To think that this isn't fair (school situation)

[whyisswangnotaword]

To cut a long story short, my child's school is holding a whole school trip to a beach to mark the end of the year.
It's been highly encouraged for all students to attend, albeit a little too encouraged and has come across to many as very pushy, which has been off putting.
We are not attending, due to my child's horrific travel sickness. I was called and asked if we were attending after already saying we are not - and then was further questioned as to why we are not going. That's not the point though -

We have today been told that any children not attending will be set online work to complete for the day that the school is closed for the trip.
I will be taking my child out for the day, most probably to the cinema due to bad weather .. because although she is aware of the reasons we are not attending and did not want to go due to travel sickness (it would absolutely NOT be enjoyable for anybody) it's still not nice for her to think of all of her friends out having fun whilst she is stuck at home.

Is it silly of me to think that it's unfair that the school are setting an online work day for the children that aren't attending?
I would agree with it totally if she were missing an educational trip, but it's not that. It's a whole school trips for the children and their parents to have a fun day at the beach.

My kids took Kwells at that age - hyoscine which is the most effective medication (I researched a lot as I suffer myself and have emetophobia too).

So you don't want your children to learn about history, architecture, multi faiths, social interaction? Cathedrals are beautiful moments in history. What a very sad sheltered life you are giving your children. Who knows what information they may pick up that could mould their future career. Feel sorry for your kids with your attitude.

Sorry, living in the Midlands, furthest point from any coast whether it be EWNS - the thought of dropping off at the beach and collecting later made me chuckle.

I'm sure OPs child can make a project of going to the cinema. A write up of the film. Transport on the journey. Prices of the food!!

Let's face it, it's very likely a visit to the beach is going to need wellies, a rain mac and a solid hoodie and perhaps waterproof trousers the way this summer is going.

What a treat...

That’s what some people say about pregnancy sickness. (Or taking children on long haul flights for that matter!)

I hope your child grows out of it like I did op, it’s so miserable for everyone. I spent a couple of family weddings standing in front of hand dryers drying my rinsed dress, and the first day of many holidays in the cabin vomiting until I grew out of it.

Also cathedrals are awesome, loads of interesting history, and often represent the pinnacle of construction and art skills at the time. No way would I let my child out of a trip to one, I’d probably take them to a whole series of them if they thought that was something to complain about.

I suffer from motion sickness.
As a child I dreaded school trips.
What people don’t realise is that the symptoms don’t stop once the journey is over. I continue to feel sick and dizzy for hours after the journey. Medication doesn’t help, it always added to the feeling of dizziness and fatigue, for me.

Severe motion sickness is an awful condition.

As an adult I cope with it by driving myself.

Incidentally you say during a journey you point things out to your daughter. This would make the sickness worse for me. I have to look straight ahead through the windscreen and never look sideways through the windows. Focusing on things within a moving vehicle also makes me feel very ill.

I think you are doing the right thing for your daughter. I hope she gets better in time.

Well I don't drive either and I still am able to do things I want (without relying on others). My DM didn't drive until I was well in my teens and somehow it managed not to blight my childhood - and we lived in a small town.

"Factual" is often just nasty dressed up as something else.

I found this worked beautifully for travel sickness and morning sickness. Unfortunately it’s also used to treat insomnia and it’s a sedative - would knock me out cold for 12 hours 🤣

This is the school covering its backside. They can only close the school if every student is involved in something educational.

Send an email saying you have planned an educational day out. Your child will be experiencing an immersive multi cultural experience followed by sampling the cuisine of a culture related to the experience.

Your child will complete the day by giving an oral report of the learning experience and reflections that can be applied to future learning.

Don't tell them it is the cinema, followed by a take away and chat about the film, and which film you will see next.

Adding my travel-sickness tip - 'sea bands' - elasticated bands with a pressure point that you wear round your wrist. Obviously can be used in conjunction with other meds but I find they help on their own.

https://www.boots.com/boots-childrens-travel-bands-1-pair-2-12-years-10112484

I get travel sick. I’m on the lifeboat crew and take Kwells. They work really well for me.

