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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My niece starting to use whatsapp

My first memory of being 'independant' was being able to make a cup of tea by myself. That has helped me every day of my life since! :)

I remember my first moment of independence was my mother letting me go to the swimming bath with my friend without any adult supervision. We went every week and I felt so grown up getting the bus and coming back on my own :)

The first time she went off into town with her friends. I was a nervous wreck - but she loved it x

Jordan received a house key when he was 13 years old. He knows the importance of locking the doors when he goes out and is very responsible.

My four year old can do his own toast, which I think is the most independent thing he can do at the moment. For me, I think it was getting my own set of keys whwn I started secondary school that really stands out looking back.

Using is pocket money to buy Fifa 17 :') at £40 it took him quite some time and planning to save all that pocket money

Letting my son , my youngest child walk to school on his own age 11 was when I realised the children were independent beings!

Being able to get on the bus and go to town with my high school friends. Felt scary but exciting at the same time! I always remember my friend spilling gravy all over her top and having to go home mortified bless her.

I had my first house key when i walked to secondary school with my siblings.

My eldest had his first house key towards the end of Year 8. He had the luxury of (at most) 20 minutes home alone until his dad returned from picking his two younger brothers up from school - it's amazing what can be consumed in such a short period of time ;)

Over the past year or so, he has become so much more independent and he makes me very proud when I see him being responsible and making decisions for himself. He was really worried when he was choosing his options for Year 9 about whether or not he was making the 'right' decision and how he would know if he had! It was good to see him working this out for himself and DH and I provided support in the form of moral support. He had a rough end to the year last year with some issues at school relating to silly behaviour. Over the summer he said 'Mum, I'm going to try a lot harder this year' and to his credit, he has aced it. He got 'Star of the class' and 'Star of the year group' just before half-term and I couldn't be more proud of him. The best thing about it is that 'it' has come from him and his determination to do 'it'.

It's hard letting go, that's for sure, but it's also great to see our once little ones growing and coming into their own.

My 11 year old is scuttling around the house right now getting ready for a solo train trip to my mum's, who lives 15 miles away. He organised it, checked the train times, charged his phone and made sure his debit card was topped up. He has autism but is so competent at things like this. I'm really proud of him. His non-autistic older brother (13) wouldn't manage it so well.

My DD was walking to school (at end of street) at age 8. DS is autistic with ADHD allowing him to walk to comprehensive (at other end of street) at 12 was a huge day for us and him. He is getting more independent every day and it's fantastic to watch.

The kids have had front door keys and the ability to walk to our local town, about a mile away, since they were 10//11. However the biggest, most rapid change in independence I saw was in my 16 year old, when he did a few weeks work experience in London this summer. Although he's been on trains with friends, he'd not travelled much on his own and suddenly becoming a 'commuter' opened his eyes to the possibilities of going places on his own! He seemed to grow up overnight!

it's got to be when they decided that they could get the bus to school by themselves

The only significant thing I remember about independence is when I persuaded my son to go in shops by himself while I waited outside probably at about 7 or 8. He really was shy and needed some encouragement to get out there and do things. It was a great way to start him off safely.

My son is only 4 but I remember helping my dad with various things. He had a back injury and was disabled, sometimes he had flare ups which meant he couldn't get out of bed for days. Mum used to work long hours so I would help by popping to the local shop which was only two streets away. I remember frantically checking and rechecking I'd got everything on the list. I'm still a scatterbrain now

No Mummy I can do my shoes, I can do them... Mummy go away, I can do my shoes!!

... 5 minutes later...

Muuuuum, can you help me?

My girls are only 3 years, 18 months & 3 months. The older 2 are very independent they like to walk themselves and tend to wonder off, so I have to have to keep a very close eye on my hem when we are out. The oldest one tries to do everything herself and often does not want my help, until she realises she can't do it and then she'll ask me to do it for her.

My first taste of independence was going to York on the bus with my older friend by ourselves. I was 12 at the time. I had some birthday money and we went shopping to Miss Selfridge - my first solo shopping spree choosing my own trendy things! It was so exciting and I felt so grown up! I would go on to do this every other weekend for years to come! I also got a key around this age too, in case my mum wasn't home after school.

Dd is barely 2 but already very independent and likes to do things herself. I'm not sure at what ages I will give her these kinds of independence e.g.unsupervised trips and keys, I guess that will all depend on her personality and how responsible/trustworthy she is. (Hopefully she will take after her mummy!)

My eldest has his own bank account and loves depositing cheques. He's really keen to manage his own account and is getting pretty good at it!

I was allowed to walk to my grandparents house ( about 10/15 minutes away) but I always had to give my parents "2 rings" (when you ring a number and let it ring twice then hang up so it doesnt cost you to make the call) from my grandparents house so they knew i was there okay.

When they want to start walking to and from school with their friends rather than their parents, and when the older ones want to go into town on the bus instead of Mum and Dads car