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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:
Newbutoldfather · 19/02/2026 18:31

I actually am in the minority and agree with the OP here.

It takes a second to get separated and, with a phone, you can’t just call for help, but you have a location beacon for rescuers.

Yes, of course it is unlikely you will need it for that reason. But why stop them from having them? It is a holiday, after all, and they won’t use them if they are actually skiing.

(And a little story I heard from some people I was skiing with. They were on a piste and skiing in and out of ski lift supports. There was soft snow and they fell in and, literally disappeared. They don’t have phones. They were there about 6 hours before a late ski patrol found them, and close to hypothermic).

Mumoftwoandcats · 19/02/2026 18:31

Its common practice for the schools not to let the kids use their phones on trips. Some of them dont even allow them to be taken with them at all .

Darls3000 · 19/02/2026 18:41

This is totally normal. My DD has been on about 15/20 trips with school and every single one asks for phones to be left behind. Not an issue at all.

Notasbigasithink · 19/02/2026 18:51

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.

Then maybe you don't join them on the school trip!

Chinsupmeloves · 19/02/2026 19:09

Having taken students away for trips for over 30 years this really shouldn't be an issue and is actually good for them. Listening to important instructions, taking in their environment, being in the moment is what they're about.

Throw in having a smartphone in their hands takes away this attention...Listening out for the latest ping, wanting to immediately Google views on such and such, make a video rather than being present etc.

Also any slight drama and texting home, parents wanting to get involved and phoning staff over the slightest issue can become impossible while focusing on ensuring safety, behaviour and urgent issues are monitored.

Honestly, please believe me, the days before mobile phones, the kids had a fantastic time and every safety measure was in place, as now. As staff there is always someone monitoring throughout, it's actually exhausting being present in the corridors and dealing with the 3am being sick from scoffing too many hidden sweets/fallout from an argument/girls trying to sneak into the boys' section and vice versa.

hadenoughofsnowflakes · 19/02/2026 19:24

Mine is going next week - had a new phone for Xmas and I really didn’t want her falling with it on the slopes so bought her a camera from Amazon for 30 quid, she can take photos on that all day and even if she falls on it and breaks it all the photos are safe on the memory card - then can upload them when they get home to their devices. I think this is the best option as the school won’t budge and understandably

Davecrispins · 19/02/2026 19:28

I led many ski trips over the years and phones on the slopes cause problems, not focusing on the instructors, taking photos video whilst skiing. I have seen some very nasty accidents when people are using the phone. Also the reception in the resorts is patchy to say the least. There are always people around, instructors stop regularly to talk to students and count.

dapsnotplimsolls · 19/02/2026 19:35

Read OP's updates.

bigTillyMint · 19/02/2026 19:35

It sounds like you don’t live in UK if attending the holiday is compulsory and so cheap with children in groups led by unqualified staff. IMHE other countries are much more lax on Health and Safety than here!

I don’t think not having a phone is an issue if you have complete confidence in the ability of the group leader to safeguard. Currently there is more snow than usual in many European ski stations and off piste could be particularly dangerous - that would concern me more.

Chinsupmeloves · 19/02/2026 19:58

Sara107 · 18/02/2026 18:10

They will be in small groups with ski instructors, they won’t be able to get separated from the group or lost, certainly no need to be checking maps. There is a risk of losing the phone though if it gets dropped in the snow!

This and losing the phone will be the biggest drama with the ripple effect.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 19/02/2026 19:58

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!

What ever happened to gallivanting? I’m out of practice now.

JoeTheDrummer · 19/02/2026 20:23

Newbutoldfather · 19/02/2026 18:31

I actually am in the minority and agree with the OP here.

It takes a second to get separated and, with a phone, you can’t just call for help, but you have a location beacon for rescuers.

Yes, of course it is unlikely you will need it for that reason. But why stop them from having them? It is a holiday, after all, and they won’t use them if they are actually skiing.

(And a little story I heard from some people I was skiing with. They were on a piste and skiing in and out of ski lift supports. There was soft snow and they fell in and, literally disappeared. They don’t have phones. They were there about 6 hours before a late ski patrol found them, and close to hypothermic).

“they won’t use them if they are actually skiing.”

We just got home from skiing in Les Houches and there were loads of kids & teenagers filming themselves/each other whilst skiing. Would’ve been far safer for everyone if their phones were safely at home.

Risk of a child getting lost to the point of needing a phone is minimal, risk of injury to self or others by pissing about with a phone on the slopes is high.

BlimeyOReillyO · 19/02/2026 20:26

JoeTheDrummer · 19/02/2026 20:23

“they won’t use them if they are actually skiing.”

