Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

what age do you let your children go to festivals with their friends

32 replies

Magicmayhem · 10/12/2010 18:17

DD wants to go to Reading Festival next year.
she will be just 15. Her Father (my ex) is going to buy her the ticket. I have ok'd this as long as there is a responsible adult going with the group of friends.
We live close by so it will be just a case of picking her up and dropping her off morning and night. (we'll take this in turns with the ex)
He's now turned round and said he thinks she's old enough to go alone (no adult) So its left to me... to be Big Bad Mum and sort this out..

I think that 15 is too young... am I being too over protective...

what age did you let your kids go..

TIA

OP posts:

sharbie · 10/12/2010 18:23

i haven't yet and ds was 16 last summer - he hasn't really asked yet but i know he will soon. most of his pals have been going on their own since 15/16.

PlentyOfParsnips · 10/12/2010 18:29

Depends on your DC really. I let DD go at that age as she's very sensible and so are her friends, but DS is 15 and there's no way I'd let him go - I'd be worried sick.

If she's not staying overnight I think that lessens the risks considerably though. I'd probably let DS go under those circumstances.

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 10/12/2010 18:31

If not staying overnight I'd say 15 was OK.

Older if they're going to camp. Ds camped just before his 17th birthday.

scouserabroad · 10/12/2010 18:35

I went to a festival in Belgium with three friends when we were sixteen.

We were pissed for three days solid, got harrassed by an assortment of older, drunken guys, got involved in a sort of riot incident where a big crowd got chased down the road by the police... and saw loads of bands of course. It was the highlight of that year

Seriously, if she's not staying overnight and she is sensible, 15 is prob old enough. Especially if you live near and could come to the rescue if needed!

maryz · 10/12/2010 18:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Magicmayhem · 10/12/2010 18:41

thanks for your reply's,
she is very imature for her age, and has social and communication problems... (although you wouldn't realise it till you got to know her) rarely goes out... hates crowds... BUT... is really keen to go... I'm just worried sick at the thought of it but would be more relaxed if I knew there was an adult there if she needed them.

Although... She did go to a theme park last year with a group of friends on the train and had a great time...

OP posts:

maryz · 10/12/2010 18:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sockapoodle · 10/12/2010 18:53

15 for one day at Leeds (where they seem much more fond of riots and fires than Reading), then for the whole weekend the following year to celebrate GCSE results. As shes not sleeping overnight I'd be fine with it though doing the pick ups will be a nightmare with festival traffic, glad that stage of my life is over

scouserabroad · 10/12/2010 18:58

Has she been to a concert before? If not maybe she could try that to see how she gets on, before going to a festival.

tbh I think the main thing with festivals is that you can carry on drinking through the night and never really sober up for the duration. If she's going home she won't be doing that, so she will be able to take care of herself better.

BitOfFun · 10/12/2010 19:09

Daytime with trusted friends, I'd say fifteen is fine. I wouldn't be keen on overnight though until 16-17, and even then I'd be happier if there was a couple of adults in the vague vicinity.

DandyDan · 11/12/2010 23:05

One of mine went to Reading when they were 15 but with a girl friend and her parents. Went on their own to Leeds the following year but met up with friends there; and has been on successive years since. There was a lot of alcohol around though, so it depends how much you feel that might be a concern. Tents and possessions can get trashed as well, so it does require either a level of maturity or a level of laid-backness to cope with the noise, lack of sleep, lack of food (trememdous cost) and loss of possessions. (And whatever conditions the weather throws at you...)

Tortington · 11/12/2010 23:08

i'm really liberal (i think) but it hink 15 is too young for a big festival like this - but as you live close by and you can picker up and dop her off and she isn't camping - its a difficlt one

Ponders · 11/12/2010 23:09

sockapoodle's post is interesting - I'd heard the Reading crowd was much more destructive extreme than Leeds!

