Is your teen travelling solo for the first time?
Sending your teen off on a solo adventure can feel like a big step, for them and for you. At BeVenturesome, we’re committed to making sure every young person feels confident, capable, and ready to take on an exciting week away from home.
To help prepare for the journey, we spoke to Chartered Coaching Psychologist – and super mum of one of our past Gold DofE participants – Lisa Christie. She’s shared her expert advice on building confidence, easing nerves, and making the experience a positive milestone for everyone involved.
Over to Lisa…
It was the kindness of the check-in lady that got me – “Beatrice, if you’re worried about anything, just ask and we’ll help.”
Choked by the lump in my throat, I thanked her, kissed my daughter, and waved her through security – on her own for the first time.
As a Chartered Coaching Psychologist, I’ve helped hundreds of families build their children’s independence, so I knew the Gold DofE residential was an incredible opportunity for my 17 year old.
But still. It’s a big thing when your child goes abroad on their own for the first time….
So, here are my five top tips to help your teen (and you!) prepare for solo travel:
1. Help your teen visualise each step of the trip
Our brains love certainty! So talk through every stage of the trip – from getting to the airport, to security and boarding, to who will meet them at the other end. Share the itinerary, and research photos of the accommodation.
This visualisation is particularly helpful for neurodivergent teens, or anyone who struggles with change or anxiety in new situations.
2. Pick a company that thinks carefully about the downtime, not just the activities
For many teens, unstructured social time in a new group can feel a bit daunting. And BeVenturesome struck the perfect balance – factoring in downtime to decompress after activities, while structuring rotas for cooking and evening activities to help the group settle in and get to know each other.
3. Focus on the “knowables”
To build our teens’ confidence and reduce nerves, we need to help their brains feel safe and in control. We can do this by focusing on the things that they know or are familiar with.
Perhaps they’ve visited the country before, tried similar activities or have previously integrated well into a new group. Bring their attention to anything that might feel familiar.
BeVenturesome set up a group WhatsApp before the trip, which created an early sense of familiarity, so ask your tour operator if they do something similar to support.
4. Agree how you’ll keep in touch
It’s a tricky balance, wanting to hear from our kids without creating a dependence on contact, so you might agree to touch base every evening rather than throughout the day.
When you do hear from them, you want to give them the sense that you trust them – and the company they are travelling with. So rather than asking about logistics or what friends they are making (which can make them feel under pressure), focus on their experiences and show interest in the activities they are taking part in.
5. Validate how your teen is feeling
Sometimes we tell our children not to worry, as we think it will help them be more positive – but it can feel dismissive.
Ultimately it is nerve wracking going abroad on your own for the first time with a group of people you don’t know, so reassure them it’s natural to feel nervous.
Encourage them talk to you about the bits they’re apprehensive about, as well as what they’re excited about and reassure them that the trip leaders are there to help them settle in and will support them every step of the way.
On a personal note (and this blog isn’t sponsored), I cannot recommend BeVenturesome highly enough for the support and reassurance they gave the group (and us parents!) before, during and after the trip. We felt well informed and safe, and – most importantly – my daughter came back excited and fulfilled by her adventures!
If you are interested in further parenting support, check out my online resources here:
All Products – Lisa Christie Coach
Or see my website and socials for further details of my work:
