Page 1 of 2

Reading Festival

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:17 pm
by overpeck
Would you let your 16 year old daughter go to the Reading Festival - camping for 2 nights and three day event?

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:22 pm
by Snowdrops
*groans* you've just reminded me, my dd (13 in September) asked when she can go to the Leeds festival :shock: :shock: :shock:

She wasn't meaning she wanted to go now (at least I THINK she didn't mean it that way :lol: :lol: ) she was just interested to know.

It's such a worrying thing isn't it!

Sixteen - who's she going with, are they to be trusted? I probably would let her if I could feel comfortable about it (perhaps dropping her off and picking her up again and strict rules about times to contact you - that sort of thing).

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:34 pm
by overpeck
It is all a bit vague who is going with who, she has friends from different schools who are going with other friends who I don't know. Some of her friends are from her primary school - then they went off to a big variety of schools some to private, some to grammars etc. My husband is very against the idea and I am not too impressed with the idea as I am concerned about drink and drugs etc and I also think it is a lot of money. However quite a few of her friends have talked their parents into letting them go! I am trying to strike a bargain with her to maybe let her go for one day, but not camping!

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 1:24 am
by Marylou
I think a lot depends on the level of maturity of the individual and the company she would be in. On balance, I'd let my 16 year old DD go to something like this - after all, she'll be off to university in just 18 months' time if all goes according to plan and we'd have no control at all over what happens there! I get the impression that many new students go completely mad in the first few weeks, presumably because it's the first time they've stayed away from home unsupervised. However, for a 16-year old at this type of event I would expect regular updates by text or phone. I would also want to know exactly who she was going with. I think you're right to be concerned if she is being vague about this.

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:26 am
by yoyo123
I let mine go, but then she was sensible and not easily swayed.

I didn;t let my 16 year old son go though!

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:33 am
by Looking for help
Fortunately neither of my daughters have wanted to do this....but my son went when he was 16 and survived to tell the tale, in fact has been every year since. I think it is a fairly well run festival, and as Marylou said when you think that in the not too distant future they will be off to uni, it is not a bad idea to let them go because it is for such a short time.
I'm sure she will have a really good time. In fact she might be one of the ones who comes home on the Saturday for a clean shower. A note of caution, the facilities are not the cleanest after 3 days of young festival goers :shock:

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:13 am
by marigold
We live not far from the site of V festival, I have enjoyed listening to Oasis and Girls Aloud in my back garden.
I absolutely refused to let my 16 year old camp last year and in fact, all her friends who did, found it so disgusting that they pitched their tents and came home each night to sleep in their own beds.
She has been allowed a camping ticket for this year but has already said she will probably sleep at home... what a waste of money.

I think we know our own children and some are more mature than others.

We are taking my 80 year old father to Latitude Festival this year as a birthday treat as he was heard moaning he had never been to a rock concert. I suspect he will be far more trouble than a 16 year old, wanting to sit down for a nice cup of tea during Florence and the Machine.

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:27 am
by Snowdrops
:lol: :lol: :lol: - I do hope he enjoys it :D

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:41 pm
by overpeck
Some great replies thank you every one!

I have been doing a little bit of 'research' through various contacts.

Someone also said that their oldest child had been twice. On the second year they came home every night to have a shower and catch up on sleep what a waste of money in my view for paying for the camping ticket. Another contact said their son went once and never asked to go again!

I think I will agree to a one day ticket for the Sunday!

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 1:13 am
by First-timer
Purely on what I've gleaned from "Skins" - absolutely not! My own DC will not leave the house without a chaperone until they are at least 25! :lol: