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Original poster

Is my child too young to go on a residential trip?

87 replies

feelgoodvibes · 05/07/2022 21:36

My son is in year three and due to go on a 2 night trip with his school in two weeks. I agreed to this a couple of months back and paid for it - around £250. Me and his dad were not on talking terms back then so I told him about the trip and that DS would be going and he said he thought DS was too young and wasn't happy with it- we had no contact after that so I decided to proceed with trip as I think DS would enjoy and benefit from this trip. They will be doing adventure activities such as rafting and climbing, will have four teachers supervising.

I spoke to a friend who is also a father and he said he thought year 3 was too young also and that's made me question it, as I originally thought his dad said no out of spite and because he didn't want to pay towards the trip - he's managed to get out of paying maintenance for the last year.

DS is excited about the trip and having fun with some of his friends.

What's your verdict? Would you allow your 8 year old on a residential?

OP posts:
StillMedusa · 05/07/2022 21:54

At our school we used to take them away for a night at 3... by aged 6 they were doing Monday to Friday residentials !
Ok slightly different because it's a special needs school, and it is very helpful for the children to accept care on a 24 hour basis from others than their parents, but honestly the children were always fine (we, the staff were knackered though Grin)

My ds2 was a pupil at said school, and went on his first week away at 6. I was dreading it...he was not verbal then, but he had a great time, judging by the photos, came home in his room mates shorts (hilarious as my ds2 is very tall..his room mate, very small... looked like he was wearing Kylie's hot pants)
He had dressed himself so his class staff didn't change him because he was so proud!
He went on every trip until he left at 16!

7 is not too young... he probably won't wash , but other than that.... :)

SoftSheen · 05/07/2022 21:54

It depends on the child. DD would probably have been OK at that age (though her residential was cancelled due to COVID), but DS (currently 7.5) probably won't be.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 05/07/2022 21:55

I take Brownies away every year for weekends age 7-10. Never had one that had to be sent home due to homesickness. Occasionally get a few tears but they usually stop quickly and the kids have an absolute blast.

Jelly0naplate · 05/07/2022 21:55

My year 1 child (6.5years) is going away with beavers this weekend - he's absolutely buzzing about it and will love it.

If they're happy then let them enjoy it

pointythings · 05/07/2022 21:56

My two went in Yr2, were fine and had a blast.

LisaSimpson77 · 05/07/2022 22:00

Yes totally fine, not too young at all. A lot of schools start with a one night trip in year 2.
Remember this is school who knows your dc really well. has to abide by a shed load of rules and safety measures and runs this type of trip every year.

DontLikeCoffee · 05/07/2022 22:01

They start in year 2 in our school, they have a great time.

Tallulasdancingshoes · 05/07/2022 22:05

My niece is in year 2 and has just gone away with school for 2 nights. She’s August born so still only 6 years old. I think year 3 will be ok.

Luredbyapomegranate · 05/07/2022 22:07

It’s totally fine. The perfect age to start developing some independence.

TheNoodlesIncident · 05/07/2022 22:09

DS did a four day, three night residential in Y3. He's an August birthday so one of the youngest in the year. He had a great time, as did his classmates.

Schools seem to feel that Y3 is fine for this sort of trip and the majority do go and have a good time, so I think they're probably right. Obviously there will be exceptions who wouldn't be comfortable, but most are fine and get a lot of confidence and independence from it.

NoSquirrels · 05/07/2022 22:10

DS is excited about the trip and having fun with some of his friends.

That’s your answer!

MrsLJ2014 · 05/07/2022 22:12

user29 · 05/07/2022 21:49

Interesting!
I think Brownie Leaders are much more likely to be older and parents themselves,

Show quote history

Many, many of us teachers are parents too... 😂 (and I'm also a Beaver Leader!)

They go away at Y2 at the school I work in and some of the Beavers on our camp were Y1 so only 6! They are kept super busy.

MermaidSwimming · 05/07/2022 22:23

Ours started in y2, had a great time

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 05/07/2022 22:34

Our school do a 2 night year 2 trip and it's not particularly local.

Apparently the kids were fine, every child that I've spoken to over the years that has gone on it has loved it

I look at it as...why on earth would they do it if it wasnt good for the kids, if they were in fact too young and homesick etc they wouldnt get anything out of it and it would be hell for the teachers. Its successful and that's why they keep doing it. They were really good at prepping the kids and putting them at ease as well.

There were a small minority of kids who didnt go because their parents thought that they weren't ready and I think they felt left out in the end as they were in a different class and stuck in school doing work while the others had adventures

The parents were really nervous and missing the kids massively though!

Sometimeswinning · 05/07/2022 22:36

Not long come back from a residential which was 2 nights. 30 kids aged 8. Majority loved it. A handful found it difficult and informed me they wouldn't be doing it again 😂

MajorCarolDanvers · 05/07/2022 22:37

My kids have regularly been on 2 night camping trips with Beavers since they were 6 and my 9 year old is off with Cubs for 5 nights next week.

Its a brilliant experience for them.

Joyfultoes · 05/07/2022 22:40

Gosh two men declare it is too young? It must then be so

Whatnow321 · 05/07/2022 22:40

Our school have yearly residential s starting in year 1! (Although in yr1 and 2 it’s only for one night). As my sons has a July birthday it meant his first residential was aged 5. I was nervous but he loved it

Mummyoflittledragon · 05/07/2022 22:42

My dd went for 4 nights camping when she had just turned eight and she was the youngest. It was only 15/20 mins just up the road and an activity camp, where parents could watch a competition for an hour most days. She and a lot of kids shed a few tears at the main event on the penultimate day by which time they were exhausted having hardly slept for 3 nights. A bit of a chat and cuddle and I went home. Her year 4, 2 night residential when she was still 8 was a doddle after that!

Your ds will be absolutely fine. The school have done this dozens of times and have to fulfil a rigid and demanding set of criteria.

Mariposista · 05/07/2022 22:45

it's nothing to do with age. Depends on the individual child. I hated residential until I was about 15 and went with my best friend, but my cousin went at 7 and absolutely loved it.

SpaceJamtart · 05/07/2022 22:49

I took rainbows groups for a few years so girls aged 5&6
There was almost never any issues, no homesickness or tears or anything.
There were some girls who didn't go on trips because they and their parents knew it wouldn't work
But if the child is happy to go they most likely will be fine and have a great time

Moonflower12 · 05/07/2022 22:56

I went with 6 year old Beavers to Paris in 2019.
They were without parents and all coped really well. We were away for 3 days.

Original poster
feelgoodvibes · 05/07/2022 22:58

Ok I feel more reassured now seeing all your responses! DS is used to being between me and his dads house and is a sporty, confident kid - so not sure why his dad is so against it. I think DS could do with the break and have some fun as we aren't going on a holiday until Autumn.

OP posts:
BogRollBOGOF · 05/07/2022 23:03

My DSs did 2 night Beaver residentials from 6.

Rainbows start sleepovers from 5.
We've done Brownie camps (7-10) of up to 5 nights, literally camping.

HeArInGhandsgirl11 · 06/07/2022 23:11

My daughter is the same year and just been on a residential m. She absolutely loved it! Smelt like arse but loved it!