How many Yr6 boys would you take out to a science museum for a day on your own?

[mintchocchick]

When my DSs school announced they were closing due to strike action, I decided to take the day off and ask a few of DSs friends to a science museum. I asked 3 of his friends thinking they could hang out as a group of 4 and it would be fun for them and quite a relaxing day for me.

But DS is worried about leaving out 2 others who are part of the group.

They all seem to me really pleasant, well behaved boys but I'm wondering how many I can cope with. 4 seems manageable, 6 seems too much. But I'm not sure what it is I'm worried about - we are driving there so I won't lose any of them or anything! And we are taking packed lunches so not costly.

How many Yr6s would you take out by yourself?

Oh also, I can fit 7 in my car though the back seats are small. So 6 friends is, in theory, possible.

I'd be comfortable with 6 but then I work in a year 6 class. Definitely take packed lunches. And drinks. And snacks.

My first thought was 4, I must say. Not that I have ever done this. I think since you are driving (provided you have 7 seats!) it does sound possibly doable. You could open up to them all and say that you are a bit worried about them all being safe, having fun and not bumping into people on the pavement or pushing ahead of older people through doors (my obsession - replace with whatever yours is) but that you are sure you are going to have a great day. Chances are they will do you proud. I would ask parents to provide a reasonable spending amount though (£5?) in case you all need to collapse in a cafe for a bit.

If driving and if sensible 6 should be Ok. You can more or less leave them to it once you get ther, can't you? Give them strict instructions to stay together, an obvious meeting point for if they get lost, give them each a slip of paper with your mobile number on it, and an instruction to be at the lunch-eating place on the dot.

I would hate to take more than 4 on the tube, or if they were younger and have to keep them all together with my around the museum.

Would you feel a need to have any basic ground rules? Like only go to the toilet in a group? Am I over thinking it?

Would you stay with them all the time? I don't want to be over involved and it's a safe place - I have gone to the cafe before leaving my DS at 10yrs with his little brother 6yrs, to go round an exhibit on their own and they enjoyed the little bit of freedom. But they were both my children - these are not so I'm more cautious about what is except able and safe

I hqve q year 6 boy. It would depend on the boys he chose, but most groups I would be happy with 6- I have 7 seats +driver in my car, so I usually fill it up. But I do make sure I know the 6.

Your DS sounds so sweet for wanting to include them! If he's mature enough to think that they might want to join in, he sounds mature enough to be responsible in a small group (working on the basis that your own child is likely to be the worst behaved?).

I'd say go for it - if you're worried you could always mention to the parents that this is what you plan to do, and do they have a problem with the children being without direct supervision for a short while - I'm sure they'll be grateful you're entertaining their children. It's a lovely idea.

I would definitely say no going to the loo alone - maybe in pairs or a three minimum? In fact, could you have a "buddy" system - say you have to stay with your partner even if there is no adult around? Maybe see how they are together once you get there and then decide how relaxed you are leaving them?

on a recent school trip with year 6 children each adult had 6 children to look after and it was fine. I would ask them to go to the loo in pairs and not leave the floor of the museum you were on until everyone was ready to leave together.

They sound really helpful ideas, thanks all.

They are all sensible I think and I want to trust them and give them some space. I know they'd love going off on their own but I'm not sure I'm confident enough to arrange a meeting time and leave them complete freedom. There are 4 big sections and 1 cafe so I might take a newspaper to the cafe and ask them to do 1 section at a time coming to see me before moving onto the next. That way they can hang out together without a mum trailing behind them but I'll know where they are.

Pairs for the loo sounds good and my mobile number on a slip - though I don't know if any of them have phones.

I am looking forward to it just want to make sure I'm organised and not anxious. My DS is chomping at the bit to have more freedom and I'm conscious that if I don't give him responsibility he will think I don't trust him. I do trust him, its just hard with your first to decide what's a sensible freedom and whats too much too soon.