Thoughts on 9 year old going abroad on school trip ?

You arent serious are you? Surely.

Personally I wouldn't pay for a 9 yr old to go on a school trip to Greece. I am very surprised that it is even on offer.
I wouldn't like to be the responsible adult!
Walking to school is another matter entirely which I would encourage, preferably with a friend

Thanks for all comments and advice. Maybe I am being over protective but feel I’ve seen such a decline in standards in general and caring lately I just find it all worrying. I have 3 grandchildren 9, 5 and nearly 2. The 5 year old has speech and slight learning difficulties whilst the 2 year old is way ahead. 9year old thinks she’s older but then gets ‘itchy’ if she stays more than a couple of nights away from home. DD not uncaring but has stressful full time job - which is where I have come in to try to take some of the strain so hopefully she can spend more time with them. (2year old is my Sons). … and yes I would go if it meant piece of mind !

I think the main thing you have to remember is you are NOT the parent it’s entirely their decision

I had an a very overprotective Nan, who I adored, but I know I missed out hugely on childhood experiences, because she wanted to ‘keep me safe’ please don’t fall into that trap

Of course you worry we all do I ve got two granddaughters (young adults ) one travelling round the far East for 6 months one interrailing around Europe for 6 weeks and of course I worry every day but you have to put it all in place in your mind and think of the wonderful experiences
I m sure your daughter and son in law will check it all out, there should be a good ratio of teachers and helpers to the number of children so don’t imagine there’s one teacher doing it all
My only reservation is will she be mature enough to get anything out of it?
Has she been away from her parents before for sleep overs or visits, if not, she may well be too young not for her safety but her immaturity to feel secure away from her family

Re walking to school again start that off by an adult walking part of the way or letting her go with other kids, mine all walked to school from about 7 but mostly with others not totally alone and again I m sure the school isn’t saying they HAVE to it’s up to the parents walking by a busy road shouldn’t be a problem she will cross with a zebra crossing or lollipopman or lady better than going through a park that wouldn’t be a good idea

Is this your only grand child ?

As a grandparent it’s not your call I’m afraid. One of my DS was a boy chorister in a cathedral choir from the age of 8, they were often on tours abroad, including the USA when he was 9. I was apprehensive, but some parents accompanied the trips ( not me unfortunately) . He loved it and still talks about it.

My grandson is 9 and I think too young for independent travel to another country. A scouting week, or something similar not involving hotels would be ok. It seems a bit over-reaching to go to Greece from the UK.

I'd be absolutely fine with kids that age walking to school; in fact I wish more of them did, there is a comraderie in little gangs of friends collecting each other and walking together.

Please tell me you are kidding with your "solution"

Neat.

..re the park - it’s been reported.
Perhaps my solution …. Get a ticket on the same flight and book into the same hotel 😎

It is up to the parents.
Are any parents going on the trip too?

It is left to the grandparents to worry ☹

Our local riverside park has on 2 days running noticed a man taking videos of playing children
That needs to be reported to the police.
Years ago a man was outside the local school taking photos of the children, the police were quick to act.

There will be plenty of time for those when she is at high school

Thinking about that and realising that DGC has not been on a school trip since she started senior school because, of course, of Covid.

Remembering what could have been a potentially disastrous trip abroad with school when DD was 13, I think 9 is far too young.

Nine seems to me to be old enough to walk to school as long as she does not go alone. Many children are not allowed to have much independence and then when they get to secondary school they are overwhelmed by having to cope alone. Mine used to catch a bus and the children in the village still do but some Mums ferry them in the car causing major congestion outside the school. School trips increase confidence, I can remember my son going to Belgium and having a fantastic time whilst at junior school. They need to stretch their wings.

Actually this has helped cool me a bit, seeing both sides, as was feeling anxious that I may have been a bit overprotective. Am all for adventure but at the right age. Can def get my head around local stays but not abroad. I would need to know the teacher pupil ratio etc - which isn’t forthcoming. What if it was 1:4 - one walks off, does the teacher abandon 3 to go look for 1 ? Or vice versa … am overthinking I know. Our local riverside park has on 2 days running noticed a man taking videos of playing children. A mum challenged him without much response but appeared to be Eastern European. Troubling times I think.

