Tell Nationwide about your DC’s moments of independence for a chance to win a £300 voucher. NOW CLOSED

[RebeccaEMumsnet]

As DCs edge closer to their teenage years, it can be an uncertain time for parents who have to decide how much independence to give to their teens and when to give them that little bit more responsibility.

In the below ad, spoken word artist Isadora speaks of the freedom she felt when she first received her own house key. For many tweens and teens, being given their own house key signifies a new level of independence. To celebrate their FlexOne current account for 11-17 year olds, Nationwide would love to know what moments made you realise that your own DCs were growing up.

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At what age did you make your DCs responsible for their own house key? How did you feel the first time you trusted them to walk to the post box or the local shop on their own? When did you feel confident enough to leave them on their own in the house for a period of time?

If your DCs are still small, what moments of independence do you remember from your own childhood and teenage years?

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw, and one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks,

MNHQ

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I remember the first time I had to get the bus to school by myself. I missed my stop and didn't know where I was. A lollipop lady found me crying and called my mum to get me. I'd only gone one stop past the one I was supposed to get off at!

My son got his house key aged 11 when he started high school. Because I am disabled, I think that my son took on a maturity & level of responsibility a little earlier than his friends. He enjoys feeling like he is helping me out & I trust him completely

One thing that springs to mind is when my children were old enough to go to town on the bus and back again. I worried they would get on the wrong bus and end up miles away.

I still remember the excitement of being given my own key to the house! And walking home from school on my own for the first time, I got lost and my mum nearly had a heart attack!

DD wanted to wash her own hair in the bath, was very funny, she didn't do a very good job but I could see she was growing up. :)

From a very early age my DS has been very self assured' started at nursery.I let him manage his own bank account since he was 11.

The first time I was allowed to go to town with my best friend aged 11 it was a wonderful day!

I remember being allowed to go on the bus with my friends to town. We went to McDonald's, the cinema and bought matching t shirts from Primark and still had change from a tenner!! By the time my daughters are old enough (currently 2 & 4) it'll probably closer to £30!

As we have lived in rented for the past 3 years DC have not had the experience of their own key yet but I am really looking forward to buying a house soon and being able to get them each a key with a special keyring. I can remember the Independence it gave me and want them to experience that. My daughter has just started catching the train to her friends house and so organising her own outings, without me being involved too much. Great for her-scary for me.

My daughter going to the local shop herself and buying food

My oldest dd was aged 9 1/2 when I left her at home for the first and only time by herself for 10 minutes. She had been sent home ill frim school took her to the doctors and she had a chest infection, the pharmacy didn't have part of the prescription so I had to pop back for it later. She was absolutely fine me on the other hand not so much I rang her about 5 times to check she was ok, she told me I was being pathetic and to pull myself together!

DD1 has a nut allergy and is very limited in what she is allowed to eat. We've kind of also kept her wrapped up in cotton wool for years whereby she hasn't really been anywhere on her own. Over the summer we had to loosen the apron strings because she was starting secondary school in September. So we allowed her to go to McDonalds with her friend while we looked around the adjoining shopping centre. She absolutely loved it and has shown great initiative dealing with feeding herself safely in regards to her allergies.

I gained a lot of independence when I turned 16, I'd be allowed out with mates, allowed to town etc. As long as my school work / homework was up to scratch I was given a lot of freedom. It was amazing!

At 5 my DD would go into the shop by herself to spend her pocket money while I waited outside and she thought this was brilliant and she felt so grown up. Now 7 she has just started coming out of school on her own while I wait at the roadside so we go over to our house..I can see the school gates from where I stand but she hasn't realised that ;)

Our DCs went away for a weeks holiday in year 7 with the school and all came back transformed and far more confident and independent. It set them up well for the step up to secondary school. Own keys were at 14, however were never necessary prior to this and even now only used on occasion as I work PT during school hours.

Cleaning her teeth for the first time on her own

ds has got bus to and from school since he was 8, and has always managed fine

I have 3 children ages 17, 16 and 3 years old. The scariest thing for me was when my older children started to go to high school and walked there alone. i think i was more nervous than them!!
it actually has done them no harm letting them be independant and i think i wont be as stressed when my youngest asked to do things

I realised that the balance of parenting had changed when my DD had to take over the ticket machine to top up my Oyster Card

Asking for things by themselves in a shop when before they were too nervous!

My daughter's first day of independence was when she graduated from the rear child carrier seat on the back of my bike, to her own little 2-wheeler.

Quite a few years ago now, her little brother grew big enough to ride on the rear of my bike, and she rode in front of us, with me keeping a close eye on her.

We kept to quiet country road, and although she wobbled a little bit, she did very well, and in later years passed her bicycle proficiency test!

As young teenagers DSis and I informed our mum we were getting the train and going shopping in the nearest city. We had only been there a couple of times with parents and didn't really have a clue. To her credit she let up go and we were fine!

My dd is 6 and my ds is 4, so they try and be independant. My son tries to dress himself but clothes and shoes are on the wrong way, while my daughter thinks she's in charge and mothers her brother. She gets him ready, helps him on the toilet and tucks him into bed. Lol. Recently she's made her own cup of tea (I've poured the water).

I remember when i was first allowed to walk to school alone which was half a mile in a straight line but i felt SO grown up :)

Mine are still little but recently my 3 year old started a new preschool. I had been so nervous of changing him especially as we have just had a new baby too and he was really settled where he was. On the first day I was so worried he wasnt going to go in but he turned around and said to me at the door 'its ok mummy, you can go now, ill be fine' i couldnt believe how grown up he sounded, was so proud of him and he settled in great!