Am I being overprotective

[Rhianna]

Rhianna has been invited by her brownie camp to go away for three nights in August. All the other girls in the group are going and she really wants to go too.

Although, in some ways, we are keen to let her as it will be an interesting experience, I guess we are feeling that this would be the first time she has been away from us (apart from to stay with my Mum) for longer than a night and we can't help feeling a bit apprehensive.

She is only just 7.

What would others do in this situation? I don't want to spoil her fun, nor do I want her to be the only one in the group not to go. I guess you read some awful things in the paper about trips away with schools and things and how children get hurt or even killed. I know it doesn't happen often, but... it's in the back of my mind. I wouldn't mind so much if it was 1 night, but 3 seems so long.

Are we being silly do you think?

Paula x

[katieml]

I only have a five year old girl but I can completly understand how you are feeling and I am sure I will be in the same position in a few years time. Emily goes to Rainbows, she is the youngest there currently and was invited to a disco with the Brownies last week which started at 730 and finished at 930. We decided not to let Emily go as she is normally asleep by 730!

Fortunatly for us she was happy with this decision but I am sure we will make ones she is not happy with in years to come.

Could you have a chat with the leaders to ask them more about the trip, how the girls will be supervised and how everything will be set up? Maybe some of the other Mums feel the same and might be a great relief to them to have some more detail if you flag things up.

Just a few thoughts, for me more info always makes things seem better but I guess I would say three nights is a long time. Two I could handle I think

Katie

[Ruth Walker]

Paula
I would feel the same, too, and have all the same fears as you. If it were me, I would ask if I could come along too, as a helper, these sort of groups are often desperate for volunteers, and that way I could keep an eye on her myself.
xxx

[jomama]

Paula

I too am dreading anything like this with DS1 (he will be 7 in June). At present he doesn't go to anything like that so he only ever stays with Grandma.

They have just started going on trips at school this year (Yr 2) and at first I was very apprehensive but they seem well organised and always have quite a few mums along to help out, but like you I always have things in the back of my mind from newspapers etc - I just can't help it.

I really don't know what I would do in your situation at all - hope you get sorted .
J

[Liz1967]

Hi Paula

I used to be a Beaver Leader (boys and girls aged 6-8) and I was of the opinion that as the youngest ones were too young for one night camping events we saved overnight activities for when they were in Cubs (8-10). We used to take them along to the Cub weekend camps to visit for the day which went down well. Perhaps thats an option, she could visit for the day and see how she likes it?

Actually just re-read your post and you say she is keen to go and that everyone else is going, that does make it awkward for you. I know from my experience that if children weren't happy on weekends away their parents would come and get them as the camps were only a couple of miles away. Speaking from Scouts point of view we all had to be very well trained and safety always came first, activities were risk assessed etc, which I am sure is the same for Brownies/Guides, so she would be in safe capable hands.

I am not sure that you would just be able to go along to help unless you had a CRB check done specifcally for Brownies

Hhhm, tricky one for you, but at some point she will have overnight stays on trips for school so perhaps starting with something like this would be a good one, you are only at the end of the phone if needbe. (Probably easy for me to say this as I have been through this already with my 2 older ones!)

Let us know what you decide,

Love
Liz
xx

[alexandra_c]

I dont think you are being over protective ... three nights away when she is only 7 is quite an undertaking. Theres always next year so perhaps you could plan something at the same time and use that at an excuse for her not to go ?

When my oldest boy did this Im sure they didnt camp until they were a bit older, and his Dad did go and camp with them for one day as well as a helper.

Alexandra x

[@@lisa@@]

My 3 big kids have all gone through the whole scouting movement, from beavers/rainbows right through to scouts/rangers (infact Megan in now a young leader) and i'm a huge fan!

My children all went away for the camps as soon as they were able to. They were always keen to go, and I had trust in the leaders. They camps were never more than an hour or away, and I knew I could always go and get them if there was a problem.

Yes, there is always the worry about something awful happening, but that could happen when they are on a school trip or anywhere else tbh

No, I don't think you're being overprotective Paula, I think the first couple of times is harder on the parent than the child, and I know i'll feel the same when Poppy goes.. but if she wants to go, then I would let her

Love Lisa xx