<p>We've been cautioned by school about kids going on Spring Break trips (skiing/beach) with their school mates. The kids argue that everyone goes. Have heard that the kids are un- or under-supervised and there's lots of drinking and risky behavior. </p>
<p>We didn't think we would have to face this pressure until college. Too many external pressures nowadays, causing kids grow up too fast.</p>
<p>Any insights on Spring Break?</p>
<p>From my experience the infamous “spring break” trip does not happen till senior year. And then, indeed, “everyone does do it”. We were able to resist (ie convince parents of their friends to organize something much more interesting and supervised, outside of bahamas) with the older two, but have given in with the last one, primarily b/c cant find anyone unwilling to let their kids do anything but go with the group. Yes some of the horror stories you hear are true, deerfield boys do beat up hotchkiss, and vice versa, wind up in jail, or not, girls are throwing up in the pool, etc.
If your kid is a senior contemplating this, the most important rule is the one you learn in kindergarden - “buddy system”. This way someone is always looking out for the other.
If your kid is not a senior, they are not invited to the unofficially official spring break. If you are describing a scenario of a parent hosting some kids in their beach/ski house, then you should go with your gut based on your knowledge of the host parent - if youve heard that they are an involved parent, or an absentee one, their rules and regs as to drinking, staying out late, putting on ski helmet/suntan lotion. It makes sense for you to have a telephone chat with the host parent to make that decision. If you let them go - agree in advance on times when your kid will be calling or texting you to “check in”.</p>
<p>One could say no? Or, in French, Hell, no?</p>
<p>I’ve always found the “everyone does it” argument to be the opening for, “if they chose to jump off a cliff, would you do it?” (To which, for all teenagers, the required response may be rolling eyes, and “you just don’t understand.”)</p>
<p>Sigh… Cynically, yes, I think a lot of them would jump off the cliff</p>
<p>I haven’t heard a thing about this spring trip from my senior. I am torn between regret that perhaps she isn’t popular enough, and relief that it just may not be her thing. Relief wins.</p>
<p>There are plenty of parents who say no to these trips. I think it helps to help your kids figure out how to say no without seeming judgemental or rejecting their friends. I always tell them they can rail and rant at me for not letting them do something, even if they are really not that dissappointed. Neither of my Ds were enthusiastic about a drunken week in the islands or on the ski slope.</p>
<p>For D1 we had planned a family vaction in Europe that week. Her friends could understand why she would turn down the jaunt with friends for a week in Paris. D2 has a rehearsal schedule that week that she cannot miss.</p>
<p>Lots of schools offer school sponsored trips over breaks. Encourage your child to do one of these. My daughter went to Costa Rica her freshman year, and is going to India next month for 15 days, again with her school. Mercersburg makes these trips very reasonable due to financial aid. The trip to Costa Rica was free. India will set us back about $1500, including all airfare.</p>
<p>There are alternatives to the traditional free for all that can be spring break.</p>
<p>zp</p>
<p>zuzu’spetals - Okay, you’ve sold me on Mercersburg! :)</p>
<p>We paid for service trips, but not unsupervised jaunts. My kids knew better than to even ask.</p>