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.

As a primary school child we went on a lot of outings to cathedrals, monasteries etc.

i loved it and learned so much. Everything from history, architecture, to niche things like glass blowing and stained glass. How monks, nuns, priests lived and the politics. We went to one monastery where the monks had refined beer brewing- quite a lot of these communities developed speciality products to keep themselves. One monastery built basic toilets and outdoor plumbing (long before the romans!!). Genius and so interesting to see.

simple things like the buildings being cross shaped. The graves and learning about modern medicine and how children used to die young because of lack of antibiotics, vaccinations etc.

honestly fascinating. I will still visit local cathedrals when I go somewhere new. The hushed ambience and the smell…

I am not religious btw. But I did find religious education very valuable- learning about religion and being more informed is always useful.

Yep gargoyles are so funny !
Ive never seen any gory portraits of murdered saints ( except Jesus on the cross obvs ) though……feel I’ve missed something there

Thank you for all of your comments , I just wanted to clear a few things up in one post without having to directly reply to people individually.
She is in reception, we have been to the doctors and the only thing they said was suitable to provide medication wise was Dramamine, which we tried and it didn't work.

We do go out, short bus trips, she is fine with funnily enough if we sit in the middle of the bus. This trip is 2.5 hours there and 2.5 hrs back.

I don't drive, so I cannot take her there myself unfortunately, although the same sickness would apply no matter what transport.

Yes, parents are required to accompany their child / children, otherwise the children cannot attend the trip. Aside from her sickness affecting her, it's also massively anxiety inducing for myself to be on a coach full of other children and parents whilst having to watch my child the whole way there and back for any signs of sickness as she doesn't always tell me in time beforehand.

And in regards to the cathedral comment , I don't agree with this way of thinking. I think children should enjoy all types of school trips, my daughters school is a catholic school, so I'm sure at some point they will also be going to a cathedral (hopefully closer than the beach!) and I think she and most other children would love it. Children have the best imaginations and can make the most out of many situations! Especially with their friends 🩷

Please don't assume.
Cars are actually the worst mode of transport with her. She can do a short bus ride (up to 30 mins usually fine) sat in the middle.
In a car she is usually throwing up within 10 mins !!
I cannot drive. This is not an option for me sadly.

I also am not currently in work. So again, please do not assume !

Gosh you sound prickly and angry.

For anyone on a trip to London in the school hols. Westminster Abbey has some statues on modern martyrs on their West facade.

just a thought, sorry for the derail OP

That sucks about parents having to accompanying the child. What if the parent can’t get the day off work?!

Seems to me she responded quite nicely to your rather rude sounding assumptions.

You're not trying to poke the op into responding in a genuinely prickly and angry way, are you?

@HcbSS I'm not angry or prickly (maybe a bit actually.. I've not shaved my legs today) but I am slightly peeved that you assumed I'd be able to just run her to the beach in my nonexistent car, and that I'd already planned leave from my nonexistent employer 😆

@Megifer Thank you, I did respond.. in a very non prickly fashion 😉

As a kid that age I used to be at least queasy and often chucking up in my dad's cars - a series of company supplied Vauxhall Victors. Partly Dad's awful surging driving style but when the Victor was replaced by a Simca, where my head was properly above the window line, I was a lot better.

As to being in the middle of a bus that tallies with advice we were given regarding a ferry over the Minch in significant swell. If you're near the vessel's centre then you're much less exposed to piching/rolling.

Our son was awful with car sickness, partly because he had inner ear issues as a child. I cannot remember what he was offered/prescribed but one sent him to sleep and when he woke up he was in a foul mood and wouldn't behave.

Brass rubbing in cathedrals, the history, the architecture, the grounds - and there’s usually a shop. Our cathedral had a Doves of Peace display recently. It was mesmerising.

Such a narrow attitude to think children won’t enjoy such a visit.

If the whole school is going there would never be enough teachers for a trip.

Quick question, how are you getting to the cinema? Is it by foot or driving?

@Soubriquet I did think this! And a family member also said the same! It's strange .. because they offered a 2 night residential to a farm for the reception class, and parents were absolutely NOT allowed to go!! But for this beach trip, it's a requirement !
I assume because it's the whole school I guess ?

Have you tried Phenergan for the travel sickness? That usually works really well, I think you can buy it over the counter at a pharmacy.

If it's reached going to the doctors point then presumably you've already tried the other over the counter options? The main Kwells will say for children aged 10 and older, but others are for younger - there's a "Kwells Kids" version, that's hyoscine hydrobromide, and Stugeron is 5 and older, that's cinnarizine, there's one called Avomine I haven't come across before which is promethazine. So quite a few different drugs out there suitable for smaller children.

It will be a short bus journey to the town and then on foot

We got taken to York Minster. It was fantastic, everyone loved it.

Motion sickness according to my GP can be linked to Migraines-
Untreated motion sickness is grim.
I dreaded trips to the “ Seaside” ( from London) as so often was sick.
I’d actually worry days in advance (emetophobe)

I met a man on the Underground once who had packets of a children’s travel sickness Medication
He said it wasn’t available in Spain so when they visited U.K. they stocked up!

Seems different countries have different bans on travel sickness OTC meds.

I tried pressure wrist bands but they did no good.
Ginger is meant to help- Motorways are far less nauseating than hairpin bends and winding country roads.

Like I said, it’s a whole school trip my childrens school next week. They haven’t asked for any parent volunteers

Is it suitable for age 5? We were recommended what I was told was the only sickness medicine for young children and it didn't work 🙁

Me and my DD get travel sick. But if we avoid anything sloppy or milk and fruit then we're ok. So I usually have toast. DD can't stomach toast early morning so she usually has two poached eggs.

@whyisswangnotaword Ask your local pharmacist- She or he will know what is safe and effective for very young children.