by Joe Winfield

NewsFebruary 24, 20220 comments

How to Get your Child Excited for a Residential Trip

Initially, spending time away from home on an overnight residential trip can feel daunting – for both parent and child.

However, trips like this can provide invaluable experiences as they encourage children to become more independent, boost their confidence and offer exciting new opportunities for learning outside of the classroom.

Not to mention, a residential packed with activities and adventure is loads of fun, and somewhere kids are bound to make loads of fantastic memories!

As an accessible holiday site, we’ve seen the positive impact that our outdoor activity school residential trips can have for children of all ages and abilities.

Hopefully, some of our tips below will help clear some of those activity break nerves, leaving your child with plenty of excitement for their upcoming trip.

Talk About the Residential Trip

Begin by asking your child how they feel about the trip. They might be nervous because they are unsure about what to expect or are worried about a particular aspect of their break away.

Expressing worries can do a lot to release those initial anxieties. Take the time to go through each concern and give reassurance by creating solutions together.

If your child is nervous about a visit to us at Calvert Exmoor, take a look at our website together so they can see our array of photos, get an idea of what to expect, and learn about how their trip will work once they arrive.

Create a List of Positives

Even if your child is feeling nervous, there may be some aspects of the trip they are especially looking forward to.

Discuss these positive feelings with your child and create a list of all the accessible adventure activities they are excited to try. This can help them become more open to embracing the experience and replace feelings of anxiety with anticipation.

Turn the Positives into a Poster

After creating a list of all the exciting opportunities coming their way, try turning these ideas into a visual.

Creating something like some simple doodles, a poster or scrapbook helps your child visualise the activities they’ll be doing, making them more of a reality and less of a scary unknown.

Flip the Fear

Instead of using words like nervous, anxious or worried when talking about the overall experience of the residential trip, encourage your child to reframe these thoughts more positively and replace the word with ‘excited’.

With the understanding that nervousness and excitement have incredibly similar physical responses, transforming nervous energy with positive energy can be an effective solution.

Get to Know the Location

Familiarising yourself with an unknown situation or location can be one of the best ways to temper fears.

Look up your child’s destination with them and explore the area together. Have a look at pictures of the surrounding sites to help your child build up a picture of where they’re going and what they’ll be doing.

This process can also uncover facts about the place that might be of special interest to your child, helping them feel more excited about visiting someone or somewhere they want to find out more about.

Arrange a Sleepover or Mini Trip Away

Easing your child into the idea of a residential with a smaller trip helps them acclimatise to the idea of spending time away from home.

A trip to a friend’s or grandparent’s house means your child can get used to you not being there while still being in a familiar and comfortable environment.

Create a List of Things to Take

When the trip gets nearer, compile a list of things to take. Write this list together, so your child feels they have some ownership of the experience and are involved in every step.

Having a physical list to check can also ensure that your child doesn’t leave anything behind when it’s time to return home.

Take a look at our essential things to pack for an accessible activity holiday to ensure your child has a comfortable time away.

Pack for the Trip Together

Packing for a trip can build up a sense of excitement and anticipation. Ensuring they’ve got everything they need will also help your child feel more involved and will encourage a sense of independence.

Inspire Independence

This might be your child’s first trip away without you – which can be a big step. Explore this idea of independence with them and discuss all the things they will be able to accomplish on their own.

When it comes to saying goodbye, remind them that you’ll see them soon and can’t wait to hear about all the adventures they have.

Making the Most of a Residential Trip

Residentials often provide exciting and memorable experiences, so encourage your child to appreciate this and make the most of their adventure holiday.

You could give them a special journal or even a camera to document their break and remember all the wonderful experiences they had.

The Benefits of Residential Trips for Children with Disabilities

Ensuring everyone can take part in exciting adventure activities is at the heart of what we do at Calvert Exmoor.

When your child visits our accessible activity centre, they will be well looked after and have the opportunity to participate in an array of activities – whether they can’t wait to have a go at climbing, cycling or bushcraft, there are loads of things for them to look forward to.

A residential trip full of activities can offer many benefits to children of all abilities. It can:

• Encourage independence and resilience
• Boost confidence and self-belief
• Reduce feelings of anxiety and stress
• Provide new experiences and opportunities
• Provide the chance to make new friends.

Many of our guests have experienced ongoing benefits from their time with us as they get the chance to grow and develop at their own pace.

Hopefully, we have inspired some confidence and excitement in you and your child as you prepare for their adventure break.

As well as running school residential trips, Calvert Exmoor also welcomes adult guests with disabilities, encouraging the mindset that no matter who you are and no matter your circumstance, it’s what you can do that counts.

To find out more about what we do and the exciting opportunities available, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our wonderful team.