Would you let a 14 year old travel alone?

miamoo

It doesnt have to be about p!!!!!!philes, children need rules and boundaries and gradually given the freedom they crave.
They do need freedom but in a progressive fashion, not put on a plane to Canada at 8 (no offence) but I wouldn't put my 8 year old on a bus on there own never mind a plane halfway round the world. (even if they were being met at the other end)

Things do happen on planes, yes ok its rare but there are bomb threats, aircraft problems, diversions, all things that would petrify a child on there own. Even really bad turbulance could put a kid on there own off flying ever again!

poet123

If it was my child and they were determined to go, I would try to find a friend who wanted to go too, so that she would have someone else she could rely on in an emergency, or to prop her up if she was homesick.

A friends daughter went to Camp America as a helper, she was 18, on landing in NY her passport was stolen, her parents received a distraught call at 3am....she was too far away for them to help very much. The camp was not as it purported to be,she was with very sick kids who needed very personal attention, not what she had signed up for, but she had to stick it out as she had no passport until the formalities were completed, some 4 weeks later.

So, it is not just the unspeakable that deters parents from happily waving their offspring off to foreign soil, but real life,and the hands it sometimes deals, and the fact that 14 yr old are not usually emotionally or intellectually equipped to deal with such things.

IMO 18 is early enough to cope with being alone in a far flung country without access to a trusted, known adult, or at least a good friend.

PolishBigSpender

miamoo wrote: »

It doesnt have to be about p!!!!!!philes, children need rules and boundaries and gradually given the freedom they crave.
They do need freedom but in a progressive fashion, not put on a plane to Canada at 8 (no offence) but I wouldn't put my 8 year old on a bus on there own never mind a plane halfway round the world. (even if they were being met at the other end)

The child is 14, not 8!

And do I have to remind you that the "child" will be old enough to get married AND join the army in two years time?

Things do happen on planes, yes ok its rare but there are bomb threats, aircraft problems, diversions, all things that would petrify a child on there own. Even really bad turbulance could put a kid on there own off flying ever again!

What kind of self respecting 14 year old would be terrified by an aircraft diversion?

Bomb threats? Come on...these things happen once in every what, 100,000 flights?

Aircraft problems? Most flights occur without any issues whatsoever. Diversions? Can happen, but that's why they're specially tagged as unaccompanied minors - so they will get priority in going where they're supposed to be going.

Turbulence? The child is likely to enjoy it!

poet123 wrote:

IMO 18 is early enough to cope with being alone in a far flung country without access to a trusted, known adult.

So how do many children worldwide cope with being far away from their parents? There are plenty of foreign children in UK boarding schools!

Think about it people - why are British children so unhappy?

budgetflyer

Ablutely no chance! I cant believe anyone would even consider this, sending a 14 year old to the other side of the world on their own with COMPLETE STRANGERS.
Its not the same as sending them to summer camp, down the road, where if theres a problem, you can drive down and get them. This is a MAJOR distance. Canada is the other side of the Atlantic. If theres a problem, you cant get there, with any ease.

Ive brought up 3 , now adults, + have been pretty liberal in the dos + donts, + to their credit , they havent given me any (major) grief (so far) but this one is taking "let them do what they want " absolutely too far !

As a parent, you have a DUTY OF CARE. To even think of allowing this trip is negligent IMO

poet123

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

The child is 14, not 8!

And do I have to remind you that the "child" will be old enough to get married AND join the army in two years time?



What kind of self respecting 14 year old would be terrified by an aircraft diversion?

Bomb threats? Come on...these things happen once in every what, 100,000 flights?

Aircraft problems? Most flights occur without any issues whatsoever. Diversions? Can happen, but that's why they're specially tagged as unaccompanied minors - so they will get priority in going where they're supposed to be going.

Turbulence? The child is likely to enjoy it!



So how do many children worldwide cope with being far away from their parents? There are plenty of foreign children in UK boarding schools!

Think about it people - why are British children so unhappy?

Two years is a long time in the emotional and intellectual development of a child.

Do you have children PBS?.....you may not consider this relevant, but I do.

I must say that given your clear dislike and sometimes obvious disdain, and disapproval of UK practices, it is odd, or perverse, that you post on a UK forum. Do they not have forums in Poland which may be more to your taste?

Tojo_Ralph

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

You're a shining example of just why British children are so desperately unhappy.

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Think about it people - why are British children so unhappy?

I have to ask ..... Where can you possibly live that you have come to hold such an absurd belief?

budgetflyer

The boarding school argument is a non starter.How many children would choose boarding school ? not many
Polish Big Spenders arguments about age are ridiculous. In the UK , 16 is agreed adult for some things, 18 for others. Thats the ages WE think is when RESPONSIBILITY takes hold.
We can not compare our standards to others, in certain African countries an 11 year old with a machine gun would be not out of place, they have been brought up different (sadly)

miamoo

cazziebo wrote: »

get the feeling I might get slated for this...!

My daughter went to a summer camp in Northern Ontario when she was 8.

The comment I made regarding an 8 year old was refering to this post.

I stand by my opinion 14 is to young to travel alone, so what if its one in 100,000 flights that has difficulties of some kind, I wouldnt risk it with my child.

My OH flew to Canada when he was 24, he said he nearly sh*t himself the turbulance was that bad, people were praying and 2 women were crying.
Do you have children Polishbigspender?

poet123

My OH flies weekly, and on Friday flew to Glasgow from Manchester....he said it was the worst flight of his life, a woman in front of him asked the stewardesss to sit with her and hold her hand, she was so frightened. So, badflights can and do, happen.

miamoo

The OP hasn't been back, and I dont blame her really! she asked what other peoples opinions were on her post, and I gave them, my personal opinion which is what she asked for, so I dont really appreciate them being ripped apart by some other poster, I hope my posts have helped the OP in some way towards her decision whatever she decides to do.