Flying as an unaccompanied minor at age 7

[CrispyClo]

I’m posting on behalf of my sister as she is looking for some external views on the matter.

My niece is 7, birthday was in August. She started a new school in September, which closes for Christmas a week earlier than most state schools. There don’t seem to be a lot of options for childcare during that week as not many schools here close that early so there aren’t any holiday camps.
My sister has booked my niece onto a week long camp abroad for the week. The camp is well reviewed and offers a pick up service for children flying as an unaccompanied minor. My sister initially felt this was a good idea, and booked it.
Now she is having some concerns and is unsure it’s the right choice, mainly as she appreciates 7 is quite young and while the flight isn’t particularly long, they don’t actually have someone sat with them, just cabin crew checking in. She has admitted herself she was fine with it until other people seemed to think it was a reckless parenting choice. I think it will be fine, my sister and I flew as unaccompanied minors often as our dad lived abroad, we were a bit older (maybe 10 the first time) but managed it fine.

AIBU to think my niece will be fine? She’s looking forward to the camp and doesn’t seem phased by the thought of it.

I went to camps as a child but not at that age. I also work with kids and I wouldn't be taking 7 yos on a week long camp abroad either. An overnight, two at the most is already a lot for that age group to navigate. Im all for giving kids experiences and opportunities to be more independent but this very much sounds like it's more about the convenience for the parents than what's in the child's best interests.

Surely there are options for childcare locally or leave or flexible working that could be arranged. What are the other parents of children at the school doing? Is it a boarding school or do her classmates live in the area?

Doesn't mean it’s ok though

Is this a joke?! It must be surely

my DC is around the same age and no way would I do this. I could never dream of it.

• the airport will be a busy place
• the plane could be scary for her or what if she is next to someone odd. Who does she tell?
• and who on earth is she then being picked up by on the other side?
• and what if someone is weird in the camp - the poor little girl would be all alone.

to be honest this seems like it could be in a movie about child abduction or something - you are both absolutely mental. Please don’t do this. -

7 year olds can go to boarding school, never mind 1 week at a camp!

I’m pretty relaxed but 7!!! What on earth is she thinking? The “other people do it must be fine” is the weakest justification ever.

Seven?! Absolutely not. Sorry but that seems extremely young.

Can’t she hire a nanny for a week? Is the child at boarding school and used to being away?

I think you’ll be hard pressed to find many working / middle class British parents who are happy with sending children overseas for camp at that age, OP. It’s just not the norm.

I wouldn’t send my sensible 9 year old on that flight. Or to a camp. Too much can go wrong.

FWIW exDH, who isn’t an especially sentimental chap, was a full time boarder from age 6, and he’s MUCH more anxious about sending DS on overnights with cubs/ school etc than I am- which sort of tells me everything I need to know.

Yeah, just because they can, doesn't mean they should.

I think this is a wind up.

I would also say, working with kids and specialising in safeguarding- 1 adult to 1 small child is not an appropriate ratio and I would not be happy with that. People don't generally lone work young kids of that age for good reason and while yes, an airport is public, its also very busy and she'd need brought to the toilet etc. It's just not well thought out to me.

Boarding school isn’t great but is different. It’s their school - their home away from home which they would have got to know and feel comfortable with

although 7 is far too young for boarding school anyway

your niece is being shipped off to another country to spend time with randoms she doesn’t know for a week. It’s absolutely crazy

It's not a thing in the UK. Residentials as a child are a couple of nights with cubs or brownies when that young. Driving distance to home and with people they know. Once theyre about 9 or 10 sometimes up to 5 days with scouting etc or school or sports teams. But always people the parents have met and know. If it's abroad there's different safeguarding in place does your sister know any of the people running the camp. Has the child met any of them.

I did this at 11, thanks international banking dad, “teacher” mum… it was shit and horrible. Indicative of parents who didn’t actually care about their kids, but wanted to show their coolness and compassion.,,🙄

Absolutely not a chance. I am in disbelief anyone would even consider this.

It’s certainly not usual to go to boarding school age 7!! My mother went at 8 and she is in her 70s. She’s still affected by it all these years later. Really odd decision by your sister no wonder she’s getting the reactions she is getting.

They've obviously got lots of money to throw at the problem, so I find it hard to believe they couldn't come up with a solution that means she can stay at home that week.

Residential camps for children that young are pretty rare in the UK. Very few people will use them.
Boarding school is a different thing, it’s a settled home from home. Even then the numbers will be fairly low.

Yes I just said upthread exDH went to board at prep school at 6, and was a full time boarder until 16.

It is a big part of the reason he is exDH, sadly. Just could not manage a normal family life.

7 year olds can go to boarding school yes, and isn’t that just awful?! And no way in hell would I have sent either of mine abroad with strangers at the age of 7. Jesus.

Is this some very high end boarding school type of camp thing?

My initial reaction is that it’s too young, but it might actually just be ‘normal’ in some circles…?

I’m pretty certain PGL run summer camps for children in the uk from age 8, so there must be some people who are okay with their child going to a camp.

Often boarding is used for necessity due to parents working or where they live etc, sometimes because parents value 'good' education above all else. I'd imagine that by the time you factor in flights and such a camp that you could pay a nanny. Or share a nanny between school friends and split the cost between parents possibly. Or speak to a local wraparound provider to see what you could pay for. So many other options.

As a lone parent my annual leave is booked around my child's holidays. Me and my sibling split the rest between us. I pay for whatever else is needed with a consistent provider.

This has got to be a wind up,

if by some miracle it isn’t - your poor poor niece. I say this as I’m lying snuggled up in the same bed as my 7 year old girl who wanted to lie next to mummy this evening as was a bit unsettled

awful just awful - horrific actually

Going to the camp is fine. Travelling on her own at the age of 7 is absolutely not appropriate. Even with family meeting them I wouldn’t do it that young. I know I would t have coped at 7 completely alone.

I went to PGL for a week at a time at this age but it was in this country and my dad dropped me and collected me. Though I boarded quite young so perhaps didn't get homesick like other kids would.

I couldn't send my child away like this. I would panic and miss them way too much-my 9 year old still hasn't had so much as a sleepover. Besides which: if a plane is going down, I'm being the one to hold my child's hand.

im sorry but this is making me feel really anxious it seems awful. Does your DN actually want to go?