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Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA holiday without their parents is a rite of passage for many teenagers.<\/p>\n
Though – of course – it might lead to a week or two of anxiety for many parents, concerned about their safety.<\/p>\n
Parents are often concerned their child isn\u2019t old enough to cope with potential holiday dangers – with potential dangers such as too much alcohol, taking drugs, and falling off balconies and to too much sun common concerns.<\/p>\n
But how old is old enough to go on holiday without your parents… and stay safe?<\/p>\n
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open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Expert tips to help parents feel more assured when their teenager goes off on their first holiday with friends (Alamy\/PA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIt\u2019s a question frequently discussed on Mumsnet, and the parenting site\u2019s founder and CEO Justine Roberts says: \u201cFor Mumsnet users, whether or not a teen is ready to go on holiday without their parents has less to do with age and more to do with how responsible they are.<\/p>\n
\u201cParents generally look for signs like being able to make themselves a decent meal, manage their own time, handle money, and make sensible decisions \u2013 especially around things like alcohol.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost parents seem to agree that 17 or 18 is about the right age for a first trip with friends. Some think 16 is okay in certain situations \u2013 especially if the teen is very mature and going with a sensible older group \u2013 but the general consensus is that 17 is the preferred minimum.\u201d<\/p>\n
And she also points out that turning 18 means travel comes with fewer legal and practical complications, which can make things easier.<\/p>\n
Matt Buttery, CEO of the Triple P UK & Ireland parenting programme, says every family is different, and stresses: \u201cThere isn\u2019t a one-size-fits-all answer for when parents should allow their teenagers to go on holiday without them.<\/p>\n
\u201cParents should consider not only their teenager\u2019s age but also their maturity and ability to handle responsibility in everyday life.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Tanith Carey, author of What\u2019s My Teenager Thinking? (Dorling Kindersley, \u00a316.99), suggests parents anxious about their teen going away without them for the first time should think about the benefits for their child.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead of seeing their upcoming getaway as a painful period of endless worrying for you, think about what they\u2019ll learn about themselves, and the memories they\u2019ll make,\u201d she advises.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact is, they\u2019re probably at no more risk of serious accidents abroad than they are at home, and they probably won\u2019t get up to much more than they would at the average teenage party or on a night out in a city centre in the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, whether there are benefits or not, parents are still bound to worry if they\u2019re making the right decision to let their teen go on a solo holiday. But there are steps you can take to perhaps ease the worry a little\u2026<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 Agree communication methods<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Keeping in touch is essential – agree on how you will communicate with your teenager (PA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nButtery says that once a parent has agreed to let their teen go away without them, mums and dads will probably feel less worried if they have reliable ways of contacting their child during the holiday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf parents feel their teen is ready, what matters most is clear, open, and honest communication,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s essential to discuss expectations, set boundaries, and agree on communication methods while they\u2019re away. This isn\u2019t about controlling their every move, but helping them feel confident and safe during their time apart.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Carey warns that contact should be kept light, possibly just through a family WhatsApp group. \u201cTry to avoid insisting they repeatedly check in with you, which will send the message you don\u2019t think they can do it alone,\u201d she warns.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re likely to hear more from them if you don\u2019t interrogate or send loads of questions about what they\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0 Help plan their trip<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Helping plan their adventure might help calm some of your nerves (PA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nParents may want to work with their child to plan the trip (if their child lets them), says Buttery. \u201cThis helps you stay informed about their plans, and gives you a chance to spend time together too,\u201d he points out. \u201cIt can also allow parents to make clear to their children the laws and travel guidance of the location they\u2019re visiting.\u201d<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0 Show you trust them<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\nWhether you\u2019re involved in planning the holiday or not, be positive as they make their plans. Carey advises: \u201cQuietly show your interest in a way that demonstrates you have faith they\u2019re ready to go it alone, rather than sending the implied message that they can\u2019t do this without you, which is likely to make them more anxious or secretive about what they really get up to on the holiday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re positive, they\u2019re more likely to involve you in their planning, and you\u2019ll feel more reassured they\u2019re safe when they\u2019re away.\u201d<\/p>\n
4. Share travel tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\nCarey suggests that if your teen asks for travel tips, share the lessons you\u2019ve learned from your own travels, including the reasonable precautions you\u2019ve taken, like buying travel insurance, copying important documents, and noting emergency contacts.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet them to do a bit of research or check out some YouTube travel guides, as well as information on common tourist scams in that country,\u201d she advises. \u201cIt could help head off any nasty surprises.\u201d<\/p>\n
5. Use location-sharing apps<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\nRoberts says that as well as the basics like avoiding areas known for pickpocketing or where drink spiking is a concern, many parents take advantage of tech like location-sharing apps. \u201cThey can keep an eye on teens without having to constantly hassle them,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn many cases they also set up group chats with other parents to share any news, as well as seek reassurance.\u201d<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0 Be savvy about safety discussions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\nRather than bombastically saying \u2018Don\u2019t do this, don\u2019t do that,\u2019 Carey advises parents to focus on safety in the third person, for example by saying avoiding things such as mixing alcohol and heights like hotel balconies is something we all need to do, regardless of age.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour teen may want their independence, but they don\u2019t want to end up in a foreign hospital either,\u201d she points out.<\/p>\n
Remind them accidents are much more likely after using alcohol or drugs, and Carey suggests: \u201cLet them know that being visibly drunk will also make them more noticeable to criminals who prey on tourists. Your teen may roll their eyes, but they will still be listening.\u201d<\/p>\n
7. Suggest a \u2018buddy system\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Travelling with a \u2018buddy system\u2019 in place can help keep teens safe (PA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nRoberts says Mumsnet users often suggest teenage holidaymakers adopt a \u2018buddy system\u2019 to ensure they\u2019re always with at least one friend, stressing this can \u201censure no one ends up in a risky situation by themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
8.\u00a0 Suggest strategies to avoid peer pressure<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\nWhen they\u2019re aged around 17, Carey says young people aren\u2019t quite as likely to succumb to peer pressure as they were a few years before. But it\u2019s still a distinct possibility, she warns.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re still capable of spurring each other on to drink too much and copy risky behaviour,\u201d she says. \u201cHelp them to reflect on past experiences when they felt uncomfortable or unsure about going along with what a friend was suggesting. Remind them it\u2019s OK to trust their gut instinct.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also suggests talking them through ways to say no if their mates want them to do something they\u2019re uncomfortable with, like: \u2018I don\u2019t feel like it,\u2019, \u2018No, I\u2019m not into it,\u2019 or \u2018I don\u2019t want to do anything that could affect the rest of our holiday.\u2019<\/p>\n
And Roberts adds: \u201cMore than anything, parents want to feel confident that their teen will stick to agreed rules, stay in contact and be (relatively) sensible.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more A holiday without their parents is a rite of passage for many teenagers. Though – of course – it might lead to a week or two of anxiety for many parents, concerned about their safety. Parents are often concerned their child isn\u2019t old enough to cope with potential holiday dangers – with potential dangers such as too much alcohol, taking drugs, and falling off balconies and to too much sun common concerns. But how old is old enough to go on holiday without your parents… and stay safe? open image in gallery Expert tips to help parents feel more assured when their teenager goes off on their first holiday with friends (Alamy\/PA) It\u2019s a question frequently discussed on Mumsnet, and the parenting site\u2019s founder and CEO Justine Roberts says: \u201cFor Mumsnet users, whether or not a teen is ready to go on holiday without their parents has less to do with age and more to do with how responsible they are. \u201cParents generally look for signs like being able to make themselves a decent meal, manage their own tim…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1150,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1149"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1149\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}