Colman Noctor: How much independence should we allow our teens?

"Along with assessing levels of independence individually, general guidelines and principles can help parents determine the right level for their teenager."

British TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp recently posted on social media that her 15-year-old son was interrailing around Europe without adult supervision. Picture: PA Photo/Channel 4/Keith Davies

British TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp caused quite a stir recently when she posted on social media that her 15-year-old son was interrailing around Europe without adult supervision. The local social safeguarding services subsequently contacted her, informing her that a file had been opened due to concerns about her son. This story has sparked a broader debate about how much freedom teenagers should be afforded. Some believe Allsopp has the right approach and that modern-day teens are molly-coddled and over-parented, while others view her approach as reckless and unsafe.

So, how much independence should our teenagers be allowed to have? To begin with, we cannot describe all teenagers as a homogeneous group. The developmental gap between a 13-year-old and a 19-year-old needs to be acknowledged. However, my rule of thumb is that all teenagers should have as much independence as they can safely manage.