Those with or had London teenagers

[TheHaunting]

I have a question - did your teen explore the wider London area, or did they stick to their own immediate area? Our area is a little "rough" to say teh least, and I hope they (like I used to do) also hang out in other parts of London as they move through their teens, explore and make use of the city. When I was 16, I was (under age) night clubbing across London, hanging out in Camden, going to gigs all over the place, coffee shops, etc.

What has been your experience, has yours remained "local" in their choice of hunting ground, or are they out and about all over the place? And from what age did they start doing this?

Cheers!

Dds go all over the place. DS prefers his bedroom. Depends on personality, dd2 from yr9, dd1 was older. Dd2 went up to Camden, Whitechapel, concerts at Brixton Academy, etc. Dd1 now goes to clubs in the east end, places in Brixton etc, we live in neither of those.

I agree that it depends on personality. We live in South London - DD1 started going up to Westfield/Oxford St etc at about 13. Now she's 15 and goes all over London. DD2 isn't as interested, more of a home bird.

i like hearing robert elms talk about his childhood on BBC london. he is always waffling on about his teen years, where he used to hang out. practically all over North and West London. I've read quite a bit about the early days of acid house, too, and (bar the drugs), the amount these teenagers got about this city just made me think..."THAT is what i want mine to do - really take advantage of it and become true Londoners". we have a lot of local lads, some involved in gangs, who just skulk about the local (rough) high street, and i just wonder if they are perhaps even aware they live in one of the world's greatest cities...i guess with gang membership, comes the post code nonsense as well.

Yes! DD absolutely believes she lives in one of the world's great cities

She started going to Camden Town and Brick Lane with her friends at about 14 or so. Now in sixth form she goes everywhere. Or at least everywhere in central/east/north London.

We live in London and DD (nearly 14) has started going up to the West End & Camden with friends. she is now happy to get the tube on her own to meet up, but it's quite a recent thing. I was allowed in the West End at 13, but I got the tube to school so was much more familiar with travelling on my own. DS hasn't ventured further than local shops yet with friends, but it will come!! I didn't club until I was much older though, we were more into house parties and more sedate meals in Pizza Hut of a Sat evening!!

My DC spend time all over.

Their school has no catchment and attracts pupils from every part of London and beyond, so friends are based widely.

Plus both are into plays, shows , gigs etc so go wherever they want to see something.

DS1 is quite introverted but when he goes out he stays fairly local, or goes to the West End

When he was 14 he decided he wanted to come back from somewhere in Essex borders and I was all set to pick him up but he said he'd make own way despite never having done it before - he worked out which bus and train to get.

I know that's because growing up in London he's really confident on public transport

DS2 travels to school and although he was less independent than DS1 it's meant he has no qualms about travelling to meet friends 40 mins away. When he's older I think he'll be out and about more 'cos he's sociable

Yes mine go all about too (another SE Londoner). Zio cards make it so easy and cheap/free!

They started going into town/Westfield/Camden, etc at about 13.

They also spend a lot of time around their localish area (up to 5miles away) seeing friends/going to parties, etc and DS travels down to his footy team in Surrey for training twice a week in the evening (and has been since start of Y8) changing trains.

Zip cards!