I think if she goes on a daily basis, not camping, & in a good crowd, then she should be ok

nappyaddict · 12/12/2010 18:31

POP Was your DD in year 10 or 11 when she went and did she stop overnight or just go for the day?

PlentyOfParsnips · 12/12/2010 19:23

I think it was just before year 11 started and yes, she stayed overnight. It was a much smaller festival than Reading, though, and there were a couple of older, sensible cousins there with her - 19 and 20 if I remember right.

malovitt · 12/12/2010 19:34

If she's not camping, 15 is fine without an adult.

I've been to Reading for years and it only gets a bit rowdy on certain campsites at night. There's loads of visible security, welfare tents etc.

She'll be fine.

Floozle · 12/12/2010 19:44

Both dc's went at 15 and camped - no problem.

nappyaddict · 12/12/2010 20:06

Floozle what year of school were they? I went in year 11 and turned 16 in the August.

oakleaffy · 12/02/2011 13:45

A tricky one.hmm.I went to stonehenge festivals in the very early 80's and did really enjoy them, but you are the best person to judge your daughter.
My son was able to go for weekends away with mates at age 16,to various events and came to no harm, but some of the things he got up to I'm glad I didn't know about at the time!

Regarding drink and drugs~this is probably what scares you the most, but alas we can't protect our offspring from these, so they HAVE to protect themselves,by making their own judgements.

If your daughter was going with Sensible friends, it may be o.k, and as other have suggested, you can always collect her if things go wrong.
In my experience, trust your instincts. If you think she is sensible enough to take care of herself, not to get drunk &c then let her go.
There are plenty of 40 yr olds who couldn't take care of themselves at a festival, and festivals nowadays are well manned by welfare and st john's ambulance who keep an eye out for anyone in trouble.
Mobile phones [of cheap un~stealable type are a comfort of sorts, but don't ring up a storm checking on her!]

pinksky · 12/02/2011 17:57

May be wrong but I don't think I think that Reading admits under 16's without an adult (over 18)

I've been going to festivals since I was 14 (camping) and never any serious problems. Reading is also usually fine in the day, not much nonsense and as camping is separate from the arena things are relatively contained (they also don't let you bring your own booze into the arena). It'll be light well into the evening too so pick up not as bad as it might be. Lots of stewards/st Johns etc around if people need looking after...

basically, I think I would let her go, but understand your concerns. A cheap payg mobile is a good idea.

xenaworrierprincess · 20/02/2011 18:36

mine DS went to Glasto age 16 with friend and his mum was there as well. I don't know about other festivals but he was fine and there are plenty of crew keeping an eye on them (DH and me have been camp site crew) - same rules about safety apply there as they do anywhere else. We live close by and he came home half way through for shower etc so guess that was reassuring Can understand your concern though.

cyrilsneer · 21/02/2011 14:19

My daughter went with friends to her first festival for the day, with her Dad chaperoning, aged 15.

Last year (post-GCSEs, age 16) she went for the day with some friends with no chaperone.

This year (age 17) she is going with her girl-friends, camping. The parents of one of the girls are also camping. They are a lovely people who will keep out of the girls' way but are on hand if there is a problem.

I'm not worried about the daytime, but I do feel uneasy about the nights. I'm worried they'll get some hassle from blokes who've been drinking.

To be honest, I know I'll just be glad when she's home and in the bath!

pollyglot1 · 22/02/2011 19:47

My DD is going to Reading (she will be 16 by then) with a group of friends, camping - I wasnt too keen at first but she is pretty sensible, and I went to lots of festivals when I was younger without any problems, if necessary one of us can go and get her (tho I'm sure I wont sleep easy til she's back).

pollyglot1 · 22/02/2011 19:49

... and I wouldnt have let her go last year, that would have been too young for me, luckily she didnt ask...

Violethill · 22/02/2011 22:16

16 with friends, though had been for the day with us, before then.

TBH, I wouldn't want to leave it much later than 16, because you always have to think in terms of 18 being the point at which they can do whatever they like... so best to get them used to being independent in small steps.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread