To think that kids on a residential should be allowed a couple of phone calls

[ftmni]

Im not saying they should bring their phones, but a quick check in call with mum?

My dd is away on a school trip, a few of the mums who haven't sent their kids to it have said its because of the risk of SA.

To be totally honest i have these scary scenario thoughts every now and again, as much as i try not to, but that wasnt one until they said it. So now add that to my anxiety list!

But from a safety point of view, should they not be allowed to phone? Perhaps with a password that is only ever to be used in absolute emergencies.

I don't know just a thought.

Interested to know what others think

A parent wouldn’t be much use in a genuine emergency and contacting home wouldn’t help homesickness so I think any contact would really be for your benefit not your DC. Kids coped fine in the pre-mobile days and still do now.

Is it common for parents to keep kids off trips because of the risk of SA? Who do they think will be the perpetrator??

Nope. It often makes homesickness worse and leads to tears. And I say that as someone who suffered dreadfully with homesickness until I was about 15.

I think I know where this is and the perpetrator hasnt worked there since it all happened, there is no reason for parents not to send their childeren on that trip

They are safe and phone calls home will only make them homesick! The teachers would contact you if there are any problems. The risk of SA is tiny - children are far more at risk from their own family and family friends unfortunately 😔

Absolutely not. Just would make homesickness worse. If you don’t hear anything assume all well.

Or you could do what one mother did when her DD went on a residential led by my DH.
He and colleagues kept seeing a woman in a pink anorak peeping out and observing them. He managed to get close to her and realised it was one of the mums who had followed them down and then followed the coach every morning as they went off to activities. She then got a job as a TA at the school (was a City lawyer) so she could continue to be near her DD. Absolutely fucking nutter - what spy wears a great big bright pink anorak?! 🙄

And no phone calls! I am guessing she's not away for more than a week? Honestly having accompanied this trips when teachers couldn't be arsed to go during their holidays, the last thing the kids are thinking of is calling their parents.

No! They are having a blast, off screens and enjoying starting those next steps to being independent.

I'm in America. When my youngest was in 8th Grade (equivalent to your Year 9), so age 13, he went with his school for a week to Washington DC. They did have their phones, and were allowed to use them. I think I got 2 texts the whole time he was gone. I admit it was me that wanted more contact (but I never messaged him first), he was having the time of his life and last thing he wanted to do was talk to Mum. If there is an emergency the adults will contact you.

I remember going away with the Girls Brigade back in about 1969. No mobile phones in those days. We had to take a postcard stamped and addressed to home to send to Mum and Dad on arrival!

Kids are really resilient. They're surrounded by friends, lots of distractions and fun stuff. Unfortunately some mums see their kids depending on them as a requirement so these kids could he happy and completely distracted and then go have a phone call home and it be all "oh mummy missed you soooo much, don't you miss mummy. I hope you're having fun but I can't wait to see you and give you a cuddle". Boom, kids upset, wants mum.

No.

You will have had a phone call to say all is well and that's enough

If there are phone calls home many children won't settle.

They're fine!

One child tried this on a trip I was on.

She was caught and the phone confiscated till she got home.

No

Wasn't allowed when my DC went 30 years + ago and wasn't allowed when I used to accompany them either

Would be a nightmare!

My dd is away on a school trip, a few of the mums who haven't sent their kids to it have said its because of the risk of SA.

That's really sad. From whom? They're never alone! They're never alone with a teacher and they're never alone with a child of the opposite sex (not primary anyway)

by SA are we meaning Separation Anxiety or Sexual Abuse?

@godmum56 I assumed sexual abuse, Separation Anxiety makes more sense.

I read it as Separation Anxiety.

Yes, Y were BU, but glad you have agreed that on P3.

All the reasons summed up in the first 4 replies really, then repeated lots over the rest of the thread.

well so did I then folk started talking about abuse.......

It would take a long time though to let each child call their parents, 5 mins x 30 kids and thats hours and hours just spent standing around waiting for children to finish when they could be off having fun.

You really need to get over this. Your anxiety will not help your child to flourish.

The last sleepover I let ds have was just after the “all getting smartphones” age in year 6. It was a nightmare. Taking photos of each other asleep, texting girls at 1am etc.

I fully support school trips, camps etc being phone free. I do make sure ds knows how to use a pay phone (rare to find, I know) and keeps a card with my mobile phone number on it.

A kid in our year at school in the 80s got mercilessly teased on our five-day geography field trip when, on day three, a letter arrived from his mum.

Basically, do you want your child getting changed in a room where immature children have devices that can take photos and instantly send them across the internet when they are all too young to understand the risks?