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.

Truly it is NEVER too soon to show children lovely places- To a babe in arms there are candles to look at, Brilliant stained glass, the cool stone surfaces, polished wood - The sounds of the Organ and choir if they are practicing-
Just pop in for a few minutes- regularly- DS is an adult now but loves historic places.
Even the gift shop they love - to get some small souvenir .

There will be a requirement to set work as they can’t say have a day off school if you don’t attend the trip. They won’t be expecting anyone to do it and certainly won’t be checking it. It’s just a box ticking exercise.

@Soubriquet do you think they might have followed your closed mind attitude. I’m guessing you didn’t try and encourage them to go

It worked for me as a child. It was the only thing that did. Also was great for sea sickness

YABU.

The trip will be educational for most - a new place, things to see and do etc... If your daughter isn't joining this educational experience then she needs to be doing some other form of education, and the school by law is therefore providing her with this.

What have you done so far to tackle the issue of travel sickness?

I've taken school trips and there's always kids that get travel sick. It's not the end of the world. The kids learn to deal with it.

Quite possibly an inherited tendency-
Im the same any spinny thing like dodgy camerawork on a video - I have to look away, fast.

Some people just are very prone to this kind of visual stimuli-
Myth Busters on you tube did a fascinating experiment with motion sickness treatments- Worth a look ( non dizzying to watch!)

They expect all the parents to take a day off work to do a 5 hour round trip to the beach in a coach with dozens (I’m assuming a rather small school because ours would never do a whole school trip!) of overexcited children? Sign me right up for that 🤣🤣

@Soubriquet "My two aren’t going on the end of school year trip this year. It’s to a cathedral….what primary school kids do you know want to go to a cathedral?"

It depends on the cathedral! The one near us has fabulous stuff for kids to do on a trip- lots of excellent crafty things, story tellers-all sorts. Don't knock it til you've tried it!

@whyisswangnotaword Could you drive your kid to the beach? It seems a shame that she'll miss out being with her friends.

I’m in my 50s and took this as a child so if it was good then it will be better now. I couldn’t get to the end of the road before I was ill in the car. This med worked like a dream. It’s still better to sit at the front and look ahead in to the distance though.

My daughter suffers terribly with travel sickness. She was very unwell on a school overnight trip EVEN with sturgeon ( maybe might have not took it at the right time, as I wasn't there to supervise ) Of course, everybody on the coach could here her being sick, she couldnt eat any of her evening meal and had the dread all night, knowing she had to travel back the day after. She had to sit with the teacher, not her friends. The trip was ruined for her. She left school years ago and this still haunts her. DON'T send your child. Ignorant comments from op's clearly don't understand, it's not just sickness, it's anxiety, fear, other kids taking the p**s, then actual sickness, then just feeling terrible! Clearly feeling rubbish, she won't enjoy the day.

Posters stating has she never travelled anywhere?
In a car with family, you can stop many times, you can ensure pills taken enough time before, you can open the window, windy roads are worse than the motorway, speed makes a difference etc. You CAN'T do this with a coach load of children and 2 teachers!
Enjoy your day at the cinema, in your car, at YOUR LEISURE, not everyone else's

I echo what’s been said about sturgeon- both mine are terrible passengers - we have had referrals to ENT and all sorts to get to the bottom of it - one doc prescribed sturgeon when my eldest was 2 so it’s safe for small kids but the OTC packs say from 5 - just make sure to give it an hour or so before travel so it kicks in but it works for hours once it has (it also might be good for hangovers not that I would know )

DS (5) went on a trip to the local church recently, loved it. So I think he'd be impressed with a cathedral.

Also they had a beach day recently, albeit walkable - just Google mapped it and it's 1.1 miles straight down a single road past the park, from the school to the beach. One of the children refused to go because it was too far to walk apparently and the mother asked the school if she could drive her there! School obviously said no, parent wanted her accommodated in another class, the school actually refused that too. There is so much to be gained from a school trip educational or otherwise.

Go back to the doctor not necessarily for the trip, but if her travel sickness is so severe she can't travel anywhere that's awful. I suffered badly as a child and once I had the right meds it was like a switch had flipped.

Same question. Have you sought medical advice about this travel sickness. Do you never ever go out a bit further afar as a family?

Actually I did encourage them to go. Especially since it’s dd’s last year of primary.

I know this is not what you are asking but as someone who has struggled with travel sickness their own life and not much works and I have complete sympathy for you daughter, travel sickness is miserable. I saw this video the other day and it looks promising.

This may not be in time for the trip but is something you could look into for the future and apparently you can diy it. As I understand it you don't need to normally wear glasses for some people these purely for the purposes of helping with travel sickness.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6D6NJHtua0/?igsh=MXY2bDUzaXowZml6Mg==

It is something developed by an optician from a company called Vision Care Development in the UK.

I remember going on a school trip to York minster. We ended up sitting through a public funeral. The teachers were mortified.

Indeed. My end of primary school trip was to York and focused on the Minster. It was fantastic - I've never forgotten what an amazing day we had.

I think some parents forget that schools are meant to be educating their children...

Aw OP I know the pain. I was also terribly motion sick as a child. A two hour journey was horrific for me. (And my mum having to deal with it). Stugeron 15 was the only tablet that worked. My sickness is definitely better the older I got but I still wouldn't chance it on a boat or something without medication.
As for the initial question, yes I do think it's unfair. I'm sure your DD will have a lovely day with you though.

I ver much doubt they're expecting "all parents" to join the school trip, given the cost of coaches these days.

Bloody hell.

YABU. They are obliged to provide your child with education for that day so they have provided online work to tick a box. They probably couldn’t care less whether or not you do it.

I doubt your encouragement was at all convincing, given your own attitude.
But what’s with the “encouraging” anyway?
You don’t present it as optional!

It's a shame that because you think it's stupid, you're not giving your kids the chance to decide for themselves whether they think it's stupid or not. It's basically the same as going to a castle. They might find it fun/interesting.