Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not let five-year-old child go on school trip into central London

307 replies

Blueflowers2011 · 10/10/2016 20:18

as title says, Year 1 (age 5 mostly) are going on a trip into London, which consists of 30 children and supervising adults travelling on 1 rail train, interchange to 1 underground tube train then a 20 min walk when they get to the other side to visit a shop.

A couple of parents are now saying they are not allowing their child to go which is also confirming my thoughts initially, which btw is mostly due to anything happening in London in general.

I have worked in London all my life and it's bad enough travelling on the tube everyday as an adult, let alone a 5 yr old child. Many parents also feel it's an unneccassary trip at this age just to visit a shop and how it works.

I encourage most things and experiences for my children but just feel this one is a bit too much for a 5 yr old. Am I worrying too much or should I just let them go?

OP posts:
YuckYuckEwwww · 10/10/2016 21:05

Snork 5 year olds don't need to know how to use the tube!

They don't, but they love the novelty of it!

poppopp · 10/10/2016 21:05

I wouldn't stop my child going on account of terrorism worries but would if I thought the trip was pointless -DS didn't go on a nursery trip for a picnic in st James park for this reason.

This is hilarious, what a Scrooge! Yeah what's the " point" in fun??

HarrietVane99 · 10/10/2016 21:06

I wouldn't stop my child going on account of terrorism worries but would if I thought the trip was pointless -DS didn't go on a nursery trip for a picnic in st James park for this reason.

There are pelicans in St James's Park, walking around among the tourists. Worth going just to see them. And if you go to the end you see Buckingham Palace. Plus as I said above, a journey by public transport might be an experience for some children.

MypocketsarelikeNarnia · 10/10/2016 21:07

Did someone really say they would go as a helper but take a self defence course beforehand? To go to London on a school trip with five year old's? Really? Grin

MrsDeVere · 10/10/2016 21:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RabbitsNap01 · 10/10/2016 21:08

i would, i was half joking :) my last day working in London (pure coincidence) was the day of the London bombings and I walked past it all.

needaplanjan · 10/10/2016 21:09

YABVU. I don't get what you're worried about?

If you deny your DC opportunities like this they risk ending up very naive and therefore more vulnerable to risk IMO.

LadyMetroland · 10/10/2016 21:10

I would be nervous about sending my 5yr old. I commute into London outside of rush hour and the tube is so busy even then. It's just not a nice experience.
At that age they should use school trips to encourage a love of nature and an understanding of the natural world - not a trip that comprises of shops/rat race/crowds/pollution.

megletthesecond · 10/10/2016 21:11

I understand.

The dc's went to a West End show with school earlier this year. Not long after I'd paid for it the Paris attacks happened and I started freaking out. We've been to London loads of times but I got myself in a right state about the dc's going without me. Had to have a few weeks of private therapy so I could calmly let them go. My anxiety is crippling at times.

HermioneJeanGranger · 10/10/2016 21:13

Five year olds live in and travel around London on a daily basis!

What are you so worried about?

SaturdaySurprise · 10/10/2016 21:16

I've been on loads of school trips as a parent. The teacher counts the children every time we move somewhere. Usually each parent will have particular kids to watch. At that age they have one adult for every 3 or 4 children. All the adults are paying attention and don't want to lose any children.

If you're worried go on the trip.

SarfEast1cated · 10/10/2016 21:16

I agree with Lady and I live in London with my DD. If it was a trip to a museum, or gallery or something then fair enough, but a shop is a weird choice, Hamleys is a bloddy awful shop too (if it's that).
It would be really odd to refuse permission though, not a good message to send the school really, so I would do as others have suggested and go too...

cheekyfunkymonkey · 10/10/2016 21:18

I wouldn't, not for a shop, but I hate going to London especially the tube, nothing to do with safety as such, sure the school have that covered, more the pollution in the air that literally wipes off your face when you get home, and they can't really do much about.

forkhandles4candles · 10/10/2016 21:18

My DC do it all the time. There are plenty of adults and the children love it all. What are you scared of?

Lunde · 10/10/2016 21:18

What exactly is the fear here? Sometimes it is easy to get fears out of proportion

MypocketsarelikeNarnia · 10/10/2016 21:19

Oh bless you rabbits Flowers. I get it - but honestly the worst that is going to happen to you on the tube with five year olds is going to be someone urgently needing a poo just as you pull out of the first station Smile

SuperFlyHigh · 10/10/2016 21:19

OP - the children will go out of rush hour, so no chance for them to get lost on tube.

They will see big red buses, proper old fashioned telephone boxes and what's more all the other kids will be talking about their trip when they return so your child will feel a bit left out!

Try and be a parent helper or quiz school on safety concerns if you are really concerned.

GabsAlot · 10/10/2016 21:20

what shop is it?

are u from london? i was born there so used to it but know how busy it gets

TheSnorkMaidenReturns · 10/10/2016 21:21

Ha! Of course they don't need to know how to do it by the end of reception, HelloSunshines! But they do need to start learning how to travel in their environment. And that public transport is normal!

mamabluestar · 10/10/2016 21:22

Not a chance I would send my 5 year old on a school trip to London! We don't live anywhere near London and I know, from our family trip to London in the summer, that the pace would be too much for him.

gillybeanz · 10/10/2016 21:22

Mine went to a museum in London at this age. They only went on coach and I still went as a helper. Grin

Muddlingalongalone · 10/10/2016 21:23

I was disappointed when dd1's reception class didn't go to the golden hind on the tube last year.
Instead they went on a coach which hit a ton of traffic each way. I was at work & she was going to after school club, but the number of revised eta's was ridiculous.

Floey · 10/10/2016 21:35

I have helped on trips like this and the adult to child ratio is so high there won't be issues

hippoherostandinghere · 10/10/2016 21:36

This situation is never going to happen for me as I live in NI but I'd be very anxious about this too. We took our 2 DC to London in the summer and had an absolute ball. But we were on a ratio of 1-1. I actually found the tubeside the most difficult part of the trip. Standing at the side with the exposed track and no barrier scared the life out of me. Every time one of the kids moved I was shouting at them to stay back against the wall. And people are rushing about so busy all it would take is one knock and you're pushed on to the track.

So that's the only bit I would worry about.

BowieFan · 10/10/2016 21:39

Yes because I'm sure a self-defence class could have prevented 7/7 Hmm

Deary me.

Yes, your DC will be fine. We live near a major city (in the North West) and when I used to take DS1 and DS2 to primary school it involved a tram ride through the city. They've been taking a train on their own to high school since they started (I drop them at the station in the morning).

Honestly, it's not like they're going on their own. They'll have teachers and helpers with them. Let them go, they'll love it!