Would you let a 13 year old do this?

[BhajiAllTheWay]

He has arranged a meet up ( I say that as he did not ask, he told me) with friends he met at a sport summer camp in their home town a few hours away by train. He wants to travel there with a couple of 16 year olds, spend a day at the other end with these friends and then train journey back. I'm not happy at all. I'd be worried sick and I don't know any of these people? He doesn't see the issue! Would you say yes? say no? I have nobody to run this by.

Absolutely not. My DS is now 17 and no way would I have let him do that aged 13. This could go wrong in so many ways. Go with your gut feeling Op.

This is the thing...i don't know the friends. At the other end they are planning to go to arcades or beach. I think there are so many "what if..." scenarios..

Thinking of ds1 who is 11 and trying to imagine him in 2 years, no. Another 13 year old, maybe.

Too young

No idea why some people seem to think travelling with 16 year olds is a bad thing?

Can't speak for others but for me it's because the intentions and desires of a day out can be vastly different for 16 year olds than those of a 13 year old.

Not knowing the 16 year olds the OP cannot be sure of how mature the 16 year olds think they are; 13 year olds, generally, are not experience enough to know how to deal with a situation when they aren't comfortable with what's happening, or are very easily influenced by peer pressure.

Should say too that even with 16 year olds you know, you never can be too sure what they actuallg intend to do v. what they tell an adult.

Nothing wrong with travelling with 16 yr olds if you know them, but I would question why a 13 yr old would be hanging around with older boys unless part of a group with common interest. we all know that 16 yr olds know more and want to experience different things to 13 yr olds!

OP you've answered your own question, you are not comfortable with it, justifiably so. It's a no on this occasion. It doesn't have to always be no, each request will need to be considered on it's merits.