At what age - did you start allowing your child to bring a friend on holiday?

[988ujk]

Dc is an only and is currently finishing primary. Have been thinking about holidays and whether at some point, we might start bringing a friend on our holidays so it isnt just our only with us oldies. At what age did other people's kids start inviting a friend with them on holiday and how long for?

For me the barrier wouldn't so much be the children's ages as whether I knew the parents well enough.

I would have to know another set of parents incredibly well to be confident enough to allow them to take my child away on holiday. And conversely I'd want to know the parents really well to want to take their child away with me. I'd need to be as certain as I could be that they knew me and would believe that I had done my best if any issues arose.

Until your child is old enough to look after and advocate for themselves, maybe a better solution would be to go on holiday with others who have children of similar age? Are you friends with any of the other parents from school? Or do you have any siblings you get on with who have children of similar age?

You don't necessarily have to all share holiday accommodation. You could agree to both get rooms at the same hotel, or different lodges at the same Center Parcs, or caravans on the same Eurocamp site, or whatever.

Yes, I have to say I've seen that happen more than once with friends' children!

Probably best to do it for fairly low-key and localish holidays.

We haven't done it. Holiday is family time. If i had an only child I'd certainly consider it but our younger child would be majorly annoyed at being left out if his brother had a mate - and I'm not taking a friend each! I was allowed to take a friend as a teen for cheap holidays (think camping etc) once my older siblings weren't coming along anymore.