To think dds will be ok to go into the city centre alone?

[mamhaf]

We're now leaving dds 'home alone' during the school holidays - dd1 is 14-and-a-half, dd2 11. We both work a few miles away & dh pops in every few hours.
We live in the suburbs of a city, and dds want to catch the bus into the city centre during the holidays - they'd do some shopping, go for lunch and probably to the cinema before either getting the bus home or the train to my office...they've never both used public transport alone before.
Dh and I are nervous about it - dd1 is very mature and sensible and has done this before with her friends.
I'll be in my office about 3 miles from the city centre and able to get to them within 15 mins if they needed me.
But is dd2 too young, even though she'll be with her elder sis? Or are we being too protective?
(At the same age as dd1 I would have done all these things with my younger brother, but that was more than 25 years ago)
What do other mners think? And if you think it is reasonable for them to go, what ground rules would you give them?
They've both had big 'stranger danger' talks from their schools and us over the years, and my main warning would be about traffic = only crossing when the green man is on, plus them having to stick together all the time and staying in places where there are plenty of people. Thanks!

I think it is perfectly reasonable for them to go and beneficial too.

It sounds like you have prepared them really well for it.

Does your dd1 have a mobile phone?

Oh, no problem, not with a 14.5 year old. (and probably fine without her) You know I think when we are too over protective then children don't know HOW to deal with a sticky situation if one does arrive - I think THAT is the dangerous part.

No problem with it. Make sure they know how to behave sensibly and what to do if they get lost. Remember the streets today are safer than in the 1880s and parents exaggerate risks that aren't there to molly coddle their children and deny them life skills.

I agree, it's not only ok, but it's a good time to let them do this, it's what they should be doing.

It's a necessary life skill to be able to get yourself independently from A to B and it will leave them MORE vulnerable if they haven't had the chance to do it. They will gain skills from doing this. I remember going out with my brother in the holidays when we were about 12 and 11 and he looked at me in amazement when I spoke confidently to the shop assistant - I was a shy child and I guess when mum was there I used to let her do it all...he said "I didn't know you could talk to people like that!" I've never forgotten how proud he was of me that day

So, my point is, it's a good thing all round. Hope they have fun!

no, I think it's fine. fourteen and a half is plenty old enough, imo. well done from getting past your comfort zone, it will be good for them

Absolutely fine, your older dd will take good care of your youngest.
Plus they'll feel so grown-up using public transport alone. Good skills.

Phew! Thanks for your comments. Yes, both dds have mobile phones...I've warned them not to flash the phones around in public and - but to hand the phone over in the unlikely event that they got mugged.
My gut feeling is that they will be fine, and that is good for their independence and life skills - it'll be a big adventure which they're keen to embark on. There was a report in the news recently saying many kids don't know how to use public transport, which would apply to my dds unless they start doing it now.

Have they got a timetable for the trains and buses?

We trained my elder stepson to use the bus on his own when he was in his last term at primary school, just after his eleventh birthday.

Sometimes he and his younger brother (9) take the bus together on their own.

But we don't yet expect them to make up their own itineraries or make connections - just to use the local buses in safe areas of the city between known locations (home, school, after-school activities).

Yes, they will have timetables - I'll print them off the websites before they go. They've been on the bus with other adults, and it's a direct route in and out of the city.

mamhaf - incidentally, we are much more worried about leaving my stepsons home alone and unsupervised for long periods than expecting them to use public transport.

I take the attitude that while they are busy concentrating on an activity (like taking the bus, making a meal, shopping or any other simple life skill they need to acquire when young) they don't get up to much mischief. The danger lies where they don't have anything to do (and might do anything at all to fill the empty space).