IS nine too young to be going for a weekend trip with school.

[MUMDONEGOOD]

Anyone got some advice. My nine year old dd is going for a weekend away with the school. She has never been away before and I am terrified to the point of having nightmares. Is nine too young for weekend school trips or am I being too protective. You hear some real horrow stories and I am worried. Some parents aren't sending their kids because they feel they are too young. My dd begged to go so I said yes, but now its come round I am terrified, is this normal for me to feel like this.

Hope she has a lovely time!

I felt quite nervous about my dd going for her first 3 nights away with the school, particularly as she had been ill a lot. But she had a great time (they got to go badger watching in the middle of the night!) and I really felt she grew a lot in confidence.

Two years later she had to go into hospital on her own for nearly 5 weeks (rehabilitation clinic, so we only got to see her briefly in the evening) and I was so glad that wasn't her first stay away from home. She took it in her stride and treated it as yet another holiday camp

DS1 is 8 and is off to Cub camp this weekend for 3 nights and is so excited. Of course I am a little worried but I definitely think he is old enough to go!

DD will do her first overnight (2 nights IIRR) with school next year - in Y3. She'll be just 8 I think.

I went on my first trip with school aged 10, I think. Had a great time! I should think 9 would be fine, especially she's with her classmates/friends.

She will have a lovely time. If she doesn't and is miserable her teachers will help her or worst case ring you to collect. There's no reason for her not to go and it's good for both of you to foster her independance. My dd1 went to camp aged 8, dd2 went aged 7 (but with her sister there too).

I went to Jersey for a week with my school when I was 7/8. I remember crying the first night (mainly because someone else started first!) but apart from that, I've only good memories - I had a fantastic time.

A weekend's not that long, they'll be fine

(My DS1(11) is off to Cyprus with the school in 3 weeks)

I really can sympathise with you here. My 10yo is shortly due to go abroad on an 18 day trip with her school and I am besides myself with stress and worry.

The weirdest thing of all is that she is at boarding school, so I know she is fine away from home and I am to certain degree used to her not being home full time but I have just been taken by utter shock how uneasy I am finding all this.

My DD is so excited and up for this trip I have just gone with it. I try and keep my fear to myself- well apart from talking through my ridiculous anxieties to my DH every night as a lie awake!

Its so hard to let go but sometimes you have to a little to let them grow, I guess. I just hope she comes back happy and full of tales of adventures and happy memories for life. I recall the happiness and excitement my 5 day trip to Cornwall in year 5 still and am edging close to 40!

Haven't read thread. Dd1 went on Brownie weekend the other week and LOVED it. She was 7.9 at the time.