This is how they are watching Thomas the Tank Engine… And so they are ready for their first train ride. Alone. That your child only wants to go to grandma by train. And that you find that very difficult, but still allow it. How do you take that further? From what age do you let your child travel alone by train? Of course that differs per child! One of our bloggers stood before this event. Together they had decided that her child would travel alone by train. For the first time. Read below what went through her mind and what she took into account.
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“The conductor blows his whistle loudly. The doors of the train close and my son waves enthusiastically. Today he makes his very first train journey. I mean without guidance. He doesn't think it's scary, traveling alone by train, but it is a bit exciting. And I. As we entered the station, he took my hand for a moment. We winked at each other. A too soon oversized lanky and his mother.”
“The preparations for this new step towards independence have been excellent. We left home on time and we still have enough time to buy a ticket. My mobile is charged. His for a change too. And he has ensured sufficient calling credit. The latter is allowed in the newspaper.
In addition, he neatly researched the departure times and platform numbers on the internet yesterday. He even wrote them down on a piece of paper and put them in his backpack. He then phoned Grandma to arrange where they would meet upon arrival. I did exactly the same from the office, only we didn't know about each other. But despite the good preparations, I think 'from what age do you let your child travel alone by train?' Of course I will take him away for a while. It's better for my blood pressure if I'm sure he got on the right train.”
What should you take into account in terms of age if your child is going to travel alone by train? That totally depends on your child. There are people who think that traveling alone by train for children is part of the upbringing. They therefore start early with 'practice'. These are often the people who regularly travel by train themselves.
Does your child panic easily? Then it is better that you postpone this event for a while. Because what goes on in your child's mind when the train comes to a standstill, for example? How does he/she deal with that? It is better not to let an 11-year-old child who panics quickly go alone for a while, while a 9-year-old child who is very confident may well travel alone by train.
Is your child looking forward to it? A little tension is not a problem at all, that is healthy in fact. If your child is going to travel alone by train and he feels like it, then everything will be fine.
Your child's problem-solving ability. Your child's problem-solving ability also plays a role. Is he/she able to handle an unexpected situation? Or does he/she have enough guts to approach someone else who can help in such a case?
The NS does not provide an exact answer about the age of your child when traveling alone. Mom and Dad can buy cheap train tickets for their children and a railrunner ticket between the ages of 4-11.
Do you travel a lot by train, together with your children? Then check out the Kids Vrij subscription on which children from 4 to 11 years old can travel with parents for free. The Kids free subscription can be requested free of charge from NS.
Children up to 3 years old travel for free with an adult. You could conclude from this that a 4-year-old child is allowed to take the train alone. Whether that is sensible, that seems to me to be the question.
Of course it is also important what kind of train ride it is. Can your child go from platform to platform without a stop and will he or are then at their destination? Is your child picked up at the other platform, or does a transfer have to be made (or, for example, further by tram).
Is your child going alone by train, is it a ride of a few hours, or is it 20-30 minutes? That also saves a lot. Certainly for a first train ride alone, a short ride might be sensible.
There are several ways you can prepare your child.
Do not immediately let your child travel alone by train, but first take a ride together, in which you let your child do the actions themselves. This way you can intervene yourself if necessary.
First of all, you will of course go through the train journey together. If your child travels alone by train, it is important for him or her to know where he or she stands. What to expect during the ride. How long does the ride take, what about the tickets? From which platform to which platform, etcetera.
A child who travels alone by train does not need to show ID under the age of 12. But suppose your son or daughter is 11, but is estimated to be older? Then it is very nice if he / she can show the ID. If you prefer not to give the original, make a copy just to be sure!
In addition to an ID proof, a mobile phone is of course also handy for your child and can't be imagined without it. In this way, the child can also contact you in a difficult situation. Very nice.
If your child has to travel by train at a very young age, then it might be something to read a number of books about it. In this way you playfully prepare them for what they can expect. Examples for nice books are:
“Then there are 45 long minutes. In the meantime I drive home and wait for a reassuring text message. But my mobile remains silent. Shall I text him then? No, but not. I have been approached before about my telephone behaviour. It's definitely not "über" if your mom calls, texts, or waves you off too much. Fortunately, he didn't make a problem of the latter today.
So I wait and suffer in silence. Well, not quite, because I tweet a quick message. There I find an audience with another father and two mothers who also let their child go by train alone. In moments like these, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one who finds 'letting go' the hardest part of parenting. When I have calculated that the train must have arrived at least fifteen minutes ago, I can't hold it anymore and call. "Yes, hello, with me." In the background I hear Grandma chatting to him. “Why are you calling me anyway?”.
Image used via Shutterstock
