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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:
TantrumsAndBalloons · 11/10/2016 07:32

A coach into central London is madness
They would spend more time on the coach in traffic
Much quicker and safer to take the tube/train

Strawberry90 · 11/10/2016 07:44

Or just do a local trip..

SuburbanRhonda · 11/10/2016 07:58

staff can get distracted and leave one behind, have one get run over, etc

Yeah, that happens all the time with teachers Hmm

poppopp · 11/10/2016 08:11

I said no and I do live in London... 5 is too little to be going out and about in central London

This thread is hilarious.

Noodledoodledoo · 11/10/2016 08:12

I knew how the tube worked by 5. My dad is a train nut so would get us to plan our journeys into and out of London - we lived just outside so visited regular.

We also at that age knew what to do if we got seperated from him on the tube.

We moved away when I was 6 but still to this day (and I don't commute into London) I can plan a journey in central London without looking at the map.

I live close to London and am shocked how many young people (teenagers) who have never/rarely visited London - it's not a financial issue for the vast majority.

I have taken such groups of young people into London frequently and have used the same system my dad implemented when I was little and have in 20 odd years never lost someone yet!

Strawberry90 · 11/10/2016 08:14

... on a school trip, without their parent.

Don't take things out of context.

Floggingmolly · 11/10/2016 08:39

The tube is just a train, you know? How on earth would less confident children struggle to cope??? A roller coaster; sure. A train?
Seriously, what sort of namby pamby Year 1 child would be terrorised by the idea of travelling by train? Confused

Floggingmolly · 11/10/2016 08:43

And op still hasn't revealed what shop they're willing to brave this arduous journey by scary train for. Because there's no way they're visiting a shop. Not as the primary purpose, anyway.
Maybe the child has got all excited at the thought of the attraction's gift shop and thinks that's the sole purpose of the trip? but op should know better...

divafever99 · 11/10/2016 08:47

I have a dd the same age and there is no way I would let her go. I am a bit of a worrier though.

Sandsnake · 11/10/2016 08:48

YABU, let them go. As long as the teachers remember to sacrifice the weakest child to the tube monster then they should be absolutely fine.

Justputyourshoesonnow · 11/10/2016 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rozdeek · 11/10/2016 08:50

diva

And do you think it is fair that your anxiety should impact on her?

I'm a very anxious person but I'm determined not to let it affect DS if I can help it.

c3pu · 11/10/2016 08:53

I took a 4 year old and an 8 year old to London (from the south coast) to go to the museums, and SHOCK HORROR I came back with both of them completely intact.

There was clenched bum cheeks when the first thing the 4 year old did after coming out of the station was chase after a pigeon, but that was the worst of it LOL

sparechange · 11/10/2016 08:54

I keep seeing references to the tube being daunting
And people worried about children getting lost on the tube

Can someone explain how they think a child can get more lost on a tube than say, a bus?

For those worried about the doors closing and leaving a child on the platform, every platform has a member of staff watching people getting on and off. Only when everyone is safely in the right place will they lift up their paddle to signify to the driver it is safe to close the doors
If there was a school group, there isn't a chance in hell the door-close-signal would be given until everyone was safely on or off.

Do people honestly think the Tube is some sort of daily Hunger Games?
It is easily the safest method of transport in London if not the UK

BitOutOfPractice · 11/10/2016 08:57

wouldn't let mine go. Not because of London, per se, but because staff can get distracted and leave one behind, have one get run over, etc. Unless the adult-child ratio is about 3 to 1, I'd say no

You'd think, wouldn't you, that if this happened, we'd hear about it and there'd be changes in guidelines etc to stop it ever happening again. Except it doesn't.

Op let your dc go.

SoupDragon · 11/10/2016 08:58

... on a school trip, without their parent.

Don't take things out of context.

But you didn't say that in the original quote, just that five was too little.

SoupDragon · 11/10/2016 09:00

I thinkschools are using public transport more and more, especially in places like London, as the cost of a coach is too expensive.

I imagine the school has been running this trip without incident for a good few years.

Strawberry90 · 11/10/2016 09:13

Soup I did in my original post

poppopp · 11/10/2016 09:15

I think they're visiting that massive Asda on old Kent road.

SuburbanRhonda · 11/10/2016 09:17

In my job I work with a great many parents who are worried about their child's anxiety and the impact it had in their daily life. In the vast majority of these cases that anxiety is passed down from the parent.

DEMum101 · 11/10/2016 09:18

I have been a parent helper on a trip like this. Two overground trains and two tubes so several changes there and back. The kids were all fine, if tired by the end. None got lost. TFL provided a staff member to guide us at each interchange which I assume the tracher organised beforehand. He made sure the train waited a little longer so everyone was on but to be honest, the children were all very good and did exactly what they were asked and were on and off the trains very quuckly. At that age, the ratios of adults to children will be high so no adult will be looking after more than 4 children, maybe fewer.

I think if you refuse to let your child go, they will miss out on a valuable learning experience and a day they would enjoy.

MissHooliesCardigan · 11/10/2016 09:24

popp DH adores the Old Kent road Asda and won't shop anywhere else. My bet is that it's an exercise in comparing and contrasting pound shops on Peckham high street.

JerryFerry · 11/10/2016 09:24

I think it is fine to pull your child from the trip, no harm at all. There is plenty of time for trips into central London.

Gowgirl · 11/10/2016 09:27

Are they going to Primark on oxford street? If so yanbu, that place is scary....

QuizteamBleakley · 11/10/2016 09:27

Bloody hell, I can't believe some of the things I'm reading. It'd be hilarious were it not so bizarre.

OP, I understand your concerns but just let 'em go. Schools have professionals in, y'know! They'll know what they're doing. Please let us know what shop it is though. My Tube riding 4 year old would love that trip.