Residential trip to France age 10 too young

[J578]

My 10 year old is due to go on a residential trip to France at the beginning of year 6 (this sep) he will still be 10.
it’s for 5 days, going ny coach so around a 9 hr journey.
my son isn’t too keen on going so we haven’t paid the deposit yet, but worries he may miss out.
AIBU to think this is a bit young to be doing an overseas residential?

It's pretty standard for Y6 - will they all be going? they may talk about it all year and he'll feel he has missed out.

Not the usual where we are. Y6 is normally two days somewhere in the UK. I wouldn’t be keen on them going abroad at that age

DD went in year 5 had a brilliant time.

Both dc did exchange visits at that age, staying with host families. It went fine and they saw their friends and teachers each day.

The expectations on teachers is ridiculous..

A 5 day residential is standard for Y6 - maybe not abroad, but driving to France isn't massively different to going to the South Coast / South West.
Residentials will always be hard for some kids - he would definitely miss out socially by not going, but equally you know him best as to whether you think he would cope.

My DD is Y5 - she's done two nights away locally (in Y4) but in the next 6 months is doing two week-long Europe trips. She's nervous but she knows they will be wonderful experiences. My DS managed his 5 days in Devon in Y6, but is otherwise not inclined to be away from home (he doesn't get homesick, but he has ASD and struggles when he doesn't know what to expect, can be very tricky with food, etc).

a few years ago now but I went to Switzerland on a 5 day trip when I was 10. It was absolutely amazing. I remember being a bit nervous of being away from home for about 5 minutes after getting on the bus out side the school. Them the excitement kicked in. It was brilliant and now 45 years later is till have very fine memories of the trip

Private or state? Our state (where DS currently is) stays in the UK for residential but all the local private schools start going abroad from Y5/Y6.

In my DC they do an overnight to an activity centre in year 4 and France in year 6. (Normal state school).

The year 4 one felt early to me but actually my DC absolutely loved it. I'm not too worried by the year 6 one now.

It probably helps that my DC have been to brownies /cubs camps before too .

In my school I would say all but 2-3 children from the class of 30 go on the trip and there is lots of activities in the run up to it that link to the trip to get the children engaged.

DS went on the school ski trip in Y5 and had a great time, they also did a 5 day residential in Y6. They do seem quite small, but school will be well versed both in keeping them all safe and also ensuring they have a brilliant time!

Wow 5 days abroad for a residential while still in primary school definitely isn't normal here!

A loooong time ago now but I did a residential to France in year 6. I was 11 though. I really loved it and have great memories. All children are different though. It may backfire and you end up driving to pick them up 🤣

Optional but standard at our school. Two trips are offered but many don’t go on either.

First overnight residential was Y5 and all but 3 kids went.

In Ye Olden Days we did a 5-night residential in France in Y7, and at my kids' school now the norm is 4 nights on the South coast in Y6 and 5 nights in France in Y7. It's certainly not for everyone though. One of mine has done Cubs and Scout camp and probably won't bat an eyelid - the other will be a different kettle of fish and will certainly be very worked up about it, if they do go (but will probably love it!). It's a very individual decision.

I have to say, I think an exchange is even harder - at least on a school trip you're with all your friends and teachers 24/7. I'd have found an exchange to another country very hard at age 10!

No. It would be too much for my 10 year old.

His year 6 class are having a 3 day UK residential and that's fine but 5 days in a foreign country? No way.

Dh did this at 10, but maybe different times. I'd let my 10 year old do this if he had the opportunity though.

Here our primary did a number of residential trips, building up from one night in y4, through to 4 nights in Y6. All UK based though.

Some of our local Primaries do France as Y6 trip

It may be too soon for YOUR child but I don't think 10 is too young in general.

Thanks for your replies - yes it’s a normal state school.
when I have asked him if he wants to go, I don’t let him know my own worries as I don’t want my worries to influence his decision.
He went on a 3 day residential at the beginning of year 5 and absolutely loved it - still talks about it now! So I do worry he won’t go and he will feel a bit gutted when they are all back talking about it.

My DC’s school did one night sleepover at school in year 4, two night UK residential in year 5 and a five night French residential in year 6. I was really worried about them all as he is very much a home body and hasn’t wanted to do sleepovers with his friends until recently (now year 7). However, he coped fine. Moaned about the food but that was it. He’s asked to go on a school trip to Spain in year 8 so it clearly hasn’t put him off travelling without us!

I did one at that age back in the 70's. I loved every minute of it. I really don't see the problem.

Ours used to go to the Isle of Wight or similar for a few nights. I would have liked them to go abroad in year 6 though as at the start of year 7 they had to commit (or not!) to a Spanish trip with kids they barely knew so that might have given them the confidence to do it.

It's pretty normal I think. My children's school did a trip to france for years 5 and 6 every other year (so everyone went once in one of those years). My oldest was in y5, so nine when she went and she had a good time in spite of the terrible food. I don't think I ever presented not going as an option, possibly if I had they might have wobbled.

We did it at our village school, Top juniors, There was a thriving Twinning organisation at the time. It was enjoyed by all.