Hi, my son is finishing 8th grade and his school is having a trip to a camp where there is swimming, sports, or tv. Nice place I have been to. Each student pays 50$. I am all set to sign his perm slip but he doesn't want to go. He said none of his friends are going and other schools will be there so very crowded. I think its a good experience for him, but it is supposed to be a fun treat, not something I demand he goes to. School is in session but no idea what lids do if not on trip. Or he can stay home. What would you moms do? Make him go? Let him skip it?
Thank you all for your opinions! I have decided to let him skip the trip. If there is nothing productive for him that day at school then at this time of the year I will let him stay home. My worry was that he would be missing out. He is social with friends in school but doesn't seem them much outside of school. Like many teens he is a gamer and stays connected with friends only over the screen.
Anyway thank you again!
I would not make my 8th grader go if she knew her friends were not going and that it would be something she dreaded doing. It is supposed to be fun, not dread.
He is not being graded on this, it is optional and although you believe it is a good experience which maybe it is, he just is not interested.
I'd let him do what his friends are doing.
By this time of the year, kids are often just plain tired of school and anything connected to it, including their friends. So even if his friends WERE going to be there, it's a toss up whether your son would have fun. If his friends won't be there, his chances of enjoying the time are even slimmer. If he has the maturity and self-understanding to recognize that in himself, I'd respect his wishes and save your money. Ask his teachers what they are doing instead, and ask him to find out what his friends will be doing instead of the trip. Perhaps you can use the $50 for a nice activity for him and a friend or two?
Optional trips like this are supposed to be fun, so if a kid doesn't want to go it doesn't serve it's purpose and would be a waste of money.
Neither of my kids went on the 8th grade trip. One was not at all interested in the destination and the other didn't want to spend 9 hours on a bus. It wouldn't have been a positive experience if I had insisted.
If his friends are not going and he's not interested, I'd probably let him skip it. I've left it to my kids at that age. I find they go to some things, and miss others. It kind of evens out. So if he misses it this year, don't worry - another year there will be something else, and he'll want to go. It won't affect him overall (I don't think personally).
I find this time of year, if kids just go to school - and some kids aren't there (are on trips, etc.) they don't typically do anything - it's kind of they just hang out, or watch movies. This time of year is a write off I find. A lot of kids stay home.
I would let him skip it. He wont have fun if he really does not want to be there. Granted he could meet someone and have a great time but he could also be miserable. I would find out if the school has another activity for those that do not go or find something productive to do.
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I would let him skip it. He wont have fun if he really does not want to be there. Granted he could meet someone and have a great time but he could also be miserable. I would find out if the school has another activity for those that do not go or find something productive to do.
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I would let him skip it. He wont have fun if he really does not want to be there. Granted he could meet someone and have a great time but he could also be miserable. I would find out if the school has another activity for those that do not go or find something productive to do.
No way would I make my kid go to something like that.
I would hate to be forced to go do something I don't want to do...wouldn't you?
He's not a baby anymore, he can make his own decisions. And if he doesn't want to go to camp, listen to him and don't send him.
it's a pity. i agree with you that he's missing out on a chance to have a great experience. or even a meh experience. kids should jump on opportunities to have experiences.
but i also understand not wanting crowds. and this is supposed to be fun.
i'd express my thoughts about it, but ultimately i'd let him make the final decision on this one.
khairete
S.
You need to really make sure his friends are not going. He could be the only one left behind. I've seen it happen. This kid didn't want to go and thought his buddies would hang back with him but they all went.
Kids at that age are very stuck to their friends and don't care to do things alone. They just don't have fun going alone, nor do they care to mingle with kids from other schools that they may never see again. Some kids are also shy and have social anxiety, so there is that. He is old enough to decide whether to go or not, best to respect his wishes and let him chill out at home, if he so decides. If most kids are going, I would assume that the ones who don't will either stay home or have a free day at school where they watch movies or can bring their electronics, so might as well let him stay home. Look at it this way, you have saved yourself $50 you can now spend to take him out to a nice dinner, or to an arcade with friends, an amusement park, etc.
I think it's fine for him to skip the trip - BUT - I don't think you're helping him by allowing/encouraging him to stay home "gaming". Spend that day (or another day close to it) doing an alternative activity - go with him to a museum, take his friends to run around a water park, etc.
(It's your job to help him develop into a "well-balanced" adult. Great to do it in a way he enjoys, but not *always* gaming, just like you would not let him *always* eat pizza!)
If his friends aren't there, I wouldn't make him go. Instead, I'd get together with his friends' moms and do something with his group.
If he doesn't want to go I'd let him skip it, as long as you know he does in fact have a good circle of friends and is normally social enough.
K.
I would check with his friends parents and see if they really aren't going.
I would call the school and ask the school what they are doing with kids who can't go or aren't going.
No, there's a reason he doesn't want to go. Don't make him. It's an extraneous activity. Maybe the kids are mean to him, pick on him. Maybe he doesn't have a lot of friends. Let him decide. He is choosing not to for a reason.....listen and honor that.
