HANK Youwould You Let 16 Years Old Boy Go to the Vans Warped Tour Without Adult?

I went to Lalapalooza when I was that age with no parental units anywhere to be found...a whole unruly group of us and we were bad kids!

~I like the idea of dropping them off then picking them up from a designated area at a certain time afterward...that sounds like a fair compromise!

NO, vans is not a place for teens without atleast ONE SOBER RESPONSABLE parent. warped can get outa hand super quick

Totally. I went to concerts without parents starting at around age 14 (high school). Lots of mosh pit concerts, etc. If the location is far from your house, perhaps plan on sticking around the area (go out to dinner or something) and do both drop off and pick up, but I think 16 is plenty old enough to be there unchaperoned.

ETA the warped tour has a parent hangout place where you can relax and cool off away from the crowds and hear. I think they call it "Reverse Day Care" or "Reverse Baby Sitting" or something.

nope. adult accompaniment or not at all.

It would depend on your son and his friend.

Are they well behaved kids? Are they respectful of adults in their lives, their parents,teachers, etc?

Do they follow rules?

Are they responsible with their school and extra curricular programs?

Good grades?

Does your son show you and your husband respect?

When your son sees trouble or problems, does he know to leave or ask for help?

If yes, great they can go on their own.. If not, one of the parents should go and be there.

The majority of teens we know.. would be able to handle this.. but a few.. there is no way, I would let them go alone.

I'm 34 and when I was 17 I do remember going to concerts in SF (where I'm from), with no adults present. I only went to two and they were both with really close friends and there was never any problem. I don't think its that bad and I went to a Nine Inch Nails concert, lol! Thats was way back in the day but all my friends and myself were good kids and there was never any problems. If you are unsure maybe you can bring them there and drop them off or maybe an older sibling/cousin can accompany? I have been to a Warped Tour yrs ago and it wasn't any different (I mean crazier), than any other concert I've been to, it was really fun!

I went to my first concert with just friends at 16....

Depends I guess on lots of things....venue...metropolitan area....grades....previous trouble.......

No personal experience with the Vans Warped Tour, sorry....

It depends on what kind of kid he is. My older daughter (now 24) went to a Warped Tour event when she was 17. It was hot out, she was with friends, and it was basically her first concert. She did fine and had a great time. I still hear stories about it to this day.

In fact, she and her boyfriend are taking my younger daughter and her best friend (both 14) to the Warped Tour this July in Chicago.

(Check out the Warped Tour website. If you do decide you don't want to just send him there, they have activities for parents, and a tent where parents can cool off, use their computers, etc., and talk to other parents without actually hanging with their kids. If my older wasn't taking my younger, that's what I would be doing this year.)

The concerts are well managed, lots of security, plenty of water if it's hot and lots and lots of bands. My younger daughter loves music and unknown bands and is really looking forward to it.

Yes, there can be trouble at these kinds of events. There can be trouble at the mall! But if your son likes music and has a good head on his shoulders (and isn't known for getting into trouble) I think you're ok. But it's a total judgment call on your part.

The decision is easy to me. Go with him (or your husband.) It may be the last time you'll get the opportunity. You don't have to even act like you are "with" them while you are there, but they both be safe and you'll be glad you did.

(Bring cotton for your ears, or ear plugs. Even for the kids...)

Dawn

I didn't know what Vans Warped Tour was - so I looked it up. It seems more like a music festival than a traditional concert - it also seems to run all dang day.

So, would the kids be going from like 11am to 9pm? Or for just a few hours midday? That would weigh heavily on my decision.

I have a 16 year old son, and I have to admit, I would probably offer to "take" him and his friends rather than let him go unchaperoned. It would also depend on how long they planned on being there, how they were getting there (i.e., am I driving), and which friend(s) he wanted to go with. But, ultimately, I know myself too well and I would probably go with them. Eh, I am a helicopter.

Go with them, you might find it entertaining.

If your son and his friends are into the skater/bike culture, and skate board, etc., they will probably have a great time.

I think it depends on your child and his/her friend. How responsible are they?

We had a town car take our daughter and friend at 16 last year to a popular concert. They had front row seats. Car dropped off and picked up right outside the door. Both girls are very responsible.

This weekend daughter and her bf are going to see One Direction and we'll probably spring for a car to/from just to keep them safe.

It all depends on the maturity and responsibility of your child.

If my daughter were a wild child??? No way.

I'd drop them off and pick them up at a designated time and place. They will have cell phones, right? At 16 kids need a chance to be responsible, or not. Either way, it will be a learning experience for them.

Besides, no way am I going to an event like that and do what? trail behind them 10 feet for hours?? Blech...

At 16, both of my step kids did things like this on their own with friends. We had raised them with some sense and an understanding of responsibility. Those traits doesn't just pop up magically when they turn 18 or head off to college...

For my daughter *yes*.

She has grown up around concerts and some of them would probably horrify mamas here. At 16 I would still have to drive because she had her provisional license until a few days after her 17th birthday (she's 18 now) and could only drive alone. She was flying cross country at a much younger age to visit friends. I trust her judgement.

My parents let us. They'd drop us off and pick us up.

As for me, my sons only 9, so I can't say what I'd do. What I do know is that only a small fraction of teens are utterly untrustworthy.

I've taken my much younger son to WarpTour before (as well as many other festivals and concerts). How wild a show gets depends on your location.

HAAAAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAA NO WAY!!!! You are asking for your unattended teen boys to drink and smoke pot and be in serious danger on the way home. NO FRIGGIN way, not happening.

No, I would not allow him (with or without 16 y/o friend) to go without a responsible adult.

It does depend on the kid, but because it's a music festival and he's under 18 you should send an adult. A 3 hour show, I would say let him go and don't worry. But an all day event like Vans is different. I was at the 1st and 3rd Lollapaloozas, and have been to many music festivals. The vibe is different and it's easier to get caught up in "questionable activities" if you have 10 hours on your hands, iykwim. Either that or he calls you every hour on the hour. Personally, if it were my kid, I'd just go to the show with him. Not to hang out with him, but just to be "on site" in case he needed me. (That and I love shows like that lol).

Nope. At least one person who's 18+ should be there.

My daughter and her boyfriend went when they were 15. His mom dropped them off and picked them up, and they both had a cell phone with them in case of any problems.