Children travelling by train alone

ticktack_2

DylanO wrote: »

Instead you now have CCTV covering every possible place they could get to, and they can be in constant contact with a parent should they need to be.

??

Maybe you've misunderstood my point. I was responding to the question, why do parents worry more about children nowadays. I was suggesting that it's partly because times have changed. It's only human nature for a parent to feel less worried if they can entrust their child to the care of another adult, even though in reality it may not really be any safer for the child than having access to a phone.

DylanO

ticktack wrote: »

??

Maybe you've misunderstood my point. I was responding to the question, why do parents worry more about children nowadays. I was suggesting that it's partly because times have changed. It's only human nature for a parent to feel less worried if they can entrust their child to the care of another adult, even though in reality it may not really be any safer for the child than having access to a phone.

I was pointing out the fallacy in the argument. A supposedly trusted stranger isn't always safe - look at priests. At least with CCTV you can know exactly what has happened if it anything does.

ticktack_2

DylanO wrote: »

I was pointing out the fallacy in the argument. A supposedly trusted stranger isn't always safe - look at priests. At least with CCTV you can know exactly what has happened if it anything does.

You were pointing out the fallacy in the argument you *thought* I was making. As I've just explained, I wasn't arguing that children were actually safer then -- only that it made parents worry less.

skipsmum

OP, my godson he gets the train from Exeter to Waterloo when comes to stay with us - hes done this since he was about 11. At first his dad would put him on the train and then phone us, and I would meet him on the platform at Waterloo. I never had to get a platform ticket, I d just tell the guard I was meeting a child off the train. Its a straight journey and you can't miss the stop because its the last one.

Mrs_Imp

aliasojo wrote: »

Had you thought about spying on them during a practice run? By that I mean get on the train after them without them seeing you and watch what they do from another carriage?

Just what I was going to suggest. Just make sure you don't look like you're stalking them when you do it

Make sure they have a fixed meeting place at Waterloo with their Dad, then there's no worry about whether they'll meet with him or not. Give them a few pounds for a drink in case Dad's delayed, and some books/comics/whatever to read on the journey.

If you think they're ready, give them a go to prove it. Make sure they know the consequences of misbehaving - you go with them from then on, and hold their hands, literally.

Person_one

I'd say wait at least until secondary school. Kids seem to make a sudden 'leap' in independence after a few weeks there. Personally I think 13 is better for such a long journey but sometimes needs must.

I've been on trains where fights have broken out, where the police had to be called to meet the train at the next station, where teenagers were deliberately blocking the toilet and intimidating people who tried to use it, where people with obvious mental health problems were talking aggressively to random people and where sexual harassers have tried to grope me.

The chances of all or even one of those happening are slim, but they do happen and at the moment they're a bit young to have to deal with that on their own. Its a lot of responsibility for the older child to shoulder as well as they'll naturally feel they have to 'protect' the younger one if something goes wrong.

iwannabeonthebeach

What time would they be travelling? I get the exeter to waterloo train every day 430 from central. Fridays it is always packed, today people were standing. Just something to consider if they would be travelling at peak time

Cash-Cow_3

I used to go to school on the train and as it was coming into the station I was getting off, some of us (me included) would swing out of the train holding onto the door. Looking back on it I was ****ing stupid. At least on the modern trains they can't do this.

zagfles

Cash-Cow wrote: »

I used to go to school on the train and as it was coming into the station I was getting off, some of us (me included) would swing out of the train holding onto the door. Looking back on it I was ****ing stupid. At least on the modern trains they can't do this.

Yes..the number of times the train would be pulling out just as I got to the platform, and I had to judge whether it was worth the risk of trying to get on a moving train. Once some bloke had to pull me in as I was clinging to an open door with my bag with the train well off the end of the platform:eek:

zagfles

aliasojo wrote: »

I think that's a good point.

Also, people were more community minded generally whereas these days they are more insular maybe and don't get involved.

Especially when it comes to kids, just in case they themselves get accused of all sorts.

"Stranger danger" is way overplayed and was even when I was a kid (30-40 years ago:eek:). Once I got lost when I was about 8 and didn't have a clue where I was, I took a "short cut" but must have gone the wrong way. I was terrified of asking anyone to help because "don't talk to strangers" was drilled into me. Eventually I realised I had to ask for help and found a family with kids about my age. They took me in their car, the whole family, and I was terrified they were going to abduct me or something and I kept asking "are you sure this is the way". But they took me to where I was supposed to be and found my Mum. I ran away from them to her as if I was escaping a monster!

Children shouldn't be taught to fear strangers, as I was, but taught what consitutes inappropriate behaviour whether from strangers or people they know.