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Original poster

Would you let your 12 year old go to funfair alone?

143 replies

NervouslyWaiting1 · 21/03/2026 12:56

She doesn’t want me to go with her, she’s going with her brother who’s 10. She’s used to taking buses and using Google maps, but this is a 40 min journey and 2 buses. I’m worried that they would get separated or lost , would you let your child go to a funfair alone?

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 21/03/2026 15:13

PolkaDotPorridge · 21/03/2026 15:01

A 12 year old and a 10 year old? Absolutely no way! You know pedophiles/traffickers look out for children on their own right? That’s not wrapping them up in cotton wool either. It’s common sense and your duty to keep them safe!

I know that paedopholes and traffickers exist but do you have any stats on how common this actually is? I have just been to the shops and because the sun’s out I have seen about 4 groups of kids, age ranging from about 10-15. My 11 year old is currently in the park with friends. I wouldn’t allow the OP’s exactly scenario but kids are out alone every day.

VivienneDelacroix · 21/03/2026 15:12

Not with her younger brother, no.
With a small group of other 12 year olds, possibly.

3678194b · 21/03/2026 15:11

No but I've got a thing about fairs and things like circuses, that I wouldn't let my child go without adults. I don't think they're always safe places and there are gangs etc hanging around.

I wasn't allowed these places when I was a child and that was 30 odd years ago.

NerrSnerr · 21/03/2026 15:10

I let my daughter go to the local small funfair with friends last summer when she was 10 (nearly 11) but that was 5 minutes from home and the funfair is a locally run family business who only travel around about 10 miles- not like my experience of Hull fair as a child!

I wouldn’t allow this though, depending on the fair I’d drive them and sit somewhere where they can walk round alone.

IWaffleAlot · 21/03/2026 15:07

No that would be completely irresponsible of you to allow this. Not taking account the travel time, you also have a younger one.
They should have a parent with them. Also a funfair with lots of kids all in one place- prime place for sick people to hang out too.
just because your Child wants this, you are the parent and you decide.

zurigo · 21/03/2026 15:07

No I wouldn't, but then I remember Sidney Cooke and his gang of paedos in the 1980s who preyed on DC who went to fairgrounds and none of those stories ended well.

LBFseBrom · 21/03/2026 15:06

I remember my mother telling me I wasn't allowed to go with a friend but I went anyway. She had absolutely no reason for trying to stop me and it was a lovely afternoon.

KimuraTan · 21/03/2026 15:06

No, due to distance and how old they are. You’re burdening your 12yo with a huge responsibility of looking after her younger brother. We had an altercation at a funfair not too long ago and attacker was an armed juvenile. I wouldn’t have wanted two young kids caught up in that.

Why can’t you take them?

LilyBunch25 · 21/03/2026 15:06

Not a chance.

tinyspiny · 21/03/2026 15:05

I’d likely let a sensible 12 yo go to a funfair in the afternoon with friends but I wouldn’t be letting a 12 yo and her 10 yo brother go alone .

Echobelly · 21/03/2026 15:05

Possibly not with that kind of journey and a younger sibling - as others have said, maybe OK with a few friends of same age. We let out kids go to local fair at about that age without us, but it was literally a 5 minute walk in the park around the corner.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 21/03/2026 15:04

I’m the opposite of a helicopter parents, but funfairs are a hard no.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 21/03/2026 15:03

If you live in London and she’s taken him on public journeys before and they both have phones, yes

PolkaDotPorridge · 21/03/2026 15:01

A 12 year old and a 10 year old? Absolutely no way! You know pedophiles/traffickers look out for children on their own right? That’s not wrapping them up in cotton wool either. It’s common sense and your duty to keep them safe!

PurpleThistle7 · 21/03/2026 14:42

Depends on the area and how familiar they are with funfairs and the area - and how well they get along. My kids are 13 and 9 and are nowhere near this being an option.

Coconutter24 · 21/03/2026 14:41

Why aren’t you concerned over the 10 year old?

ChickpeaCauliflowerSalad · 21/03/2026 14:40

NervouslyWaiting1 · 21/03/2026 12:56

She doesn’t want me to go with her, she’s going with her brother who’s 10. She’s used to taking buses and using Google maps, but this is a 40 min journey and 2 buses. I’m worried that they would get separated or lost , would you let your child go to a funfair alone?

Ha ha ha ha ha. I was already 'NO' before you said 40 minutes away.

I might let a 12 yo go with a friend to a permanent 'fun fair' (like the sea side ones) but not to take a younger sibling.

but the ones that move from place to place NO WAY, not even at the local green, let alone a bus ride away.

tedibear · 21/03/2026 14:36

No not in this circumstance. I’d let her at 12 but not while supervising a 10yr old. I also would only allow it if she was dropped off and picked up.

CeeJay81 · 21/03/2026 14:32

Like others have said. Not if it's 2 buses away and def not in charge of a 10 year old. My nearly 12 year old is at the fair with friends today but it's a15 mins walk away. Our nearest proper town is 45 mins away by bus and she's not been on her own yet, including with her friends.

ColdAsAWitches · 21/03/2026 14:27

Sleepingbaggage · 21/03/2026 13:55

I would. When I was 12 I got two buses to school alone each day, and two buses back. I went into town with mates at weekends on the bus, and to football matches without adults. Was perfectly well behaved and, in the world had no mobile phones, less CCTV and less general checking up on people / safeguarding.

We're you minding a 10 year old all those times too?

LuciferTheMorningStar · 21/03/2026 14:24

To a local one - yes, 40 mins and 2 buses away - no.

I'm from one of the countries where kids walk alone to school from the age of 6, but even here, 12 and 10 year olds wouldn't be allowed on a 40 min journey on buses alone. Local, walkable fair in town - yes.

FrauPaige · 21/03/2026 14:19

Not in a million years

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 21/03/2026 14:18

DD1 is 12 and asked if she could go to the funfair with friends. Categoric no from DH and I. Definitely not a 10yo and 12yo together!

MissFeatherington · 21/03/2026 14:15

I have an 11 year old and not a chance would I be allowing her to do that. I only allowed her brother to take her further than our village last year age 16. It is far too risky, Why are you not going? How could you relax?

Suedoh · 21/03/2026 14:14

Sleepingbaggage · 21/03/2026 13:55

I would. When I was 12 I got two buses to school alone each day, and two buses back. I went into town with mates at weekends on the bus, and to football matches without adults. Was perfectly well behaved and, in the world had no mobile phones, less CCTV and less general checking up on people / safeguarding.

There's always one 🙄 this is a FUN FAIR. Not school, not town, a fun fair