Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to think that an army base is an odd place to take 5-6 yr olds on a trip?

39 replies

jessia · 12/11/2008 10:47

and to be undecided as to whether to let my 5-yr-old DD go (and thinking I might not)?

Am I being all silly and falsely pacifistic about this or am I right in thinking I don't want a small child around lots of young men with guns and assorted other weaponry (especially, but not only, because she is still traumatised after witnessing a vicious knife attack over a year ago)?

Should I just keep her home? Or should I say something? The preschool (this is not UK, 5-6 yr olds are still in preschool here) already thinks I'm weird because I do things that nobody else has ever done and question things nobody else has ever questioned so this would probably just confirm what they already think about me.

Or should I just let her go and stop mollycoddling her? She is mystified about the whole soldier/army thing... Have not had a chance to speak to her or DH yet as new notice up when I took them in this morning.

OP posts:
purpleduck · 12/11/2008 10:56

Is there a purpose to the trip? Does it tie in with something they are doing?
I would ask what they will be doing.

Some Army Bases have some amazing facilities, so maybe the children are going for something else, rather than to look at the guns.

Original poster
jessia · 12/11/2008 10:59

Good point PD. Will ask this afternoon. Not that I know of (their overarching theme for this year is knowledge about their country, different towns, rivers, etc.) but will ask.

OP posts:
UnquietDad · 12/11/2008 10:59

I think the hatches need to be battened down for this one...

Marne · 12/11/2008 11:01

My dd (almost 5) would like to go as she likes playing with soldiers, i don't think she would understand the whole army thing though. I wouldn't have thought they would be looking at guns and weapons, maybe they will get to see tanks etc..

I would let her go TBH.

pingping · 12/11/2008 11:01

I doubt she will see loads of young men with weapons what base is she going to?

Blunt · 12/11/2008 11:02

Message deleted

BCNS · 12/11/2008 11:06

maybe the base has a long standing and interesting history related to the town etc.. army bases aren't that bad you know!
I would let her go she'll probable really enjoy it.

Marne · 12/11/2008 11:07

My favorite day out when i was a child was to a Air meusium based at a navy base and also the Tank Meusium.

Original poster
jessia · 12/11/2008 11:07

Pingping it's a parachute regiment (I think they're a pretty elite lot, but we're in Poland so perhaps not in the big scheme of things ). Can't think they'll have a museum and certainly not interactive displays.
At least they have just phased out national service here (like literally this year) so hopefully the soldiers there will actually be trained.

OP posts:
pingping · 12/11/2008 11:11

Can you not go with her as a parent helper is it a British Base. I also enjoyed myself loads at the Army base I went to as a child

onthewarpath · 12/11/2008 11:21

I think it might actually be a very educational trip. Dispite nickname, I am defenitely not army mad but think if the occasion came up I would let my DCs go to such a trip. But At this end of the day it is your choice. Last year I did not let DCs go to panto with school becasuse of inuendos. Let people think what they want . So what, you want to mollycoddle her, she is 5 so mollycoddle while you still can.

Oh, and questionning things, even the ones nobody else questions, is IMO a very good thing.

Original poster
jessia · 12/11/2008 11:21

No it's not a British base. OK I'm getting the picture I should calm down on this one. But will certainly ask what they will be doing there (and why they are going).

OP posts:
roobarbschmoobarb · 12/11/2008 11:22

Dont think I've ever been on an Army base but there tends not to be assorted weaponry being flaunted about on our local RAF base as a matter of course.
I'd be quite happy for my two to go to the local RAF base - its very much part of their lives (well at least the noise is ) and plays a big part in local history.

But then again i'm from Northern Ireland so i grew up seeing soldiers with weapons on a daily basis and i still managed to grow up a perfectly well adjusted adult.

Twims · 12/11/2008 11:27

yabu

ib · 12/11/2008 11:30

I would certainly not allow my ds to go on such a trip. We already think they are inappropriately bombarded with war imagery in toys and so on.

We'll discuss war and the military when he is old enough to read about war crimes (the military were a big part of my childhood btw in case you consider this relevant).

noonki · 12/11/2008 11:48

YANBU - I wouldn't want my two to go and their big brother chose not to go to a similar trip when he was 11. He was and is very interested in being a pacifist and so refused to go.

I agree with ib, they see so much war stuff on telly/toys etc it's not as if they aren't aware of it all anyway. If when they were older and they had an interest then maybe be I wouldn't want to encourage any interest in the Army.

mayorquimby · 12/11/2008 11:50

sounds like a brilliant place for a 5 year old and somethig i would have loved at that age.the knife thing makes it a bit different for you though and you know your daughter best

scaryteacher · 12/11/2008 16:30

IB - I hope you'll also discuss the humanitarian work that many service personnel do and present a balanced view for your child.

onager · 12/11/2008 16:39

I remember being taken to some kind of military museum when I was a kid and I'm wondering if this is what they mean. I imagine it still exists and it makes sense that it would be attached to an army base. It was mostly outdoors with tanks and stuff, but also indoors with glass cases like any museum.

They wouldn't let me fire any of the weapons, but aside from that it was interesting and fun.

I remember seeing a lugar (wasn't just british weapons) and being very pleased that it looked exactly like the toy one I had for my last birthday..... I'm probably not helping here am I

nametaken · 12/11/2008 16:44

YABU

Nothing wrong with soldiers, they exist to protect us.

It reminds me of my favorite movie moment

jack nicholson

Scootergrrrl · 12/11/2008 16:50

You are being unreasonable, although not as unreasonable as two of the other posters. Seeing brave men and women do their jobs in a professional environment is hardly comparable to playing with GI Joe or whatever.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 12/11/2008 16:52

Father Christmas turns up every year at DD's nursery in a tank

On the other hand we had guests this year taht refused to stay as it was against his principles to stay next dorr to an army base.

hf128219 · 12/11/2008 16:54

No different from a trip to the Fire Brigade, Local Hospital, Police Station.

I don't think they will be taught to fire an AK47.

So, yes, YABU.

nametaken · 12/11/2008 16:55

roar

Kbear · 12/11/2008 16:57

I think they would find it very exciting and not at all scary. Let her go.