EL AL | Atmosphere

Check-in I Our Guide

6 tips on how to navigate your teen traveling on their own for the first time It’s not uncommon to see 16-year-olds traveling on their own these days, be it with a group of friends, or with their boyfriend or girlfriend. Alongside the pride a parent may feel at seeing their child gain independence, letting your teen fly unaccompanied can also be a little anxiety-inducing. Here are a few pieces of practical advice that’ll help relieve any unnecessary tension / By Nirit Zuk

01 Manage expectations. Have a conversation with your teen about things like costs and budgeting, and how they plan to finance their trip. This is the time to discuss whether you mean to help finance their trip and to what extent. Do this well in advance, so as to avoid rows and conflict down the line. 02 Prepare a checklist with them. Make sure your child is clear on what they’re going to need for their trip, such as a data plan, insurance, etc. Ask them if they want your help or if they’d rather take care of technicalities on their own. 03 Create a dedicated WhatsApp group . Ask your teen for a list of all of their friends’ and their friends’ parents’ phone numbers, as well as their permission to open a WhatsApp group where everyone can share updates. Ask your child to contact you at least once a day so you know everything’s ok. Make sure they let you know where they’ll be sleeping when they reach their destination. 04 Download a location-tracking app. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but locator apps such as Life360 can sometimes be quite

06 Trust them. There are many benefits to letting your teen travel on their own. The experiences they’ll have, the memories they’ll

helpful. Do make sure your teen is aware you are using it if you are. 05 Set firm boundaries. Once all the technical matters have been settled, it’s highly recommended to sit down with your child and talk to them about what behavioral boundaries they’ll need to respect when they’re abroad. Ascertain that they know behavioral norms can be different in different countries and that they need to abide by them.

make, the challenges they’ll overcome, are invaluable

opportunities for personal growth and developing confidence and character.

Nirit Zuk is a journalist, a researcher, and an expert in youth culture. She is the CEO of “Eser Plus”, a web portal for parents, and she’s the author of “Chocolate for breakfast”, edited by Niv Books.

10 ATMOSPHERE DECEMBER 2024