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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Reading Festival

18 replies

potpoodles · 25/03/2011 17:40

DD aged 16 wants to go to Reading Festival in August. Apparently ALL her friends are going. I have no experience of festivals. She is fairly sensible, not a huge drinker as far as I know, but I am concerned about her going and worried about her safety. Is 16 too young? Any thoughts?

OP posts:
frantic51 · 25/03/2011 17:42

I'd let her go, but then I'm known among my DCs friends as an awesome mum! [preen]

0891 · 25/03/2011 17:44

16's fine, she'll have a ball.

noddyholder · 25/03/2011 17:45

My ds went to a couple last year at 16.I saw all the photos and it looked great.A festival is a good place for a first sole holiday I think as it is confined and there is security etc and at that age they stick together.She will be fine but you won't sleep!

MerylStrop · 25/03/2011 17:47

I went at 17. And Glastonbury.
(I don't actually think I asked).

I'd let her go, if I knew who she was going with, and how she was getting there and back.

senua · 25/03/2011 17:47

DS wants to go. All his friends are going. yadda yadda.

However, in the back of the car, chatting to a sixth-former and forgetting that mum was listening, he said the line-up wasn't that good and agreed that it wasn't worth the money.

Hmm

With any luck, it will be sold out by now anyway.

noddyholder · 25/03/2011 18:05

Think of me all of you as next year you will all be me and your dc will be wanting to go ABROAD!!!!!!!! Pass the smelling salts!

IloveJudgeJudy · 25/03/2011 18:06

DS missed out on the V festival as he and his friends couldn't get tickets. Thought he would want to go to Reading, but having seen the line-up, he's not so keen. Thinking about T4? I'm looking up other festivals online, have vaguely seen one, but DS is not a rock fan (unlike me), is more an RnB or house/garage???

I'm sure your DD will have a great time.

Tortington · 25/03/2011 18:06

I WANT TO GO HARUMPH!

dexter73 · 25/03/2011 20:29

I used to go when I was teenager. It was great fun! Won't tell you what we got up to though!!Grin

babylann · 25/03/2011 20:35

Same, I went when I was 16 and had a great time Smile And I would have hated my parents if they didn't let me go.

And they are a lot more strict about ID'ing people for alcohol at festivals, as far as I'm concerned, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem either.

As long as there's lots of friends there and DD knows all the fundamental guidelines about avoiding trouble and sticking with the pack etc, she'll have a great time and will probably come back with lots of stories to tell.

Minx179 · 25/03/2011 21:33

DS1 went to Download when he was 16. He loved it, if there's a group they all tend to pitch their tents together and look out for each other.

Make sure she takes enough food with her, the food/drink prices are a rip off at festivals.

Now have DS2 (15) wanting to go for the weekend Hmm, now that's a different matter.

SecondhandRose · 25/03/2011 22:17

My DS has a one day ticket for the Friday. A good experience without the camping.

MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay · 26/03/2011 00:00

My DD1 went at 16. And 17, 18 and has just got tickets for this year:) (19!)
DS1 (18) and DD2 (16) are going too this year so I'm risking 3/4 of my kids Grin in one shot.

DD1 has always had a fab time. They are quite strict about alcohol..but realistically if they want some they will find a way. DD always comes back filthy and knackered but very happy . They live off subways and stuff from the local tesco near the site so don't starve:)

Tip.. DD has always chipped in with friends for a bigger tent then left it there .. better for storing stuff and not getting burned !

To be honest if your dd hasn't got a ticket already she'll need to go thro a resale site (viagogo is best... they are genuine) which puts up the cost. The tickets went on sale on Monday and they will be gone! (we have learned our lesson and did Vodaphone presales)

Original poster
potpoodles · 26/03/2011 10:44

Thanks. Feel a lot happier about it after your comments. Now she's got just got to find a ticket!

OP posts:
Punkatheart · 30/03/2011 13:02

I live near Reading and I love it when the festival is on. Caversham is full of colourful, chatting teenagers who look like they are having a really great time. I love the bright hair colours, the wellies and the way Waitrose rush around stocking up on vodka and crisps. All the businesses start selling breakfasts, the hairdressers offer showers....it really brings the whole area alive.

lazymumofteenagesons · 31/03/2011 17:12

Ds1 went at 15,16,and 17 and now DS2 aged 16 is going. No problems except sometimes the weather is awful and they freeze to death. DS1 went to the festival in spain at 16 and again at 17 that was a bit more worrying (for me,not him).

btw ds2 got his ticket before christmas, don't know whats left now. It was expensive then. 3 days camping about £195 (it was xmas pressie from grandma)

maddiemostmerry · 31/03/2011 17:18

My ds also went at 16 and this is his third year. It's a very teenage festival I think and a good starter one.
It can be very lively in the campsites but there is quite a lot of security. There was some theft last year from the tents so never leave valuables in them.

I wouldn't mind going, line up looks ok to meSmile

upahill · 01/04/2011 09:48

Knowing my lad I would be happy to let him go at 16.

I was just 16 and went on the back of my boyfriends motorbike. I was staying at my nans as my mum and dad where away.
Mum would have had a fit if she had known.

My nan was more liberal than my mum and today she still doesn't know!

The highlight was seeing Gillian.

Fantastic!

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