16 year olds wanting to go on holiday alone

[GrumioEstEbrius]

MY DD and three of her friends want to go on a holiday to celebrate the end of GCSEs. Just for 3 or 4 days, but alone with no adults. When I was their age lots of teens used to go inter-railing around Europe during the post-GCSE summer (DH did this and a couple of my mates from school did it too) but this no longer seems to be a thing for kids this age now.

So their options are to camp, static caravan or AirBNB in the UK.

My issue though is that do any campsites / rentals allow unsupervised 16 year olds?

Does anyone have any good suggestions as to what they could do? CentreParcs maybe?

Not a chance they're far too young

That’s why YHA is so great for them to start spreading their wings.
Theyll be able to stay on their own at 16yo Wo any issues

Don't think for one second the posters saying no are the ones with troublesome, immature or kids lacking sense. The parents saying no are the reasonable and responsible ones!!

This. Wouldn’t be happening.

No, they are the mollycoddled ones who when they go to uni are a danger to themselves and a pita to the reasonable and responsible ones.

Ive always thought it was much better to give teens (and children) as much independence as possible whilst we can still be around to help if needed.
**
That's the whole point of those saying no, the parents wouldn't be around to give help if needed.
i'm all for encouraging independence before they go off to uni, but there is a world of difference between 16 and 18. This kind of thing is fine for post A level but at 16 I wouldn't.

That's the whole point of those saying no, the parents wouldn't be around to give help if needed

exactly.

Agreed! I did my first wild camping trip with a group of friends when I was 16. 4 days, a 3-hour drive from the nearest town. It was one of the defining moments of growing up for me. We were all very careful and sensible and had a lot of fun.

A few weeks after I turned 17, I moved to a different continent for uni.

Seriously, 16-year-olds are not all babies. Some can be more mature, trustworthy and sensible than a fair few adults I know!

I've always thought it was much better to give teens (and children) as much independence as possible whilst we can still be around to help if needed

Don't you understand the thread?

My Dc went to Reading Festival after GCSE. A source of worry for me, due to ‘festival factors’, rather than going off alone. But they survived, as do thousands and thousands every year.

Mine had been doing trip and expedition planning with scouts since they were 11. Learned to read maps (OS and road) by the time they started secondary. Live in London so used public transport alone from 11 / 12. Went interrailing for 5 weeks across the whole of Europe straight after A levels (mine was 17).

Independence brings lots of benefits. If they are aware and taught problem solving as second nature, they tend to be alert and considerate. My Dc and their mates have often helped with First Aid (proper courses at Scouts) , notice when people need help with buggies or luggage in the tube, etc etc.

Learn to look after yourself, extend that to others.

I was Youth Hostelling with friends for 2 nights at a time from 14. A week YH at the other end of the country from 16. Then we rented a boat on the Norfolk Broads for a week, we were all 16 except the friend who was 17 and the boat was in her name. Tbf, that is the trip about which I think ‘what the hell were they thinking?’ about our parents and the boatyard 😂

The OP knows her Dd, and should be proud of her confidence, competence and zest.

I've just read the first few answers, surprised at parents flat out saying 'no way no how'.

It's scary for us as parents but 16 year olds should be allowed a bit of freedom

It's interesting how many people are saying no, as if the OP asked if she should 'allow' it or not. It's almost as if the inflexible attitude extends so far that the opinion must be presented even when it's not asked for.

Wow surprised by responses. I travelled to Australia age 16 on my own.

For me it would depend how far they want to go. A couple of nights in a tent close to home, fine.

I went hiking and wild camping/YHA with friends when we were 16 ( might even have been 15) three days of no adults. Before mobiles were even a thing. Sad that young people mostly wouldn't be allowed to do that now.

That's a very odd comparison, @SurfBox .

I agree that they still have loads to learn at 18 and 19. However, I think it can be tricky to navigate university if you've never even been allowed to be independent before that.

Given that once they're 18 they can do what they like anyway, and many of them will be moving away to uni, it seems crazy that so many posters don't think 16 year olds should be going away for a few days. Young people learn by gradual steps of independence... I can see why some 18 year olds go nuts when they leave home, going out and getting legless and engaging in risky behaviour... they've been on such a tight leash until then that they can't cope with the sudden freedom.

16 after exams is the traditional time for going away with friends. Blimey A group of us were youth hostelling through Europe at that age- and that was in the days before internet and mobile phones so there was no immediate way of keeping in touch.

Given that once they're 18 they can do what they like anyway, and many of them will be moving away to uni, it seems crazy that so many posters don't think 16 year olds should be going away for a few days

that's like saying given they are allowed to have sex at 16, it's crazy adults can't have sex with them at 14-15 when many 14-15 yos are physically developed as 16 yos.

There is alot of difference between 16 and 18,alot of maturing and growing goes on between these 2 years.

The OP knows her Dd

how kids act in front of parents and away from parents can be 2 totally different things, that and some parents are in denial. There are a million threads on this.

I went off to cornwall at 16, not boooardmasters though as we were skint, more beaches and campfires etc
Smaller campsites dont tend to ask for proof of age, its totally fine, 16 is old enough to go away together

But if they are DofE type girls could they just do NCS, there is a big group holiday part of that that people do the summer before college

To answer your actual question, OP - "My issue though is that do any campsites / rentals allow unsupervised 16 year olds?" - yes they do. If you can identify campsites where your child and friends would like to go, ring and have a word with the site owner.

Many of these responses are why universities are increasingly having to actively look after 18 year old first years as though they are much younger. A short trip to somewhere you can be within an couple of hours drive is a great introduction to independence.

Just found this www.campsites.co.uk/search/campsites-for-under-18s

In the UK? Don't you have to be 17 to drive a car?