

A phone is not needed by a child in ski school.

You are over reacting.

HaloDolly · 18/02/2026 08:17

Mine is skiing with school this week. They are in groups that have an instructor at the front, a teacher behind and are really, really safe OP. He’s barely used his phone all week as they are busy doing activities in the evenings too. Teachers are posting photos on the school FB page. She’ll be fine.

BoredZelda · 18/02/2026 08:19

CurlewKate · 18/02/2026 08:10

If there was a possibility of my child being separated from the group and injured on a school ski trip I would be seriously questioning their safe guarding.

There is always this possibility, on any school trip. It has happened. Having a phone on you is recommended when ski-ing. I wouldn’t be happy with my daughter not having one.

The argument that “we managed 30 years ago” is completely bogus. We all managed to do everything 30 years ago without phones. Should we all give them up now?

Screamingabdabz · 18/02/2026 08:20

AreTheyMad · 18/02/2026 08:14

Yes! And I've taken the wrong slope many times 🤣 and needed to check the map to find my way back to the meeting point. If visibility is poor it's easy to miss the slope, get separated from a group.

Were you a school kid with a group? That sounds highly unusual that a lone school child would need to find their own way around a mountain. Safeguarding is so closely observed these days.

Hiptothisjive · 18/02/2026 08:23

No OP it isn’t mad. What is mad is thinking they need phones and without the all sorts of bad things will happen. Until very recently ski trips happened and kids were absolutely fine.

I think it healthy and good for kids to be without their phones and actually enjoy their time in the moment.

And your points aren’t thought through. If for some reason they get separate and lost and can’t read a map, can’t speak to anyone and don’t know what to do - what would the phone really do? Who would they call?

The won’t be skiing by themselves anyway.
Please don’t be that parent and write that email.

Growlybear83 · 18/02/2026 08:23

Of course you’re over reacting. The children should be concentrating on the skiing not using their phones. An hour in the evening is more than reasonable. How do you think children on trips like this managed 30 years ago? They didn’t all keel over with injuries, or get separated, and surely they can use real maps?