What can you do at 16?

Another month and another birthday in our family. There always seems to be a birthday going on and this time it is the turn of the teen as he turns 16.

“So what can I do when I turn 16 then?” he asked me the other day.

Erm well …. I had to think about it. Well, actually I had to enlist the help of good old Google to help as I wasn’t really sure.

16 is a funny age. It was more of what I would call a milestone birthday when I was younger. I remember being really excited about turning 16. Many people left school at 16, it seemed far more grown up somehow.

Maybe because these days teens who have finished their GCSEs stay on in education or in apprenticeships, it isn’t so dramatic? A lot of my friends chose to leave school to get a job at 16 and very few teens do that now.

So what can you do when you turn 16?

You can get married or register a civil partnership with consent.  That seems quite scary.  My son is mature for his age but I’m not sure he is ready to jump into marriage.  I think we can wait a few years for that one thank you very much.

You can drive a moped.  Now, I have to admit that I have never ever ridden a moped (I know I haven’t lived, right?) I would quite like to, but I am pretty sure my very image conscious teen would rather wait for 17 to some and drive something more exciting than head out on the streets on a moped.  From a parental point of view, the roads are dangerous enough in a car, so I’m not sure that I would really want to have any of my kids pootling around on mopeds.

You can have consensual sex with “others” who are 16 and over.  This is quite a biggie.  My son laughed at this one and said does “others” mean with more than one person at a time?  I blushed and said that well yes, but generally the plural was referring to a select few, one at a time. Moving on swiftly.

You can drink wine or beer with a meal if accompanied by someone over 18.  Having been through this ‘coming of age’ before, I am only too aware of a teenager’s fascination with the consumption of alcohol.  My husband and I aren’t big drinkers, so we do say to the boys that drinking isn’t really the be all and end all.  However, I also see that this is a phase that most teenagers go through, so I do let them have the occasional drink at home on special occasions and would be happy to let them if we are out for a meal for a special occasion. Having said that, the very nearly 16 year old does occasionally go to parties and drink, which I am fine wit as long as he tells me and is sensible. We have only had one disastrous evening with this system and suffice to say, I think he learnt from his mistakes on that occasion.

It is possible to join the Armed Forces if your parents consent.  I’m sure for some 16 year olds this is an incredible opportunity and as my husband reminded me, many 16 year olds fought in the two world wars.  I can’t imagine what it would be like to send my son away to join the army let alone fight in a war but I suppose if that was what he had set his heart on doing, I would have to let him go.  Fortunately for me, it isn’t something he is considering but I know that for some 16 year olds it is an amazing experience.

Many of the ‘exciting things you can do when you are 16’ are work related.  You get your National Insurance number. It isn’t a card anymore, just an official letter containing your number. You can work full-time if you have left school and earn the minimum wage for 16 or 17 year olds. It is also an option to join a trade union (woo hoo!)

On the medical front, 16 year olds can consent to their own medical treatment, attend appointments on their own and choose their own GPs if they want. But prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests only continue to be free if you are in full-time education. At 16, you can also register to be a blood donor, however, you can’t donate blood until you are 17.

There are some other random things on the list.  Changing your name by deed poll, this led to a ridiculous conversation about possible names he could have and he has gone away to consider this (go help us), you could also pilot a glider (again, god help us).  !6 year olds can also apply for their own passports, this pleases me a lot as I hate having to do that job for myself, let alone everyone else.  And you can buy a lottery ticket or premium bonds.  My son would have no clue what premium bonds are but he is quite excited at the prospect of going out and buying himself a lottery ticket.

Maybe if he wins, he will be able to buy himself a glider or a moped?

When you look at the list, there is in fact quite a few things you can do when you turn 16, I was quite surprised to be honest.  Many of them seem far to grown up for him, but he is now six foot something, towering over me, shaving and pretty much a young adult.  I’m not ready for those things, he is still my little boy.  But still, getting married, moving out? No, I don’t think so, not just yet anyway.