16 year old and Reading festival

[Iamsotiredandfedup]

Interested to hear other people’s opinions as daughter is adamant I’m in a minority here

she wants to go to Reading festival, she would have just turned 16. For context she’s a pretty sensible kid, no huge dramas other than the usual teenage stuff but she’s also had quite a sheltered life compared to me at that age

my concerns are fights, drugs, sexual assault and just generally being out of her depth. I know she wouldn’t start a fight or do drugs but I don’t love the idea of her around all that. I’ve been to many festivals and seen what a shit show it can be. I just feel in 2 years time she can do all of this and enjoy that freedom, right now feels too early

her argument is loads of friends are going (a classic) and she’d be with a group of sensible kids. She has said she’d take an AirTag although I’m not convinced that keeps her safe 😂

YABU let her go and have fun

YANBU I wouldn’t let my child go either

I remember it being a rite of passage almost for kids that age. It's really close to the town so not in the middle of nowhere. Majority of kids there will be 15-19. I think they'll probably have a great time. X

As others have said, it’s the post GCSE festival.
so many 16-17 yr olds from the local area there.
my summer birthday girl went at just 16 for the weekend but I collected her each night and she got the train in the morning.

lots of fun and she said there were staff everywhere and she felt v safe.

My son went at 16 after GCSEs. He said he was offered drugs a lot but all you can do is talk to them about staying away, ways to keep safe etc.

Saying that, I’m glad my daughter showed no interest in going after GCSEs, but if she would have wanted to go, we would have let her.

My 18 yr old volunteered last year at Reading. She said it’s full of 16-18 year olds and there’s loads of help and support available.
Just talk your dd through situations that can happen - don’t lose your mates, don’t lose your phone, look out for each other, stay sensible, don’t get your drink spiked and go to support staff if you need any help. Staff / volunteers are lovely and will assist with any queries. They know it’s a teen fest, and visitors are young and inexperienced.

I think when you're 18-19, you're a bit old for Reading. It genuinely is full of 16 & 17 year olds. That doesn't mean it's entirely safe of course, but there is a lot of support for first-time festival goers. And living in London I was reassured to know that I could be there in not much more than an hour if something went wrong (unlike Boardmasters at age 18: 5/6 hours away plus no decent hospital nearby).

Raye was absolutely bloody amazing last year. She wasn’t someone I was overly familiar with and not someone I really wanted to see but I was blown away by her performance. Would 100% go to see her again.
also op I stayed in an Airbnb that was super close to the site and meant I didn’t have to park on site and there was a free bus to and from the site for residents! Owners were super lovely and had rescued a girl who got in a pickle . Will find link.

Although I went to Leeds actually. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

It's a not a chance in hell for me. 16 is far too young.

Absolute no for me. My friends kids went and got into a spot of bother plus there were bad incidences of people setting fire to tents and just being pricks.

Literally everyone goes at 16. For my oldest they had a coach organised from the school grounds after they picked up their results. Next one went ‘early bird’ so got his results online whilst there didn’t answer his phone until late that evening so we had no idea how he did.

My DDs then went again after GCSEs - none of them would be seen dead there the next year at 17 (mine are all Aug/July born) - think Boardmasters or Boomtown was the festival of choice at 17. Let her go otherwise she will have missed the boat.

Far too young

DS went when he was 16 and camped and loved it, he is fairly sensible.

DD is 15 and I cannot imagine her going off to a festival for 3 days in a year and a bit and being remotely sensible (see my username).But even she would be fine(ish) for a day.

Similar for DS and his crowd:
16 Reading
17 Boardmasters
18 Boomtown

Think festivals have upped their game in the last few years. Both mine noticed how much better managed boardmasters and reading have become. They need to be in the know. My girls and their mates camped in the quiet or family zones abit further out. The closer boy heavy camping areas are to be avoided.

We compromised on camping but being picked up on Sunday Night. Sunday night is by far the worst

my DD turns 16 on day 1 of Reading. She has a weekend ticket and we’ve gone to a few gigs together. I’ll also be in attendance as a steward with Oxfam so will be on hand if any of her group need anything or even just a bag of chips!

I imagine the votes would skew further towards YABU if it was clear in your OP that she's only going for the day, not the full weekend. 16/17 year olds going for the full weekend is quite normal, though I can understand some parents' reluctance in those circumstances.

For a day ticket, absolutely YABU.

I started going to festivals at 15 - Reading was my first or second. And i had VERY overprotective parents so its not like they let me go casually. She will probably get drunk and who knows, might take drugs. I wouldn't worry about fights or sexual assaults. I attended festivals for years and this was never an issue for me and I never heard of any of my many festival going friends having any issue with this either. Tons of security and medical facilities and stewards to ask for help if any issue.

She's only going for the day?

Then absolute non issue, of course she can go! There are kids there during the day! Most of the fun mischief will be happening at night.