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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:
minipie · 21/03/2026 14:14

No. I would let my 12 year old go with a group of same age friends (if daylight ) but not with her younger sibling.

Suedoh · 21/03/2026 14:12

God no!! 12 and 10? No way. Read about Mark Tildesley and Paedo Sidney Cooke. Whenever there are alone children, there are Paedos

TwoTierBbq · 21/03/2026 14:12

Without a doubt no

BalloonSlayer · 21/03/2026 14:12

Nope. That monster who murdered poor Sarah Payne had spent the afternoon hanging around fairgrounds looking for children

VividDeer · 21/03/2026 14:10

No. I have kids same ages and it's a big no. Maybe the 12 year old with her friends in day. With her 10yo sister, no chance in forever.

NotMyDayJob · 21/03/2026 14:08

Why are you asking about your 12 year old and not your 10 year old? Neither of them should be going un supervised

mondaytosunday · 21/03/2026 14:07

No, especially if in charge of someone even younger. A local fun fair maybe, and two 12 year olds fine, but not at some distance.

WaitingForMojo · 21/03/2026 14:05

I have a 13 and 11 year old, I would go with them and sit in a coffee shop nearby but not let them go that far away.

PinkyFlamingo · 21/03/2026 14:03

God no., buses?! Surprised you have to ask

Purpleturtle45 · 21/03/2026 14:01

Definitely not

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.

CraftyGin · 21/03/2026 13:51

No way! These are ideal county lines recruitment places.

dottiedodah · 21/03/2026 13:50

We have the Fair every year .Always police there patrolling .Even so a fair amount of trouble .This would be a firm No from me Im afraid

WhatYouEgg · 21/03/2026 13:41

CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 21/03/2026 13:37

Nope.

The fair would be ok with me if daytime, with a group of friends and nearby (the one that comes here is a 10 min walk).

In charge of younger sibling, 40 min away - no that’s too much for me.

Exactly this.

Teenagerantruns · 21/03/2026 13:40

As everyone has said, 12 year old with friends l would, not with younger siblings.

Blondeshavemorefun · 21/03/2026 13:38

God no

not fair to let her look after younger excited sibling in a busy unknown place

possibly with Similar aged friends

take and sit in local cafe or even at fair with a book

CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 21/03/2026 13:37

Nope.

The fair would be ok with me if daytime, with a group of friends and nearby (the one that comes here is a 10 min walk).

In charge of younger sibling, 40 min away - no that’s too much for me.

Scoose · 21/03/2026 13:35

Not a chance

PleaseStopEatingMyStuff · 21/03/2026 13:34

Nope

susiedaisy1912 · 21/03/2026 13:32

Nope. You re the adult op. They either go with you or not at all.

TheSoapyFrog · 21/03/2026 13:31

No, not in those circumstances. I might agree if it was a group of similar aged friends, but not being responsible for a younger sibling. I would compromise by going with them on a train, but not sitting next to them, and then being at the funfair sitting away or in a pub nearby.

FionnulaTheCooler · 21/03/2026 13:28

Probably not. I let my DD go with friends for the first time at the age of 14 and even then one of her friend's parents wasn't happy that I didn't stay to supervise them, I dropped them off and stayed in a cafe about 10 minutes walk away.

Uppitymuppity · 21/03/2026 13:27

Definitely not, I have a 12 year old and wouldn't dream of it in these circumstance, too many wrong people about aside from anything else. Id be taking them both and staying with them also, not letting them roam around alone.

user2848502016 · 21/03/2026 13:27

In a group of friends during the daytime yes, just her in charge of a 10 year old no, especially as it’s not an easy journey.
I’d go with them, give them money and go and have a coffee while they have some time at the fair

EEHHH · 21/03/2026 13:25

DisplayPurposesOnly · 21/03/2026 12:57

So, not alone but in charge of her younger brother.

Probably not. Id take them, sit with a coffee and a book whilst they roam the fair.

Id do this tbh.
Go with them and meet back up later.
Have some time to myself and have a mooch about.