I think 9 is very young to go on a school trip abroad. A few days in this country maybe, but not over seas.
There will be plenty of time for those when she is at high school

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/parents-fury-year-6-pupil-30439950

crazyH

Every year hundreds, if not thousands of children go on school trips. It’s part of their education. Very rarely do we hear of accidents or anything untoward, happening. My three went on lots of school trips and tbh, I don’t think I ever really worried. They were with responsible adults and were having a great time.
The only time I panicked was when my daughter was late coming home from school. I had completely forgotten that they had some after -school activity .

Maybe your kids were older. I think 9 is very young.
I don’t want to alarm the OP but accidents and fatalities on school trips are definitely not that rare.

Even today there’s a story in the national press of a child left alone all night on a coach whilst on a school trip.

MerylStreep

No, I wouldn’t be happy with a 9yr old going on a school trip abroad.
No offence meant to teachers but I wouldn’t trust them to watch my grandchildren like I would and my children would.

Me neither.
Trips in the UK at junior school age are probably fine but Greece? Why Greece?
The cost would be prohibitive to many.
It is up to the parents, of course.

As for walking to and from school on their own at 9, I know we used to do that from about age 6 but DGD's school only lets a child in Y6 go home on their own if they have written permission from the parents, otherwise they have to be collected by a parent or named person.

crazyH Every year hundreds, if not thousands of children go on school trips. It’s part of their education.

Very rarely do we hear of accidents or anything untoward, happening.

Agreed.

Thanks for all your comments to help get my head in a better place on this. There’s little info at the moment re Greece - but they are also offering Spain ? Further into the school year. Crikey, I just feel she’s so little ( and can get a bit emotional over stuff) - why do they have to push 9 year olds to be independent. They have their whole lives to conform and grow. Just seems early to be doing this. On walking to school - this was announced to a whole school assembly for the next new term. DD seemed to take this as fact… there is no way she could safely walk to school being on a main trunk road or via a park. One as bad as the other. No one to walk with either. Of course DGD came away the message it’s ok I can and will walk on my own to school. Personally (in my opinion) not enough thought goes into the consequences of what seems to be promoted in the name of education. Perhaps though am just too old in my opinions ..

I wouldn't be concerned that they might not be seeing historical places etc. Surely it's all about experiencing another culture, hearing another language, understanding difference, and gaining confidence about what she can do..

I appreciate what has been written about some feeling homesick etc and it not being the right thing for all children,

but do you think her parents judgment on the matter is not sound?

Every year hundreds, if not thousands of children go on school trips. It’s part of their education. Very rarely do we hear of accidents or anything untoward, happening. My three went on lots of school trips and tbh, I don’t think I ever really worried. They were with responsible adults and were having a great time.
The only time I panicked was when my daughter was late coming home from school. I had completely forgotten that they had some after -school activity .

As I say my primary school aged children gained an enormous amount from travel abroad. They still talk about it now.

I don’t think a school trip to Greece is appropriate for primary school kids. I even wonder about the value of a foreign trip for high school kids.

My kids did them when they were in High School but can’t say they found it much of an experience TBH. My nephew went on one to New York and he said it was so tiring and involved so much travelling that he was glad to get home!

When I was at grammar school there were several foreign trips but I never went on one because I knew we had no money for such things so I didn’t even take the notes home. My friend went on a school cruise in the Med and she was desperately homesick and when she finally got home after 2 weeks she just clung to her Dad and cried her eyes out.

Yes a worrier but also trying to keep her safe. I’ve been a big part of bringing her up to her 9 years. I just can’t see what she would get out of such a trip that she couldn’t get say in the local area (steeped in Roman history she doesn’t even know about) or somewhere in UK. If it’s Ancient history our University Museums etc do a good job for that age. She doesn’t even know why she would be going ! In UK if anything went wrong it could be put right more easily. 9 is very young still to embark abroad - talking Primary School here. If she needed help she couldn’t explain herself.