Should we encourage our children to go on residentials?

It’s funny when you get a letter about residentials. For me there is no question that my kids should go. Even in primary school, it is the most amazing experience for kids, being away from their parents, bunking in with their mates and often having access to the most amazing activities imaginable.

Yes it can be daunting for kids that young to be away from their parents. Yes we will miss them like crazy. Yes these trips mean that you are trusting the staff at your children’s school with the most precious things in your life. Should that stop you? Not at all.

For some children, I accept that these sorts of trips do come a little too early and they aren’t ready. I am sure that all primary aged children will miss their parents at some point during their time away and there might even be a few tears but often that will pass as quickly as it comes.

But you have to look at the advantages of trips away like these.  For some children, it gives them their first experiences of being away from home.  That can have a hugely positive effect on their self-confidence and make them feel that bit more grown up.  These sorts of visits give the children and the staff to really get to know each other better.  New friendships and bonds are formed.  But most importantly, these are the things of great memories.  Something to talk about, to look back on.  I think it is a really character building experience.

My own experience as a Language teacher have also shown me first hand how positive trips in general are for children, both younger children and teenagers.  I have been on and organised a large number of trips to France and Spain in my years in schools and the kids really gain so much from those trips.  Not only are they away from home, but they are experiencing  life in a different country and a different culture.  At the end of these trips it is always rewarding to see how happy the kids are and how a lot are disappointed to be going home.  My own son recently went on a Spanish exchange with his school for the second time and although really daunting, he had an amazing time and can’t wait to go back again next year.  I have no doubt that sending children on residentials either with school or with a club really encourages them to be more adventurous when they get older.

Both of my younger boys are hardy little souls.  A few days away from mum and dad is not a problem for them at all.  They have had regular sleepovers at their grandparent’s since they were really small and both of them have been on Beaver and Cub camps.

Their primary school run two residentials every two years.  One for Year 4 and 5 which runs from Monday to Friday and another for Year Two and Three which is usually fairly close to home and is just for three days.  R was in Year 2 when he went on his first school residential.  A few people commented at the time that he seemed very young, but off he went with his bags packed and he had the absolute time of his life.  He talked about it for months afterwards.

This morning, he left with his bags packed to go the the Isle of Wight for five days.  Excited was an understatement.  We have heard nothing for the last few weeks but talk of the exciting things that he is going to get the chance to do at the outward bounds centre he is staying in.  His two best friends are going with him too and I am certain that he will be too busy and too exhausted at the end of each action packed day to miss us.

I did have a lump in my throat this morning though, when R and L had a couple of big goodbye hugs.  L will be going on his trip in a months time, but he is currently stuck at home with rather unpleasant case of chicken pox and he was gutted that his brother was going away.

Five days isn’t long and soon enough he will return with a very large bag of filthy, soggy washing and half of his clothes and underwear still sitting untouched in his bag, but that is part of staying away from your mum isn’t it – no-one to nag you to change your undies?