Would you let your 12 yo go to London? UPDATE p.1

[Mimi Q]

Update: Well, we decided not to let her go. The deposit has to be turned in by tomorrow. My DH didn't want to go to London or have our younger DD by himself for 9 days. I didn't want her to go without one of us. We have decided to start saving now, and we will plan for her to go next year. Hopefully, I will be able to go next year as well. She was really not too disappointed as none of her friend were going this year. Thanks for all your responses.


My DD is in the accelerated program at her middle school. We went to orientation today, and her teacher gave us info on a 9 day trip to London over spring break for the kids in the accelerated program. All 3 gifted teachers will be going and some parents. It cost about $2200 per person. We could come up with the money for her to go, but it would be hard to come up with the money for me to go as well unless I cancelled our family WDW trip next year. I have never been to London. I think it would be a great experience for her, but I don't know if I should let her go without a parent. What do you think?

 

[Disfan1]

I don't think I would feel comfortable sending a 12yo overseas without a parent. If there is ANY way for you to go too, I recommend it. I have been to London twice and LOVE it!

 

[lulubelle]

My DD17 wanted to go to Costa Rica last year with her Social Studies teacher/class. I wouldn't even dream of letting her go so far from home (and in another country) without mom or dad. I would be too worried about something happening.

Although I DID let her go to an orphanage in Tiajuana, Mexico with her Character Counts Club. I met the dad she drove down with, they brought all kinds of food/diapers/personal hygiene items. The experience really moved her and I am sure she will remember it all her life. I actally questioned my judgement that day as well because she was in a very poor area of Mexico, but it is only 90 minutes south of where we live and for some reason I felt it was okay cause it wasn't half way around the world.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[Pin Wizard]

No way!!

 

[mermaidlady]

Yes I would with teachers and a good child/adult ratio. travel is very broadening. I went to Paris with school when I was in high school and had a wonderful time.

 

[Serena]

Maybe you could talk some more with the teacher. If you feel confident with her abilities, it might help make your decision.

But I'm having a problem sending my children with her grandparents to MN, so I'm not to objective.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by mermaidlady
I went to Paris with school when I was in high school and had a wonderful time.

My sister went to Europe for a week of skiing when she was in high school. But there's no way I'd let a 12 year old go. JMO.

 

[shortbun]

Sorry, I'd be going to London instead of WDW this year.
You will LOVE it!

 

[Danauk]

From the age of 11 - 18 I went abroad at least once or twice every year with either school, girl guides (scouts) or the youth orchestra that I played in without my parents. With correct adult supervision and a good adult to child ratio trips abroad will be safe and very rewarding. I can remember every single trip that I was allowed to go on and visited many countries. I think these kind of trips are so rewarding as I learned about many different cultures, helped develop my languages (aged 13 I spent 2 weeks in school in France and aged 14 I spent a month in school in Spain). As someone who lives near London I would say definately let your daughter go. London is a wonderful city with so much history and so much to see and do.
On a side note my husband also travelled when he was the same age too. The school he works at also do trips abroad. Last year students went to New Zealand and Australia, Hawaii, America and several mainland European countries to name but a few. Your child will have a great time.

 

[acepepper]

Would you let her go on a trip to a diifferent state on the other side of the US? If the answer to that is yes, then what's the big deal about letting her come to London? If she was mine, I'd let her go.

 

[Viking]

I was in London in 78', 79' & '80 at age 14, respectively 15 & 16, with student groups of about 20 kids and 2 teachers and everything went smoothly. We had had between 2 and 4 years practice in speaking English then - all of us being German.
With your kid being a native speaker there shouldn't be any problem. You may say that 24 years have passed since then, but as it happens I spent a wonderful week in April sightseeing and shopping in London, and I can only recommend it. Your kid will love it!!!

 

[aprilgail2]

Heck yes I would let her go! The chances of something happening while she is there is the same as something happening here, can't live my whole life in fear. It would be such a great learning experience for her. As long as I liked and trusted the teachers she was going with and she herself really wanted to go I would send her. I never got to do anything like that as a kid and think it would have been so awesome to do!

 

[Laura]

Yes, I would let her go, Mimi Q. I would go along, too, because I love London!

Just because it's far away doesn't mean it isn't safe. I'm sure on a trip like this she would never be without an adult to supervise her. And I think acepepper brought up a good point. Thnk of places you would let her go and ask yourself why London's any different.

