PP clearly hasn't read the thread.

Anonymous wrote:NOOO, IT's PANAMA. It had nothing to do with "over-coddling" children, you are sending a 7 year old with no self-preservation smarts to PANAMA. Are you out of your mind? Have you traveled anywhere south of the U.S. Lately? My husband just went to Mexico City for a presentation. He had armed guards pick him up and the airport. He had a bullet-proof car. The guards stayed with him the entire weekend, he was not allowed to leave the luxury hotel and escorted him back onto his plane. All of this was at the order of the Mexican boss. This is not a skip down the street. Panamanians see "ooh rich white kids from america" and kidnap them for ransom. Everyone is being kidnapped down there for something. Seriously? sending a 7 year old? And I bet you don't even have the passport ready. Do you have any idea how long that will take?

Um I think OP lives in Panama...

Here's a Panama crime report. on the increase. http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/2010033109515868

At 7 each of my boys participated in overnight trips with their summer camps. They were with counselors they had grown to like and trust, and they did fine. At 9 they were ready for several weeks of sleep-away camp. I would let him go, if he is excited and the teachers he knows will be on the trip (but I might ask where the kids sleep, and whether the teachers will be in the same tents/cabins - if not, I might change my mind).

NOOO, IT's PANAMA. It had nothing to do with "over-coddling" children, you are sending a 7 year old with no self-preservation smarts to PANAMA. Are you out of your mind? Have you traveled anywhere south of the U.S. Lately? My husband just went to Mexico City for a presentation. He had armed guards pick him up and the airport. He had a bullet-proof car. The guards stayed with him the entire weekend, he was not allowed to leave the luxury hotel and escorted him back onto his plane. All of this was at the order of the Mexican boss. This is not a skip down the street. Panamanians see "ooh rich white kids from america" and kidnap them for ransom. Everyone is being kidnapped down there for something. Seriously? sending a 7 year old? And I bet you don't even have the passport ready. Do you have any idea how long that will take?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of kids elsewhere aren't quite so feaking coddled as american kids. Teach your child a bit of functional independence and let him go. He can't and shouldn't be a baby forever---this is first/second grade? He can manage an overnight.

Exactly. OP send him and he'll have a great time. American kidsiss out on great experiences because their parents baby them, don't teach them how to be independent, helicopter them, and expect that there's a perv around every corner who wants their kid. It's sad, really. Don't let DS be the one who was left behind. It's one night.

Absolutely. We were exactly where you are two years ago with our FS kids (in a different Latin American country). No parents allowed to "chaperone" but the teachers all went and the ratio was improved by the addition of "counselors" from the program/hacienda they went to.

Most international schools begin this type of trip in second grade. At first, I was freaked out, too, but at DD's school, the trip was part of the CURRICULUM and she would have missed out on actual instruction if I had decided to keep her home. She would have been one of FOUR kids in her entire grade (all Americans, btw) not to go.... I attended an information session at the school before I decided to let her go and the emphasis from the school's perspective was in encouraging independence and self-sufficiency -- something very much needed for some of the kids of local elites with three nannies.

DD had a great time and it's one of the few things she says she misses about being overseas (since we moved back here after that year). She was sad to have missed the third grade trip (which was one day longer than the second grade trip) so we told her she could go to sleepaway camp in the summer if she wanted to have a similar experience. None of her friends here were ready to do it, but again she went on her own and had a blast. We're going overseas again and she's already talking about the next "away trip" at her new school.

Let him go.

At ten I let my daughter go. At seven I'd drive there myself and check out the scene and counselors. If all seemed fine I'd go home. If it looked questionable I'd take my kid home before bedtime. At that age he wouldn't be mocked for it and some of the other kids might wish they could go home too!

OP, I'll offer a similar take as 10:39. I grew up as a Foreign Service kid and one of the things I loved about that life was that my parents raised me with the spirit of adventure. As a kid I got to go on all sorts of memorable and exciting trips like this. Opportunities like these are one of the big reasons my parents chose to live that kind of life. I t would be totally unfair to make your child pay the price for your life choices, and then simultaneously deny him the benefits of it!

OP, give your child an opportunity to share this special time with his friends and develop some independence. What is the point of living in a foreign country if you are unwilling to go outside your comfort zone? He'll be fine.

Anonymous wrote:Latin Americans rear children much differently than Americans. I've been to many Latin American weddings with children passed out next to the dance floor while their parents continue to party (!?!).

Anyway, yes, I would send my 7 yr old with a cell phone and specific instructions to call for anything and I will be there as soon as possible.

So what? Letting your kid stay up late while you are in the room with them is a lot different then sending them off on a school trip unsupervised.

I giggle when I read this thread and people put all these assumptions about how foreign parents do not coddle their kids. You are kidding yourselves. If anything, I have found many to be more protective of their kids in regards to going off with non family members. Now they are way more lenient when you are talking about leaving the kids in the care of family. Also, I have observed in the very patriarchal societies, it is expected that the mom is always going to be in the company of the kids, even when visiting family for example.

Personally either I would not let my child go or I would go along, too. 7 is just too young.

9 or ten, maybe, depending on the child.

OP,
How many adults per child? How old are the oldest children going? I'd be on the fence if I were in your shoes.

Anonymous wrote:When I first read the headline, I was like, "NO WAY!" but reading your post, I changed my mind and I think I would let my 7 year old do that.

I agree with this. Assuming your child is comfortable and there are teachers he knows, then I think it would be o.k. (but I wouldn't rest well that night). Everything would hinge on whether I felt comfortable with the teachers who are in charge.

Anonymous wrote:Lots of kids elsewhere aren't quite so feaking coddled as american kids. Teach your child a bit of functional independence and let him go. He can't and shouldn't be a baby forever---this is first/second grade? He can manage an overnight.

Exactly. OP send him and he'll have a great time. American kidsiss out on great experiences because their parents baby them, don't teach them how to be independent, helicopter them, and expect that there's a perv around every corner who wants their kid. It's sad, really. Don't let DS be the one who was left behind. It's one night.

OP - you say that it's pretty much close to the situation in DC, so you'd probably be feeling the same way here.

FWIW, I was reluctant to send my 6 (nearly 7) year old DD away for school camp last year, especially since she was upset about it and didn't really want to go, but also didn't want to miss out. We got the teachers to help her get to terms with the idea (they told her to bring some things from home that she loves) ... and, even though I was very nervous, she had a complete blast and it really was very good for her.

So, I think you are right to go ahead with it, so long as his teacher (or someone else you trust) is there.