bonding activity trip coming up

[MaryAnnSingleton]

for ds - only 2 days at the activity centre, one overnight stay, but ds has never been away from home without us (to be fair he isn't worrying about that as far as I can tell) - it is a PGL thing, so climbing,abseiling etc - all stuff that ds is not very comfortable with as he has balance/coordination probs - he is very unsporty - he hasn;t expressed any qualms here either, so maybe he is quite ok about it and it's just me suddenly worrying.
I really want him to go as he'll get to know the other new yr 7s and he will at least try some new things - he is a trier ! but I don't want him to feel that he absolutely has to do something if he rally feels he can't and I don't want him to be teased for being babyish...
I think that because he does have a go but not always successfully that others are generally kind to him - at least that's been my experience in the past as junior school.
It'll be ok, won't it ? (btw I haven't made a big song and dance about the trip,it's just presented to him as something he's doing!)

I'm sure he'll be just fine MAS I bet he can't actually wait to do the overnight stay bit. DD has never stayed overnight any place without a parent or grandparent and I'd be having worries about it too -she'd be as cool as a cucumber no doubt. As for the activities you'll probably find other kids worried about it too. I'm sure as long as he has a try no one is going to laugh or tease him -they'll be other kids who'll be in the same boat. Hopefully he'll have a great time getting to know all his class mates etc out of school.

When does he go?

He will be fine

At teh DCs school they do these trips from Y4 and have no problems with it - the children get very excited and really enjoy them.

The instructors will work with your DS to make sure that he can do the activities and get a sense of achievement - they are there to bolster self-esteem not humiliate!

The DC's Y7 trip is for 10 days I think

DD went to PGL in May although only YR5. She is a trier but doesn't like heights. They didn't force anyone to do things they weren't happy with.
I am sure if at least tries nobody will tease him.

He'll be fine! When is it?

ds1 is not at all sporty, poor co-ordination, etc., but he loves things like this in a mixed-ability/supportive environment. He's been away three times with primary school and also does "Day Camps" up at Windermere for a week each summer holidays. They have a whale of a time.

MaryAnn, you have described my son. He loved his trip and faced his fears well. He said that it was obvious that some people could just do everything easily and that a few people found everything difficult. He felt that he was firmly in the middle and they all cheered and encouraged the struggling ones. The whole trip revolved about everyone getting through each experience together.

There were two boys (who would usually be quite loud and bolshy at school) who went home with 'homesickness' which totally changed the pecking order when they got back to school. I think that was actually positive for the group.

My ds still isn't tremendously able in PE but he feels that he can have ago at everything now. He started 'outdoor club' at school a few weeks ago and nearly gave me a heart attack by calling me to say that he was going kayaking after school. I fretted but he loved it and is a different boy this year. These trips can be lifechanging.

ds went to a PGL one last year (Year5), dyspraxic and generally not a team sport player. He had a ball and the staff saw another side of him. Only one child in the whole year didn't go. They are due to go to one in France next year or year after I think and he is looking forward to it.

thank you all - that is very reassuring - it's in 2 weeks time ! Should I alert the teacher organising about ds, or just shut up ? am inclined to not say anything,don't want to fuss or make any big deal out of it, but I always feel I should do everything I can to ease things along..

How confident is he in speaking out if he needs help with something, or if he's worried/concerned?

If there's a strong possibility of him brooding on his own if he's unhappy, I would have a quick word. But if not, I'd just leave it: it's only one night, so it will go very quickly.

mmm, he tends to be quiet, though he is gaining confidence and starting to ask for help/sort things out for himself, so maybe this is part of his developing this skill ?

Alert the teacher if you feel there may be a safety aspect to his balancing problems. I did with dd (also off in a couple of weeks time) as she could easily fall and hurt herself; we were reassured that she will have adult supervision and even a special fire evacuation plan, so she doesn't risk falling on the stairs.

thank cory - ds' probs aren't really severe enough to warrant that I don't think..he just takes time to do things like going up and down unfamiliar stairs...