4 Yrs Old Boy Spend Summer Holiday Alone with Other Children Overseas

A.:

Welcome to mamapedia!

You have not given enough information to help give you an answer.

1. Is the child going to be with family?
2. How long is this trip?
3. What does semi-supervised mean? it's different for everyone...
4. Where is this holiday going to be? Near a beach? Near a pool? WHERE?

At 4 years old? No. I would have a hard time sending my child away for a summer. My daughter was 7 when she flew with my boss and his family from Belgium to JFK - where she was picked up by my ex-husband's family - she spent 3 weeks with them...then she was flown to Las Vegas where she was picked up by my family. She was with them for 7 weeks. I flew to Los Angeles and flew back to Belgium with her.

IF the child is going to be around trusted family and cared for - maybe. But really - don't have enough information to really give an answer.

First question, ridiculous circumstance you're HARDLY detailing, sounds like a TROLL. Semi-supervised... what a joke...

Whaaaaaat? Please ask a complete question. Is dad originally from this overseas country and is child spending time with dad's family? Even still - no way I'd be sending my 4 yr old away for months at a time. I love my kids and want to spend time with them.

The trolls crawl in, the trolls crawl out...

SEMI-Supervised???? At 4????

Um NO!

At 4 yro you can't be "semi-supervised", you have to be supervised all the time, specially if there are swimming pools or other activities that can be dangerous; their motor skills aren't all there yet and their judgement is also lacking.
So, unless he's fully supervised by responsible, trust worthy adults I would say no.
Good luck!!!

What the heck is "semi-supervised"?

Well, for sure it translates as "not right for a child this young."

Does Dad really understand that a child this age needs supervision on a real basis -- not a "semi" basis?

Maybe Dad was raised in a casual, free-for-all place where kids roamed free all summer so he's picturing the kids having a blast. And they would. But do you really want your child coming home each night and you're not there? Would he be around water? Allowed...to do what, exactly? How old are these other kids? Is the expectation that the other kids are going to watch the younger ones like him? (Recipe for disaster, by the way, especially if you do not know the older kids VERY well.) Does your son need his routines at bedtime, which will fall apart if you are not around? Will he be overtired all day, allowed to stay up later than you know is good for him, allowed to eat whatever, whenever?

This sounds like a no-brainer to me. If he goes, you go too. If Dad is all in favor of this, you need to sit Dad down and go over what your son is like when he lacks his sleep; when he eats certain stuff; when he doesn't listen to YOU (no four-year-old listens well all the time--is he really going to obey these other adults when they tell him "No, don't do that"??). You are not overprotective; Dad is overly rosy in his outlook on what larks they'll all have.

Oh, and you do know that a four-year-old is going to get homesick, right? We go overseas with our daughter every single year. At that age she loved the trip but also said after the first few days, every time, "I miss my room and my toys." If we had not been there with her, I feel sure she would have been miserable at that age without one of us around, especially at bedtime. Kids need to feel secure. Does your son know his hosts so very, very well that you are certain he will feel secure being semi-supervised?

Who sends their 4yr old "semi supervised" anywhere? Let alone overseas. This is a "no brainer"....NO, Absolutely not.

there are few opportunities more wonderful for a child than something like this.
but 4 is awfully young.
what does 'semi-supervised' mean?
i'd say no.
khairete
S.

Sorry A. Y, this is another check in the "Heck No" column! I would be questioning any parent that would allow their child to travel overseas at age 4 'semi-supervised!!!! It scares me that this is even a consideration.

4 year olds need to be fully supervised, not semi-supervised. This mom would say a BIG NO.

This mom says NO! A 4 year old should be more than semi-supervised.

You don't say if this is a camp, a trip with family. That information would be helpful.

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My boys 10 and 14 would not go overseas without me or my husband.

No way!
My son wanted to be with me and I wanted him with me too.

24 year old - yes, 14 year old - maybe, 4 year old - h*ll no!!!! There is no way I would allow my 4 year old to go overseas alone and be semi-supervised! That's insane.

You don't even give much information or details.
Who are these adults with him?
Where is he going/what country?
Does he even know these people?
Do you even know these people well?
Do you have a passport and paperwork for your only 4 year old son, to travel overseas by himself? You need signed consent forms for travel of a minor aged child, signed by both parents etc.
And medical forms.
And medical coverage.

Being "semi-supervised"... what the hell is that?

Troll.

WHAT??? AT 4?? Oh MY!! God NO!! Is this for real??

Think Madeline Mc Cann and then decide.

Sounds very Lord of the Flies to me.

If this is legit, I'd be wondering why Dad wants to ditch his 4 yr old. Overseas means what? Where? How long? Who with? Etc. NOT enough information.

My little girl is 4. No way is she spending a vacation of any sort without a family member. Besides which, I want to spend time with her.

Not in this lifetime! Semi supervised.. Four years old. Am I missing something here.Good God he is four not fourteen!

I'm pretty sure that I would not even send my 9 year old 'overseas'!!
but I'd be happy to go with him! ;)

And "semi-supervised".... what the heck is that?! I'm the only one that's allowed to semi supervise my child. ;)

My daughter was 2 when her dad took her to India to visit family and friends. I could not go because of our 6 month old daughter had medical issues needing to be taken care of on a weekly basis in the States. He had her there for 2 months, but never semi-supervised, ALWAYS was with him 24/7. I will let my kids go with dad occasionally and will do it at 4, but he would never semi-supervise. An adult would be with my children at all times. The most would be 1 month, maybe 2. It probably wont happen, as I will always come with now.

Who are these adults that will be caring for him? How many weeks would it be? Makes a big difference.

I know that MY 4 year old wouldn't be able to handle separation from me for more than a day or two, regardless of who was taking him. My oldest son, though, would have been capable of handling my absence if my mom had him for a few weeks.

Hi, Anna:

What fun time will there be if one of the children gets seriously injured?

You and your husband need to go to parenting classes.

Good luck.
D.

No, No, No! Four year old babies being "semi-supervised?" Think about what you're asking! Did you mean 24?

I have two four year olds, almost five. Not only NO WAY, but HELL NO! My girls have spent all of ONE night away from me and that was with their father and their Mamaw. I do look forward to sleep-overs with approved friends. I need a Break!

No, at 4 he's too young to be gone from home all summer. Now if it was for a couple of weeks with either mom or dad that would be different. But I wouldn't let a kid go overseas without a parent going along until they were a teen.

Hell to the No!

Just going by what you wrote which is not exactly complete - This seems just crazy. Semi-supervised, really? No way. And he's only 4, he needs to be with mommy and enjoy fun in the sun.