Would you let a 14 year old travel alone?

Tojo_Ralph

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot understand the British obsession with overprotecting children.

I would have thought you of all people would have had a good understanding of obsessions?

The_MoneySavingKid

QueenOfTheDesert wrote: »

Even though I realise I will probably get flamed for this, I'd also like to say a few words about today's 14 year olds to anyone who hasn't got one at home. They are, mainly, big - big, hairy and full of attitude. If they get an approach from anyone they don't know on Facebook or Bebo they tell the "peedo" in no uncertain terms to "f*** off". Not all admittedly but most, they are certainly not the delicate little flowers my generation were at that age.

I realise that one could be lulled into a false sense of security but I don't see my daughter, as big as me with twice the confidence and 10 times the attitude, as being a typical "victim" (and certainly not of interest to a peadophile as she is a woman now) and I believe she is better able to cope with most situations at 14 than I was even at 18 and I first travelled alone, cross-channel, aged 15.

One last thing, to the person who suggested I get her to save towards the trip, thank you, I will and that's an excellent idea!

I thank you. You appear to be one of those who has used experience as an answer rather than using what the media says, and therefore over time becomes automatically correct. The media say how vulnerable children are on social networking sites, when teens actually (being 17 myself, I know) are capable of handling themselves in those sort of situations.
I think it is important that you let them do what they wish to do, because if you impose restrictions upon them, it will limit them as a person as an adult. That lack of trust ("fear") could translate into low self esteem etc. And they will try to fight you if they want it badly enough, which could be held against you when they are full grown adults, in terms of associating lack of trust with a parent, and having a suitiable relationship between child and parent etc.

Tojo_Ralph

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

I looked out today and saw a very, very icy slide had been created down the side of a very steep slope. Children could quite easily break their arms, legs, necks, whatever on it - yet there was children as young as 3 using it. Parents? At home.

Perhaps it's just a cultural thing?

http://www.naukawpolsce.pap.pl/palio/html.run?_Instance=cms_naukapl.pap.pl&_PageID=1&s=szablon.depesza&dz=interestingfacts&dep=365447&data=&lang=EN&_CheckSum=-144422529

http://www.eurotopics.net/en/dienste/medienindex/media_articles/archiv_article/ARTICLE61167-Poles-neglect-the-family

Danstar_2

I've flown a few times with just my sister who's 2 years younger than me when I was younger (5/6 years ago - 21 now) and I think it's not that big-a-deal. If your daughter is mature and sensible and has traveled on the train on her own a lot then I shouldn't think it would be too much of a problem if you're flying with a decent airline they look after you.

I remember the first time I was lying truly alone was when I was 14 on holiday IMing a friend who told me we had a Science modular the next day and I had to change my flights and flew home v.early in the morning, get picked up by someone who does some driving for my Dad, with my uniform, get changed in the car on the way to my exam.

Bronnie

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Why on earth would a parent need to make an emergency trip because of a broken leg?

QUOTE

............because I would've expected to take responsibility for my own child and not have expected others to take responsibility for her.

QueenOfTheDesert

Bronnie wrote: »

Out of curiosity, would you mind if I asked how much this entire trip will cost?

(Sorry if you've already answered this, I have read most of the thread, but lost the will a bit at certain points IYKWIM)

No problem - it's expensive, around £500 per week plus flights but in return she gets the wilderness experience, every outdoor activity you can think of including paintballing, kayaking and rock-climbing, creative activities in art and writing and trips to Niagara Falls and the US. It is the most varied of all such places I have looked at (most go for the military approach where the kids are organized every minute of every day and go from one physical activity to the next) and the Niagara trip sounds superb.

If I could find anything similar closer to home, I would be generally more comfortable but there isn't anything that comes close; a full immersion Italian course in Rome (for example) is too much like school and the full activity camps are just like Centerparcs/basic training and neither appeals.

The way I see it, the cost is no more than I would expect to spend on a good family holiday. We only go on holiday for our daughter so if she does this, we'll (gladly) stay at home this year to compensate!

carole.uk

PolishBigSpender doth protest too much , methinks.

alenax

QueenOfTheDesert wrote: »

No problem - it's expensive, around £500 per week plus flights but in return she gets the wilderness experience, every outdoor activity you can think of including paintballing, kayaking and rock-climbing, creative activities in art and writing and trips to Niagara Falls and the US. It is the most varied of all such places I have looked at (most go for the military approach where the kids are organized every minute of every day and go from one physical activity to the next) and the Niagara trip sounds superb.

If I could find anything similar closer to home, I would be generally more comfortable but there isn't anything that comes close; a full immersion Italian course in Rome (for example) is too much like school and the full activity camps are just like Centerparcs/basic training and neither appeals.

The way I see it, the cost is no more than I would expect to spend on a good family holiday. We only go on holiday for our daughter so if she does this, we'll (gladly) stay at home this year to compensate!

That sounds amazing!

never_enough

I don't have children so I can reply only from the point of view of having been one, although some time ago. I agree that, as the OP has pointed out, children today are much more street wise than we were. I also think that it's important not to wrap children up in cotton wool, it benefits then not a bit in the long run, in some ways it can even have the opposite effect. As the daughter of the OP is keen to go & flying as an unaccomponied minor is straightforward I don't see a problem. She will gain so much from the trip, even if she absolutely hates it (& there's no reason why she should). Canada is an amazing country & being out in such beautiful countryside is a fab opportunity.
I was brought up to be independent & regularly made a 4hour train journey on my own from 13 progressing to trips to Paris by coach several times on my own at 14 & 15. I also went to a Summer camp at 14, it was only in France, but I didn't even speak much French & was the only non French person there. It was a brilliant experience in the mountains, doing loads of fun & sometimes crazy things. I learnt so much, came back with lots of new skills, full of confidence, fluent in French & having had a great time. That's not to say that things always went well, there were some tears, a bit of homesickness & a few stupid things, but nothing that took away from the whole experience.

BexInLondon

I flew to Canada on my own when I was 8 (around 20 years ago now!) It was fine. I had a great old time, and no weirdos tried to talk to me. At 14 I'd imagine your daughter would be more than fine as long as she's of normal maturity.

I'd be more worried about the financial implications of her falling in love with some Canadian boy!