Daughter invited to holiday abroad

Sounds to me like you don't want her to go either.

I'd get to know the family a little bit better but be very open to saying yes if she wants to go.

All of mine went abroad without me before this age. They loved it, tough moments but lots of great moments too. Tough times are really good for young people.

11 is old enough in my opinion.

Excellent opportunity if she wants to go. Don’t decide yet

If they've only been friends for a term then I'd say it's too soon. Thank the parents a lot and say how lovely it is of them to invite her but you're conscious that friendship groups can change so quickly at this stage you'd feel more comfortable about it next year.
If they've been good friends since junior school and your daughter wants to go then I'd consider it as you could get to know the parents before they do go away.

If your daughter's not sure about going without you then definitely say you think she's just a bit too young this year and you are conscious of how quickly friendship group changes can happen at their age.

Lots of people saying “let her go, I had a great time going abroad with friend’s families as a TEENAGER”. Which is fine. But she is not a teenager. She’s 11. Might be 12 by the time they go but she’s not a teenager. Those couple of years make a huge difference.

Sounds to me more like you're not ready.

At 11, it's a no.

I wouldn’t let her go abroad as a first “away with a friend” experience, too difficult to sort if she’s home sick etc. I take my DD and a friend away sometimes but only within UK and we don’t go further than we could reasonably get back fairly quickly.

My best friend’s mum from secondary school very kindly took me on a 2 week holiday with them in Europe when I was 16. I had only flown once before, so I was beyond excited to have this opportunity and had the best time!

I’d let her but then my kids went away with school twice for a full week in primary. Have stayed at grandparents. Away with brownies and rainbows. They are both super confident and would love it. I wouldn’t hesitate. There is plenty of time to get to know the family if that’s your only concern

I think it depends on the child and the strength/longevity of the friendship. You’ve mentioned a bit about both OP but I’m talking generally.

For me, it might depend on the quality of the experience too. Spending a week in the home of a friend’s foreign family, surrounded by the culture and the language, would be pretty awesome and difficult to refuse.

Or if the destination is an interesting place. Call me shallow and a Mumsnet cliche, but I’d be more inclined to say yes to Copenhagen, Florence etc. Even though my sons aren’t 6ft tall and I don’t live very rurally and earn six figures. 😆

Agree with this! If it's a summer holiday, you've got plenty of time to get to know them. Maybe invite them round for lunch and chat about it - I'm sure they will understand your worries! I had holidays with friends families as a teenager and had a brilliant time. I think it's actually good for children to fit in with another family and they way they do things - it teaches flexibility and resilience.

It’s kind of them to offer but it would be no from me. My youngest is 12 and while he’d like the idea of it I think he’d be lost with another family we don’t really know. Different if it was with well known family, aunts, cousins etc.

I think it’s young too unless it was a family she knew really well.
I’d let my almost 15 year old go but not my 11 year old

Too young in my opinion. I’m trying to remember the age of my DD when she went to guide camp an hour away and got terribly homesick and had to be collected after one night.

I suffered crippling homesickness at 17 on my first school trip abroad. So maybe I’m just a wuss who is projecting.

Is it soon ? If summer you and she have ages to get to know them better.

I’d let her go! Sounds like an amazing holiday with a good friend.

When is the holiday? I’d be reluctant to agree to a summer holiday as it’s a new friend, knowing how quickly friendships can change at that age

Depends where/ for how long/ type of holiday/ how much your daughter wants to go/ how much you are able to get to know the family and ask questions about the trip.

I went with my friend and her family to Sri Lanka for 3.5 weeks when I was 11. I had only been abroad to France with the school before that. It was the summer between year 7 and year 8, so I can't have known my friend for more than a few months when it was booked.

I'd let her go if she is confident and wants to, unless you really don't like the family she would be travelling with.

I went on to travel to Europe many times as a teenager with school, cadets, guiding and friends. I never would have gone with my family, my parents have never been on holiday abroad.

DS would have been fine, but not DD. Depends on the child. I’d like to meet the family first.

not with a family i didn’t know well