We just got home from skiing in Les Houches and there were loads of kids & teenagers filming themselves/each other whilst skiing. Would’ve been far safer for everyone if their phones were safely at home.

Risk of a child getting lost to the point of needing a phone is minimal, risk of injury to self or others by pissing about with a phone on the slopes is high.

Show quote history

Agreed

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 19/02/2026 21:05

HelloCheekyCat · 18/02/2026 08:12

Absolutely

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

Edited
Show quote history

Definitely.
Maybe answering your phone should be included in some of the next Winter Olympics Sports. Especially, in Sports like Curling. Where a person could easily lose the will to live just by watching it.

You lose points and and are given time penalties the longer you take to answer it.

Just having a larf.
📱⛷️🏔️

OhDear111 · 19/02/2026 21:15

@sittingonabeach unless dc is a very competent skier he won’t be doing a black run and it’s foolhardy for any school to take dc off piste. My DDs went on school ski trips. DD2 was capable of quite a lot, but never went off piste and I doubt our insurance would permit it. Black run is different. No child should be wandering off on their own and who is paying for an off piste guide? It won’t happen and school would be in major trouble with health and safety if there was an issue, so they won’t do it.

mismomary · 19/02/2026 21:31

This is perfectly normal, don’t worry. Just hope that DD uses her hour to call you!

Partypants83 · 19/02/2026 21:38

I think it's a good, sensible thing

Cariadm · 19/02/2026 21:49

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?

I know just how you feel! Our great-grandson who we're Special Guardians for went on a similar school ski trip last April and the same 'no phone' rule was applied and I was also worried but it was completely unfounded for several reasons! 🙄
The children were split into groups according to capability when on the slopes and all were within sight of each other at all times and a teacher and/or an instructor were behind and in front of the groups...although there were obviously some 'spills' nobody was injured or lost! 🤗
The phone signal was generally terrible and was likely to have been the same on the slopes...it was almost non existent in the Lodge with no wi-fi where they were staying so having phones or not was irrelevant most of the time...they did manage to find places in the town to send short texts and some photos although the bulk of those did have to wait until they were on the way home! 🤔
The companies know what they're doing and frankly when I thought about it I was glad of the 'no phones on the slopes rule' as if there was a signal there would be bound to be those one or two kids who just couldn't stay off their phones and weren't concentrating on the rules and safety etc and could be potentially dangerous for themselves or others! 😡
I would advise you not worry and there will be nothing you can do about it anyway so don't waste your energy trying! 🙁
As others have mentioned Teachers will be listing activities and photos and videos daily on Facebook, ours did this and it was great fun playing 'spot your kid' every day so send your daughter off with a smile and hope she will have as fab a time as our boy did!! 😊

superfrog2 · 19/02/2026 22:40

you are over reacting they still get them for an hour in evening - assume it’s secondary school so you have to let it go it’s hard

Smurfessa · 20/02/2026 10:24

Yes you are being unreasonable.
Children do not need phones. Ever.
If they get lost or separated they will do what thousands have people have done for thousands of years and ask someone to help. It will be a life lesson, probably many. They will enjoy their trip far more without a phone for sure. You are behaving as a typical entitled parent who has been blinded into thinking humans can't survive without a phone , it's almost laughable really - if it wasn't so sad. And yes I can relate - my 11yo is going on a ski trip for a week next month and no she won't have a phone or a tracker - I trust her (or she wouldn't be going) and I trust the school and trip leader. I'm also not a control freak who has been conditioned to believe that modern society needs 24/7 access to a phone.

Snakebite61 · 20/02/2026 11:44

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?

It's an excellent idea.

JustMyView13 · 21/02/2026 10:59

Not only will they be with an instructor, but the slopes are SO busy, that in an event where a child is totally detached there’s always plenty of people around to offer their phone. This will do DC more good than harm. Make sure they pack a disposable camera so they can take snaps on the slope. Part of the fun was always not knowing what you’d get until you were home, and being limited to (30?).

TheAngryPuxie · 21/02/2026 11:42

I am a teacher. Phones are ruining this generation. Any time without them is a bonus. I teach in FE and phones are out all the time. These young people are literally addicted - they never read or do anything else. Get them off their phones as much as possible, I say.

Tinkerwebbo · 21/02/2026 18:37

Major overreaction! It’s Amazing the schools have this policy. For many many reasons. Most parents get cross when schools aren’t strict enough with phones on trips!

dapsnotplimsolls · 21/02/2026 18:40

I don't think OP is coming back.