My parents let me go on a school trip to Washington, DC when I was 14. When we got into our hotel rooms at night, a teacher or parent put tape on the door and would let us out in the morning. There were SERIOUS penalties if anyone opened the door during curfew.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I would let her go but only if I went with her. I spent a summer living in London and it is a wonderful city!

Lori

 

[liznboys]

Since I don't yet have a 12 yr old, my opinion probably doesn't matter, but here it is for what it's worth. (btw, my boys are 4, 2 and 5 months...)

I can imagine that in this day and age with everything going on in the world, it would be scary to let her leave the country without you. But wow, what an incredible and memorable opportunity this would be for her!!! Don't know about you, but I want my kids to grow up not worrying about bad things happening all the time. I want them to experience life, see the world and meet lots of different people. Not that *I* won't worry about them (Lord knows I will!!!!), but I don't want to have my insecurities rub off on them. I would let her go. Most likely she will have an awesome adventure and everything will be fine! I just think it's too good an opportunity to pass up (if you can afford it that is!!)

Oh and I went on a trip to Hawaii with my elderly grandma (just the two of us) when I was 13, no it wasn't out of the U.S., but anyway, it was an awesome experience. I also took a school trip to Washington, D.C. when I was 13 (I lived in Michigan at that time). My parents didn't go. That too was great. I think at that age, being away from your parents and experiencing something big is so wonderful for kids. It helps them to learn about who they are and gain confidence in themselves. Boy, I'd have LOVED to go to anwhere in Europe at that age without my parents!!!!!

Good luck with your decision, let us know how it turns out!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, I would let her go. Then I would cancel the WDW trip and go with her!!!! Seriously it is on our family list of places to visit. I am hoping to do it before she goes off to college.

She is going to Wash DC at the end of school with her 8th grade class.

 

[NMAmy]

I would definitely let my 13 yo go by herself. She's been to WDW and to Washington DC on trips with her school. The chaperone/child ratios were always great and she's had so much fun both times. (I'd have gone along but I work at a college and they always seem to go on these trips at either the beginning of fall or spring semester--the two weeks I absolutely cannot take vacation!) She's asked me to take her to Washington again because she enjoyed it so much and I've never been.

She is a very confident traveller--her dad lives across country and although we never let her fly by herself (she's a nervous flyer), she has the ability to get along with all different types of people--she's a very confident child and isn't afraid to speak up if she has a problem.

I would talk to my child and see if she would be comfortable going without me--if so and you've checked out the program with the school, why not? Or, as others have said, consider going yourself. London is a wonderful place to visit. We're going again at Christmas (hopefully.)

I might have reservations if she were going to a country where she didn't speak the language though, as another poster stated. If she got separated from the group, I'm afraid she would panic in that situation.

 

[vernon]

I agree with Acepepper, if you'd let her go to another State across the USA on a school trip in similar circumstances why would you feel any different about the UK?

I can understand wanting to be happy with the school's arrangements and supervision levels, but IMHO it's a rare (and fantastic) opportunity for a young American to travel to another country and learn first hand about a (slightly) different culture. IMHO there is no substitute from learning first hand about people and places.

 

[DoeWDW]

If she wants to go and you're comfortable with the teachers, then I'd let her go. I sent my 16 yr old son with a People to People Student Ambassador delegation for a 3 week trip to Australia and New Zealand earlier this summer. He learned so much and had wonderful experiences. He came back more confident in himself and his abilities to handle new situations.

I'd have more reservations about sending my child to a country that spoke a different language or that was in a more troubled part of the world, but London would be such a wonderful experience!

Best wishes on your decision!

 

[tkd lisa]

Boy, tough question. Me personally, I wouldn't do it unless I could go along. My DD is a pretty difficult kid, and I think it takes too much of the chaperone's attention for her unless I'm there (not just my opinion, confirmed by various teachers, scout leaders, etc.).

But you know your child, and you'll soon get a feel for the class dynamics. If you become comfortable that your DD will be adequately supervised, and she will be comfortable going without you, I'd consider it.

I'd probably use the WDW money to go with her though, because the chance for another England trip is probably much less than the chance for another WDW trip.

For those who concur that there's no difference between travelling in a different location within your own country and going overseas, I disagree because you are 1) travelling across an ocean (can't drive back) 2) going to a foreign country where immigration could become a concern. I have friends who happened to be in England on 9/11. It took far longer for them to get back home than it would have if they had been anywhere in the continental US. I'm not suggesting that this would happen again, just saying why there some different considerations for an overseas trip vs. a domestic trip.