Church Lock-in for Elementary Age Kids???

Mine have only gone in junior high or high school. Even then I'm reluctant because if they aren't very closely supervised the whole thing gets crazy fast. No one ever gets enough sleep and I have grumpy kids. I really wish they would work it more like a day camp. The kids go in the morning and come home in the evening and if another day is required then let them go back in the morning on the second day. I have spoken to my youth leader several times and finally he gave it a try and it seemed to work much better.

At 5 yrs old?
No - my son wasn't ready to be away from home, his own bed, his routine and me.
He was still in pullups at night until he was 7.5 yrs old.
When he was 9, he started going to a taekwondo lock-in and he had so much fun (even though he was exhausted for a day or two later).
This will vary from kid to kid - some are ready sooner or later than others.
I think you've got a lot going on already without the lock-in for right now.
There will be others some other time.

5 does seem a little young for a lock-in. I don't think I would let my 7 year old go to a lock-in. Kids this age need more sleep than a 15 year old.

I think it would be a good idea to let him go, but to have your husband bring him home around 10, so he still is staying up late, but not too late. If he starts crying about not being able to stay all night, remind him that he has been sick and that he needs to get his rest so that he can stay up late on Saturday night with Nana. You can also let him sleep in the living room in a sleeping bag or something like that Friday night.

I don't think it's strange - my daughter was going to sleepovers at that age.
But considering that he is just getting over bronchitis, I"m not sure that a lockin is a good idea for him this time. The combination of close quarters and exhaustion would make it very easy for him to relapse.

Hi J.-

My kiddos did this through a friend's church...but not until middle school as I recollect. In their case, it was VERY well chaperoned, I knew many of the parents...and of course they were older. THEY HAD A BLAST!

If you know the other families, they I would guess it would be OK...But, I would be concerned about the bronchitis more than anything else, as others have mentioned...

Maybe next time for your guy?

Best Luck!
michele/cat

My church is doing a lock in tomorrow and my 15 will go and come home and sleep all day. But I wouldn't allow my 7 year old to go nor would the church allow her there. She would be a bear Saturday and it would take her days to recover.

I wouldn't send my child. She's almost 5 and I don't even like her to stay the whole time at Open Gym at gymnastics (7pm-10pm on Fridays). I take her out at about 8:30. Maybe your MIL could let him go for a while and then pick him up early so that he can get some sleep. I never did a lock-in until I was 9 or 10.

Guess I'm the only one who would be ok with this. (however that said since I am Agnostic) my kids go to church with my A. and her kids (yes she has kids my kids age)...so maybe that would make a difference. Depends if I didn't know them then no way...do you know these people well?

But both my 7 and four yr old have spent the night at a friends...our couple friends have kids our kids age...so we trade off once a month...

I wouldn't let my 5 year old do that. My 7 year old hasn't even had her first sleep over at a friends yet. I do think that is a little weird to be doing that for such young ages. I remember doing them but I was around 14 or 15 years old. I agree with you and just tell your son that he is just getting over being sick and he needs to rest so he doesn't get sick again.

I have never heard of a "lock-in" before, but it sounds like a slumber party? My boys started going to and hosting sleep-overs at that age, and when they have sleep-overs we don't have a bed time. They never make it past midnight, I let them sleep in a little the next morning and usually they just go to bed a little bit earlier the following night. Our local museum also does a sleep-over for kids aged five and up.

I would say since he has been sick, and you guys have plans, I would skip the lock in.
Bronchitis is not fun and could turn real serious if hes not rested.

just decide, is this something you want to give a try or not.

Our daughter would have probably said she wanted to go, but to please pick her up at 9:00 or 10:00..

She loved to sleep in her bed at this age, but would not have wanted to miss out on the fun parts..

I have to agree with the others and say that I'm really surprised that they are doing a lock in for such young kids. I have a 6 1/2 year old and I don't think I would let her go to one yet. I have never heard of those kinds of things for the elementary age kids. Especially with bronchitis and starting school, I think I would have to have him sit this one out. Maybe, like another post suggested, let him go for a little while and just leave early so that he can get at least some sleep. Good luck!

5 seems too young. elementary seems too young. the only way i would allow either of my kids to do this is if me, hubby, or another very close family member that i trust went with them.

I would also notify the church about how you feel. I know they want to get kids excited about church and have fun in a safe environment but this is not a safe age to allow children unsupervised by a loving family member.

Too young. Go with your gut. I'd also be concerned with the age range of kids there. I really hope it's not 5-12 or something similar.

Never would have happened at our house. I was not allowed to do much as far as sleep overs when I was a kid and with all the weird stuff going on and that has gone on I am grateful to my parents for that. I did not like my kids to be tired and out of sorts.
If your husband goes then you will have two miserable people. Just say No.

I'm sure others have already written this: To me, this is a 'no brainer'. I would NOT let him go. Their little bodies can't handle fighting an infection without much sleep. It's detrimental to recovery. Or at least a timely one.
I, for one, think it's really odd for a church to be doing a lock-in during this time of year when there's already so much going on for a 5 year old (starting this first year in school as a kindergartener is excitment enough).
I hope you don't let him go and have him wait until he's a bit older and healthier.

My opinion: 5 is too young.
I don't think they necessarily need to be teens (15-16), but definitely need to be at least later elementary. My kids just did one at the end of the summer. Daughter is 11 (in middle school this year), son is 14. Daughter was one of the youngest.

ETA: And technically, kindergarten (age 5) is NOT elementary age. So your son probably shouldn't really even be invited if it is for "elementary" aged kids. Not sure if that was your word or theirs, but kinder is different than elementary. At least around here. :)

5 seems a little young, but I would let my son go if I knew the people really well. But, since your son has bronchitis, I would say no way.

We had lock-ins for the younger children. They were grouped separately for some of the activities. It ended at 10:00pm...all the younger ones had to be picked up starting at 9:30 and had to be gone by 10:00.

I vote no. His health is more important. He has plenty of time to go to a lock-in later. (Plus he really does not understand what it is.)

I would have second thoughts, but it is a church event so that would carry a lot of weight with me. If hubby is up for going and staying, them let him go but tell him he has to promise you that he will take a nap on Saturday.