Would you let a 14 year old travel alone?

Tojo_Ralph

......
On a lighter note ..... Does anyone else remember the good old days not so long ago, when as the parent of a 14 year girl away at summer camp, all one had to concern oneself with was ensuring that she didn't get knocked up?

miamoo

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

......
On a lighter note ..... Does anyone else remember the good old days not so long ago, when as the parent of a 14 year girl away at summer camp, all one had to concern oneself with was ensuring that she didn't get knocked up?

LOL! :rotfl::rotfl:

miamoo

Little_Chicken wrote: »

miamoo wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Sorry - I hate flying, but do it quite often and even I wouldn't react like this.

Little chicken how do you know how you would react? 'even you wouldnt react like that' who are you exactly that makes you some expert on turbulance??

My OH has flown hundreds of times to america and canada and has never experienced turbulance like he did that day, it wasnt just abit bumpy, the plane went into freefall.

Strapped

I'd tend to be in the "yes, let her go" camp, but then I went on the train to and from boarding school from the age of 10, and in my early 20s I worked in one of these type of camps for a year (in the UK though).

Although - have you considered letting her try that type of holiday over here first, with maybe the intention to send her there next year if she gets on well with it over here? (During the summer, PGL take "indys" (individuals ie not travelling with a school group) from the age of 6 - or even 5 if travelling with a sibling - so she'll be fine!)

I agree with the comments above about making sure she doesn't get kncoked up - I remember only too well patrolling the paths between the girls tents and the boys tents, torch and stern voice at the ready :rotfl:

QueenOfTheDesert

I find the debate over stranger/sexual predator danger very interesting as this particular fear did not even make my top 10 - the flight is long and the camp specialises in wilderness/bushcraft-type activities so turbulence, terrorism, homesickness, sickness, being bitten by something or being attacked by a bear all featured higher!

I really do apreciate all the different views but I think the distance provides a psychological barrier. Were the camp to be in Scotland, a similar travelling time by train or car, I feel many of the objectors would be happier yet there are more dangers on a train/in a car and we know our screening process for !!!!!philes is flawed so it makes no sense.

This is what I have been wrestling with and trying to divide my fears into the "rational" and "irrational"; I believe that is what any good parent should do!

QueenOfTheDesert

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!

pompeii

Yes i would: and did, 14 year old alone on an international flight 18 year son old 2 weeks work in Bangkok :eek:. You will worry yourself sick for the duration, she will have the time of her life and you will appreciate each other all the more for the separation. Just do you your checks before.

Bronnie

QueenOfTheDesert wrote: »

My 14 year old daughter wants to go somewhere without us/alone next summer and she has her heart set on an international summer camp in Canada.

They take children from 12-18 flying in as unaccompanied minors from all over the world and act as if it's perfectly ok but I have some misgivings. She is very confident and pretty sensible and has been to quite a few countries including China without us but always as part of a group.

I want to allow her as much independence as her age allows but I balk at the idea of putting her on a plane for such a long flight without at least one person she knows; has anyone else had any experience of this sort of thing, or indeed any ideas for a similar trip a bit closer to home?

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)

Tojo_Ralph

Bronnie wrote: »

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

Out of curiosity, what is the relevance of the question?

Tojo_Ralph

QueenOfTheDesert wrote: »

This is what I have been wrestling with and trying to divide my fears into the "rational" and "irrational"; I believe that is what any good parent should do!

And when you have done that, you will still have a whole bunch of rational fears, because !!!!!! happens, however what you have to do is be realistic about those genuine concerns and I think you are well on te way to being so.

In addition.... you have to realise that a lot of your fear is based on.... "If something happened and I wasn't there to save/help/comfort her I'd never forgive myself" and thus you need to be realistic with regards to harm done versus how you would feel "if !!!!!! happened".

Turbulence:- The good stuff with folk screaming, saying prayers, drinks spilling, lockers opening will sure as heck put the fear of God into her, but at the end of the day, it'll be just another story to tell.
Terrorism:- It may happen yes, but in terms of probability it's out there really it's one for the irrational.
Homesickness:- Yep, a concern, but no real harm done.
Sickness or Injury:- I doubt the risk is any greater than the UK and with 2,500 road deaths in the UK annually, I am sure she's better off camping in the rrrse end of nowhere in Canada.