I was really bad as a kid, I’d have been really upset if my mum had stopped me going on trips because of it. I think your anxiety over it is more of an issue tbh. She’ll vomit and then worse there she’ll be fine and probably sleek in the way back.

Once there not worse 🙄

Sleep not sleek 🙄

This is depressing! Parent actively encouraging their children to shut down from learning about the world and building curiosity.

travel sickness medicines don’t necessarily work for everyone I’ve suffered horrendously ever since I can remember, I’m 30 now and I can’t ever be a passenger and have to drive everywhere or I’m violently sick within 10 minutes. I have tried everything. As a child I remember just being miserable whenever we had a day out, school trip etc cos I’d feel so ill the entire day after the journey.

@whyisswangnotaword Travel sickness meds were an absolute gamechanger for my youngest. He was terribly travel sick, vomit everywhere if we went on any journey longer than 15/20 minutes. My mum brought over Boots Travel Calm, which is suitable for 3 and up, and no more vomiting! Even though Kwells are the same medicine I found the taste of them made him feel sick so the Boots version is much better.

Now he's 6 and he won't take the meds any more but I've discovered if I feed him salt and vinegar crisps, just one or two every 10/15 minutes, it keeps the sickness away. So every long car journey we take a massive bag of salt and vinegar crisps!

please re think. I’m assuming you’ve never taken them to a cathedral or similar? My parents never took me to places like this but I developed a fascination with history / buildings / art etc through exposure from school. Expanding children’s horizons through experiencing all sorts of things is good for them. It also undermines the school if you suggest to children they won’t enjoy it. Please send them

Just because one person feels blighted their mum didn’t drive doesn’t mean everyone would. Lots of people in urban places don’t drive / have cars.

OP I'm sorry but either you're not clear on the facts or there's some exaggeration going on here. I can believe that any school would plan a day out that required 5 hours of travel. A school day is only 6 hours long! I'm also struggling to believe that every parent was required to attend with their child. You'd have a DBS issue, not least the coach size would be doubled! Have parents been asked to pay for their own seat or just their child's? I'm struggling to believe that you're the only parent who can't go in those circumstances. Are the whole school out on the trip or just reception? Have all parents in all years been asked to attend? Also, you mention a residential trip being planned for reception age children? 4 and 5 year olds? I'm also astounded by that. I've never known a school do residential for children that young.

Send an email saying you have planned an educational day out. Your child will be experiencing an immersive multi cultural experience followed by sampling the cuisine of a culture related to the experience

Dont do this! It’ll be read out in the staff room.

They won’t care if the works done or not. They won’t mention it again.

Have a great day out, no 5 year old is ‘missing’ out on this type of trip.

Out local school does a day at the breach - it’s close enough to walk, and parent walk the children down.

it’s like bearding cats all day and the trips to the toilet every 5 minuets and then an ice cream on the way back.

Staff find it a long long day - the kids have fun - but we are glad when it’s over - the last thing I’d worry about is some kid not there not doing set work.

I was surprised by this too. I know they ask for some parents to attend as volunteers but not sure how on earth they would manage every child and their parent but maybe that's how it is now 🤷‍♀️

I took my DC on a school coach trip around 2 hours each way. Lots of kids were sick but kids/ parents had change of clothes and sick bags- it just wasn't a big deal.
Your DC won't be the only one being sick. Everyone had so much fun and it was a memorable trip. Is this more about you not wanting to go OP rather than the sickness? It's just one day but will be sad that the kids will be talking it about it for days to come and your DC will feel left out.

🤣🤣🤣 I doubt it will be read out in the staff room... I doubt the email will get read at all!

This is probably the most ignorant thing I’ve ever read on MN.

I feel sorry for your daughter. The school probably felt they ought to send work as part of their duty to make sure your child has something to do for the day and doesn’t miss out as in your situation not all parents would be able to take their child out for the day and, for all they know, you may be complaining if they hadn’t! I really don’t see the issue, I think it is lovely that they are taking kids to the beach and making alternative provision for those missing out.