Hi, I would appreciate some advice on my situation.
My son who is in grade five has a three night school camp starting Tuesday. We've recently moved towns so he's only been at his new school a couple of months and has been saying he doesn't want to go on camp because he has no friends. He's been put into a 4/5 class and made friends with some of the grade fours in his class but it's only the 5/6 grades that are going on camp. We've tried to be encouraging about him going and all the fun things he'll get to do even organising for him to be able to call home eveynight but he still really doesn't want to go. Should we make him go and hope for the best or keep him home. Over the weekend it's come out that he's been trying to make more friends in his year but when he asks to join in he's been told no or they don't need any more friends, which is so horrible, it breaks my heart for him. My heart says keep him home but my head says it may be a great way for him to mix with different kids and potentially make some nice new friends. I hate that we are making him go through all this because of our decision to move towns I feel so horrible. Please help
school camp. to send son or keep him home
school camp. to send son or keep him home
Posted in:
Life Lessons, Parenthood Guilt, Kids
5 Replies
I'd keep him home. Bigger priorities in life than school camp.
This will be a bonding experience for them so it'll be worse if he misses it.
I would see this as a good opportunity and being only 3 nights would push him in that directions instead of missing out.
I would also meet with the teacher and tell them the whole situation and that youd like him to be included in the team building but don't want to push him into a situation where he'll be further excluded and home sick. Hopefully they will get on board with taking steps to ensyre he has a buddy and and finds his place.
Talk to his teacher. Ask their opinion.
In the scheme of things it's not the be all and end all that he goes but there is the chance he will make friends. There is also the chance he will hate every second.
Kids are resilient and need to be so personally I'd encourage him to go. However, you know your son best. His wellbeing is most important.
I would send him, after speaking with a teacher and asking them to see how he goes in the first 24-36 hours and if it is hell for him, get them to ring you and you could go and pick him up. This will be a bonding experience for them and if he isn't there, he will possibly feel even more left out when they all come back talking about what happened at camp. You might find this time away is what he needs to break the ice with some of the kids, but there is a chance that he will not be included and feel even worse - its hard as a parent to know what to do, but if there is a chance you could send him, but if he is hating it and it isn't working, then you could go and pick him up, but he has to give it a good 24 hours first to see what its like - then that might work?
I would send him, after speaking with a teacher and asking them to see how he goes in the first 24-36 hours and if it is hell for him, get them to ring you and you could go and pick him up. This will be a bonding experience for them and if he isn't there, he will possibly feel even more left out when they all come back talking about what happened at camp. You might find this time away is what he needs to break the ice with some of the kids, but there is a chance that he will not be included and feel even worse - its hard as a parent to know what to do, but if there is a chance you could send him, but if he is hating it and it isn't working, then you could go and pick him up, but he has to give it a good 24 hours first to see what its like - then that might work?