First school trip..am I overthinking this?

[Ajt34]

Please no negative comments as my mother has already told me I'm stupid.
My little girl is 4 and has just started reception and today we have had a letter to advise us of her first school trip to the zoo. I am instantly filled with dread and worry for some reason and I cant bare some of the thoughts I'm having - what if she gets lost? What if something happens on the way? What if she becomes scared and wants mummy and daddy and we cant get there? My mind is running wild. Please someone tell me I'm not losing my mind and this is normal? The thought of not being able to get to her is driving me insane. I want her to have the best of everything of course, and not miss out. I guess I'm scared. Can anyone relate? Thanks in advance 🥺

Op you might be overthinking it but its natural for a parent to worry. Can you go along as a helper for the day??? I've done that when my son was younger x

Pfb? I guarantee she will have a great time and prob not even give you a second thought!!

She'll be fine. Can you volunteer as a helper?

I’m packing my dd’s bag atm as she is off to Sicily tomorrow on a school trip, I can still remember my anxiety when she was younger about trips but believe me it gets easier and she will be absolutely fine.

She will be fine. The teachers have taken countless 4 year olds on trips and persumably not lost one yet.

She'll be fine.
Don't go as a helper if you are anxious, it isn't fair on your child or the others. Your child needs to do stuff without you.
I used to go on trips to help but never had my DD in my group.
The adults count heads obsessively.

Tbh I worry like this with my 4 year old so I completely get it. Personally, right or wrong, I would volunteer as a helper and it that wasn't possible I wouldn't be able to let my child go. I've seen too many horror stories lately. When in reality I'm sure they would be absolutely fine and have the best day, my anxiety would eat me alive.
So yeah, you're definitely not alone x

Please don’t go with her.
Some worry about a new adventure is to be expected but your response to this seems out of proportion to me. Being this worried about a very ordinary school trip is not normal.
Does your DD have a history of being scared or wanting you when in other peoples care?
She won’t get lost.
Anything could happen, at any point, going anywhere. Even just going to Tesco with you has its risks.
Please work on getting your anxiety under control.

What horror stories?
You do understand that you are causing your child to miss out? How old before they’re allowed to go? This makes me so sad.

What horror stories? When will your child be allowed to go places without you?

You need to get help

I was like this with my 3 year old on their first farm trip.

I really badly suffer from anxiety (therapy etc.) I was fine (luckily busy with work) and the little one had a great time.

The "horror" stories hit the press as they are so rare. Thousands of children go on trips daily with the biggest issues being some travel sickness or similar.

The rip will have been risk assessed to the max. Hey will have tonnes of adults. Your DD will come home, not remember what animals shes sen but tell you all about how a friend spilt their drink at lunch or about a spider on the coach.

since 1985, 57 people have died on school trips.
approx 55,000 people have died in car crashes in the same period.
and 37 people in vending machine accidents.

a School trip is statistically therefore only mildly more dangerous than using a vending machine.

perspective is needed here. She will be fine. She is far, far more at risk of you taking her to school in the first place.

Hello, reception teacher here. Let me talk you through how I would organise a trip like this to ensure your little one would be safe, in case that's helpful. So the first thing is that I would visit the zoo one weekend, and make sure I had good knowledge of its layout. Then i would risk assess it fully. Then I would organise staff and volunteers to be responsible for a small group of children each. 4 or 5 children. They focus solely on those children to ensure they are with them at all times. I then have overview. I meet with staff and volunteers on the morning of the trip, and ensure they all.have my.phone number, and run through my expectations and protocols for what to do. We spend so much time during the day counting children and with me checking in with all adults ablut their groups. We have plans in place, communicated to all adults, for what to do in case of an incident. Of course, you can't guarantee anything, but your little one should be very very safe.

Over thinking it, but can understand why when it's the first trip. Try not to let your mind wander and keep yourself busy that day. She's going to have a brilliant time.
i would say don't volunteer as when she comes back and tells you how much fun she had I think this will be a great confidence booster and anxiety reducer for you, for the next time.

i get it, my 9 year old went on her first school residential earlier this year for 4 nights doing all sorts of crazy (fun) outdoor activities. In the run up I could feel my mind wandering and anxiety increasing but actually once she had left and was on the trip, I didn't feel very anxious at all!

the more she does these things. The better you will feel, and she will have the best time!!

I have always reasoned that my kids teachers/TAs are far more qualified to look after him than I am 🤷‍♀️

It's hard the first time, but it does get easier. I remind myself that one day they have to walk out the door and get a bus or walk somewhere on their own, and you need to work towards that point bit by bit. You are starting to develop those muscles now!

That's a very helpful message from @depressedbarbie.

OP I would sign her up for this! Lots of exciting work in class will be done both before and after the trip.

Try and hold your anxiety in check on the day. If you're not at work, plan coffee out with a friend or visit somewhere nice on your own.

I am 100% sure she will have a whale of a time and soon be back regaling you with stories! Or overtired and grumpy.... so the stories come the next day!

This is the first of many small steps to independence and school trips live long in the memory!

When parents threaten this I never choose them to help.

I've worked in schools for 12 years and never heard of a single school trip ever having an issue beyond a logistical one.

If it helps my DD went to a daycare in Chicago that had no outside space of its own but was opposite a zoo so they’d walk there pretty much weekly from 2 years old with probably similar ratios to your reception class because ratios are much higher there than in the UK. She loved it, all was fine! The daycare has been there for years, is still going and never lost a kid. This won’t be the school’s first time doing a trip either! Let her go and have fun. Resist the urge to volunteer as a helper if you’re anxious, it won’t be fair on her, the staff or the other kids. Trust that she’s in safe hands. I’m sure she’ll love it!

Omg yes!! I was you 2 years ago when my DS4 got taken to the zoo with school. I was petrified they’d lose him. I put an AirTag in his pocket so I could track him which was so reassuring. I could see where he was on the coach then I could see him in the zoo.

Until he leaves his coat somewhere. There was a whole thread on that recently.

Eek. I put it in his jeans in the watch pocket.

I’m sorry she’s being so unfeeling about this. It’s completely normal to have anxiety about this, especially when it’s the first time they’re going on a trip. You are allowed to feel how you feel.