Snipping the apron strings to let the kids go camping

Gwen Loughman explores the benefits of camping for kids, but looks at the problem of parental fear around letting go

By dint of his position in the family, our first born is paving the way for everyone else; his parents and younger brothers. He alluded to “going to different places and meeting more people” as one of the best things about having recently celebrated his tenth birthday.

But then he came home from Scouts with news that a trip to an adventure centre in Wales is in the offing. It will be his first time away from home by himself. He very much wants to go.