Think creatively about whether there is someone in your family who could go with him/her. Someone who is retired, perhaps? Or people who could alternate? I wouldn't let my child do this alone at this age-- probably not til senior year.

My sister basically did this for ballet. She is a professional ballet dancer today.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what it is.

I sent my DS away for hockey. Good choice for us. There is little abuse in the hockey system (of the sexual variety), and really not of any other kind either. We see him often, and he loves where he is.

I do not know enough about some of the other options to help, but I do know that dance would make me more nervous due to some of the other pressures--body issues, sexual. But maybe I'm just a victim of ignorance and too many Lifetime movies there.

I think dance is a little less of a risk for that kind of abuse because the adults are mostly female and the male adults are mostly gay.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what it is.

I sent my DS away for hockey. Good choice for us. There is little abuse in the hockey system (of the sexual variety), and really not of any other kind either. We see him often, and he loves where he is.

I do not know enough about some of the other options to help, but I do know that dance would make me more nervous due to some of the other pressures--body issues, sexual. But maybe I'm just a victim of ignorance and too many Lifetime movies there.

Don't make the assumption that there is no abuse in hockey, just because it is a more masculine sport. Abuse in kids sports programs is not just limited to gymnastics and wrestling:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.necn.com/news/new-england/Youth-Hockey-Coach-Faces-More-Indictments-on-Child-Sex-Abuse-Charges-477738663.html%3famp=y

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/police/92886611-132.html

http://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/youth-hockey-coach-charged-in-sexual-abuse-of-boy/article_39112043-fd3d-5567-b945-345f981e44be.html

NHL and high level players abused by Canadian youth program coach after being sent away to train:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/amphtml/1997/0116/011697.intl.intl.2.html

These were just the first four hits when I googled "youth hockey abuse".

It goes on for pages with different coaches.

Anonymous wrote:Is your child mature enough to finish high school on line?

My child would not have been.

My super immature, dropped out of high school because of mental health issues kid finished online. That would be the least of my worries.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what it is.

I sent my DS away for hockey. Good choice for us. There is little abuse in the hockey system (of the sexual variety), and really not of any other kind either. We see him often, and he loves where he is.

I do not know enough about some of the other options to help, but I do know that dance would make me more nervous due to some of the other pressures--body issues, sexual. But maybe I'm just a victim of ignorance and too many Lifetime movies there.

How have you dealt with him being away? Homesickness? How often do you see him? How do you stay connected with him out of the house? does he stay in a dorm or with another family? What other advice can you offer for things I might not have even though of?

Depends on what it is.

I sent my DS away for hockey. Good choice for us. There is little abuse in the hockey system (of the sexual variety), and really not of any other kind either. We see him often, and he loves where he is.

I do not know enough about some of the other options to help, but I do know that dance would make me more nervous due to some of the other pressures--body issues, sexual. But maybe I'm just a victim of ignorance and too many Lifetime movies there.

Only if a parent or other family member joined them

Yes I would.

This child is going into Freshman year?

Junior year without a doubt, yes.

8th grade probably not.

Freshman and sophomore year would depend on maturity.

For 1 of my kidsvyes, the other no.

If it is ballet OP, shat about a boarding school like Interlochen instead of apprenticeship with a ballet company?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: This is an activity for which teens typically go away at 17 at the latest. 14/15 is young but not unheard of. Child will definitely do this activity professionally. School will definitely be online. There is not academic program.

Sounds like hockey. If so, I know of several people who let theirs go away at 15 and 16 to train. They had no issues or complaints. Two went to Ivy League schools and then the NHL draft. Another skipped further schooling and went straight to the pros.

I think it is ballet.

OP said the kid would definitely go pro. Ballet is the only sport I can think of that has a professional option where a 17 it is a common result for a teen to enter the program and end up professional by the late teens.

It might happen very occassionally in a sport like hockey, but that kid is a real star and there is no definite or probable pro path that young.

Basketball players go pro very young too, but they stay at their local school and don't get sent away to train.

Anonymous wrote:OP here: This is an activity for which teens typically go away at 17 at the latest. 14/15 is young but not unheard of. Child will definitely do this activity professionally. School will definitely be online. There is not academic program.

Sounds like hockey. If so, I know of several people who let theirs go away at 15 and 16 to train. They had no issues or complaints. Two went to Ivy League schools and then the NHL draft. Another skipped further schooling and went straight to the pros.

OP here: This is an activity for which teens typically go away at 17 at the latest. 14/15 is young but not unheard of. Child will definitely do this activity professionally. School will definitely be online. There is not academic program.

Dance, then.
I would go with them to keep them safe. Too much potential for abuse without a parent or relative nearby.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: This is an activity for which teens typically go away at 17 at the latest. 14/15 is young but not unheard of. Child will definitely do this activity professionally. School will definitely be online. There is not academic program.

It sounds like you have already decided. Why are you soliciting opinions?

Child will definitely go away, sooner or later. I'm looking for advice and experiences from people who either went away as children to pursue an activity or parents who sent their children away.

What, exactly, is your concern about your DS going away? I did a year as an exchange student when I was 14 (turned 15 overseas). That was back in the day when international calls were expensive, there was no internet and letters took 7-14 days to arrive.