Prep Your Child For Their Residential Trip!

Guest blog by Ruth Davies

When it comes to school residential trips this can often be the first time a child will be separated from their parents for an extended period. Preparation (not just for the children) is key to getting that first taste of independence so that they can go away and enjoy themselves without missing home too much. The end goal of raising kiddos is always that they are happy, healthy children who grow to be happy, healthy adults with lives of their own, and this is the first step on the ladder of teaching them how to become people in their own right.

Residential trips for primary schools are far more than just a regular school trip! They’re a right of passage, something the child will remember forever, and getting it right is so important as when they look back on those core memories, we want it to be for all the right reasons.

So, how to do it best?

Well, covering all bases, asking yourself all the possible questions which will flit through your mind once they are away, and making a good old-fashioned advanced list is a really good place to start:

What if they’re poorly?

Also, add breathe easy strips to their little “medical bag” so if they get a bit of a sniffle they’ll still be able to sleep. Picture plasters are another great addition – a grazed knee is always made slightly better with a fun bandage!

Will they just wear the same pants for the week?

Probably but, roll a set of clothing together for each day with the pants and socks in the middle. The falling out of each day’s underwear from the bundle will be their reminder – lead the horse to water and fingers crossed it will drink…

Suppose they lose something important?

Children aren’t careful with their belongings because developmentally they haven’t matured enough to realise the value and importance of expensive things. Don’t send them with anything of great expense and keep spending money to a minimum, distributing important things about their bags and pockets so that if they do lose something, hopefully it won’t be everything!

Will they fall out with their friends

You can only prepare your child to behave well themselves and be kind to others. Teach them to be thoughtful and considerate of others while reminding them they are their own person, they don’t have to compare themselves to anybody else.

Practice makes perfect!

Run drills before the off so that they know what to expect. If they’re taking a sleeping bag, practice getting it in and out of its bag so that they know how to do it for their return leg. Let them help pack their own bags so that they are aware of everything they are taking with them and how to use it. From sun cream to using the lock on a suitcase, they only know how things work once you’ve shown them.

What if they get lonely?!

Trust in your school or club that they will look after your child, they know what they’re doing and this won’t be their first rodeo. But just to put your mind at ease, teach your little one your phone number off by heart so that it can be quickly accessed if you’re needed. If you think your kiddo will be especially missing you at a certain point in the day, like bed-time, agree beforehand to think about each other then and reassure them that you will be sending them your cuddles when they think about you.

There’s nothing left to do but to let them fly and once this first school residential has happened, the next one won’t be so hard. For any of you. You won’t ever stop worrying because it’s the parenting default position, but you can make sure you’ve done as much as you can to make this milestone easy and seamless. And when they return? They’ll likely be grubby and tired and almost certainly in a massive grump unable to regulate their emotions after staying up all night giggling with their friends and burning the candle at both ends but… you can make them their favourite dinner, offer a little dispensation, and know that those memories they’ve built will last them a lifetime and you’re input will have helped them be the most positive and happy that they could be while they created them.