Posted by Alex Forbes on August 25, 2009 at 19:20:50 user Pitsligo.
In Reply to: Re: The boundaries of parental responsibility posted by Adam Quinan on August 25, 2009 at 18:12:43:
It may be that this child could succeed, but I would like to see evidence that they had had the training and developed the skills needed and that there have been some trial runs on less challenging adventures first.
Well said. Your previous paragraph, too.
If they've proven themselves, then age doesn't matter a whit, but there are, admittedly, more considerations when allowing such a youngster to undertake an adventure of such magnitude. Better drowned than duffers, of course, but you don't have to be a duffer to drown when you've gotten in well over your depth. Without experience, it can be tough to tell how deep you're in.
I worry sometimes, when I hear of such expeditions, whether it is the child's adventure, their own undertaking, or the parents' vicarious adventure.
Alex