There are more and more teens traveling alone these days, and your child may be ready for it. This is a great experience for those that are looking to gain more independence. Safety is a huge concern when teens are going places alone, but this article should prepare then pretty well for the trip.
Make sure that your teen is actually comfortable traveling alone. There is nothing wrong with being nervous while taking a trip, but you may need to cancel plans if it seems like this is just too much for your child.
Sit down with them and have a long talk about their feelings. If they are not absolutely certain that they will be okay during the trip, you should probably make them wait until someone can go with them.
Talk to them about who they should turn to for help if needed. When in a strange city, it is not a good idea to stop strangers to ask for assistance. This will make your child vulnerable, and that is the last thing you need. Pinpoint who they should talk to in case there are any problems, so there is no confusion. These people may range from airport personnel to law enforcement officials.
Your teen should be perfectly comfortable counting money and making purchases. This may seem like something silly to worry about with a teen, but it can’t hurt to be extra careful.
After checking the flight and the hotel you will need a very serious company to transfer your teenager from airport to your already booked hotel. London, by example, is a very big city and you want him to get there with no incidents whatsoever. I have to point at London airport transfers by Uklat.co.uk.
They may need to buy something while on their trip and you want the transaction to be simple and smooth. If you have any doubts about your child’s ability to make purchases, go with them to the store a few times to make sure they are totally comfortable with it.
Advise your teen about talking to strangers. Even if people seem to be very friendly, not everyone is as they seem. Unfortunately, there are many people out there that prey in the vulnerable. You have to teach your child as much as you can since this can prevent them from becoming a target. Tell them to watch out for people that are young like them as well. Sometimes older adults use teens to lure others to danger.
Give your child a cell phone and tell them to call you on a regular basis. There should be NO exceptions to this rule. Checking in at regular intervals will help you keep your sanity. Tell them it is important to be responsible with this, or they may end up causing a commotion for nothing. You may end up contacting the authorities then find out your child just neglected to call.
It is very possible for a teen to travel alone and have a safe trip. This is a great way for your child to become more independent. Of course as a parent you will be worried, but put enough trust in them to allow this to happen. If you educate your child on all the tips above, and you are sure they will follow them, there should be no issues.
