aggieamy Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Would you let your (very responsible, sensible, never caused any trouble) 10 year old go to the movies (G-rated, small theater, you would drop off/pick up, she would have a phone) alone? What about with a friend? I know that there will be all sorts of opinions on this and I look forward to hearing them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 It would depend on the child. Is she a responsible person who will advocate for herself / get up and report to an adult if something uncomfortable happens? Then yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Kate Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Nope! My ds is 10 and he is fairly responsible. But I wouldn't let him go to the movies alone (or with a friend yet). I'm just not comfortable with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Maybe with a friend but not alone. I'm a fan of the buddy system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooCow Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 with a friend, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Yes. ETA: at eleven I was taking two public buses across the city to school. At ten, Hobbes was roaming the public access woods on his own. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Probably not at 10. I wouldn't mind if she and a friend wanted to sit apart from an adult in the same theater but I wouldn't do a drop off situation at that age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Not alone, but with a friend, and not until they are 12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Yes, if I thought both kids were responsible enough. I'd be OK with dropping off my oldest with some of his friends, not others - he's 10. I can't imagine letting him see a movie alone - he would never want to so I just can't imagine it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlessedMom Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 No Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 With a friend, and if they were both pretty mature. One of my children would have been fine at 10, the other not so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilma Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Sure! As long as I knew and and thought well of the friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 With a friend, yes. Actually, I should qualify that to yes, at some theaters. We have quite a few around here. Some I would be fine with, others are rowdier and magnets for trouble. I wouldn't want them hanging out in the lobby of those if their ride was delayed for some reason. A 10-yr-old wanting to go completely alone would probably make me slightly suspicious, lol. That probably wouldn't happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Nope. I didn't take them with me either. They were 14 before we went to a movie and had only seen a few select videos at home.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirth Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 No to either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camelfeet Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Yes, with a friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 No. At 10 my kids could sit away from the adults with their friends in the same theatre. I think they were 13 before I started letting them go by themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Coast Sue Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Not in the area where I live currently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinivanMom Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 No, not alone. I think my 10-yr-old is responsible enough to be left with a friend (I attended the movies with friends at that age), but I still wouldn't do it. Unfortunately, I have to take into consideration our local laws and attitudes about leaving elementary age kids on their own in public places, and I think it could be a potentially sticky situation if a busy-body were to notify CPS. Your state or county may have different laws and attitudes about this issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Maybe, with a friend. Depends on lots of variables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share Posted June 4, 2014 No, not alone. I think my 10-yr-old is responsible enough to be left with a friend (I attended the movies with friends at that age), but I still wouldn't do it. Unfortunately, I have to take into consideration our local laws and attitudes about leaving elementary age kids on their own in public places, and I think it could be a potentially sticky situation if a busy-body were to notify CPS. Your state or county may have different laws and attitudes about this issue. Interesting point. My 10 year old is 5 foot tall and could pass for an older kid. Her friend that she would go with is actually older but looks younger because she is little. She's probably 60 pounds and maybe 4' 6". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 With a friend or sibling - yes. Alone - no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 No. The only two theaters in town that are stand alone are in less secure areas. The other theaters are part of mall/shopping structures and 10 year olds are not allowed to be on the premises unsupervised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 With a friend, yes. Alone, no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Maybe with a friend depending on the theater... BUT I know I've seen a few signs in theaters with an age limit for unattended minors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Also a fan of the buddy system. My newly 10 year old just got a phone. That would help. Would depend on the theater, but there are circumstances I would allow it with a friend if the theater didn't have rules against it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 With a friend, yes. Alone, no. One of them would need a phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 As others have said, check local regs. And check theater regs. And really be certain you consider the theater safe. No matter how responsible kids are, they may find themselves in a situation they are unprepared to handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I let mine. She prefers to go with a friend/sib though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Friend(s) - yes Alone - no but then I tend to think of going to the movies as a social activity even though you are in the dark. So I wouldn't go to a movie all by myself and would think of it as a very lonely thing to have a child do. (And yes, I know there are people who prefer it.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 It would probably depend on what part of the country I lived in and how safe it was for kids to be out alone. If I felt it was a safe area then probably yes, with a friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 No, and I'm the parent who rarely says no to my children. My kids were 14 before I started dropping them off at a theater or mall with lots of friends. I would need at least 3 people to go, more would be preferable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In2why Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Yes with a friend. I don't think any of mine would have wanted to go alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Nope. To many gangs and stupid teens looking for someone to harass. I didn't allow it until they were teens and had a bit more street smarts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share Posted June 4, 2014 I think the problem is if a stranger were to try to kidnap them before you ever arrived to pick them up. Or sat by them, harassed them, etc. My concerns would be more about adults they come into contact than anything else. Dh likes to remind me that we live in a very dangerous area as far as sex trafficking goes so I cannot shake those thoughts. That's a good point. I live in the capital of Boring McBoring Boringville. The population at the theater the kids would go to would be yuppie moms with little kids and older people. It's an interesting situation because about 40 years ago this area used to be new families and those people have slowly grown older and it's just recently that young families have started moving back in. Half of the population are couples in their 70's and the other half care couples in their 30's with one child under the age of 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I think I started letting my sibling pair go to the movies without me when they were 13 and 10. The 13 year old could go alone or with friends but the 10 year old needed to go with his older sister. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivey Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Yes, with a friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckles Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Yes. I would drop off no more than 20 minutes before start time unless I expect a large crowd at the ticket window and I would be waiting to pick up. Many theaters have had problems with teens and have a strictly enforced no loitering policy. My son went to a professional hockey game at 9 with a friend and a major league basebal game with same friend thouh the other boys father was at the ball park but not on the same level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I wouldn't leave a 10 year old girl anywhere in public. A boy (especially a strong/tall one) maybe.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Added note: Movie theaters seem to be stricter than other venues. The hockey game required kids to be 8 but one theater we were at required them to be 12 on afternoons without an adult or 17 without an adult after 8 Friday and Saturday nights wih bo one under the age of 8 even with a parent. The policy was needed as people were bringing their toddlers to the late late showings of R rated violent movies and the screaming child disturbed the rest of the movie goers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMamaBird Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 With what you've described I'd say No to going alone, but if they were with a friend and understood that they were never to be separated, even to use the restroom, I'd allow it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 That's a good point. I live in the capital of Boring McBoring Boringville. The population at the theater the kids would go to would be yuppie moms with little kids and older people. It's an interesting situation because about 40 years ago this area used to be new families and those people have slowly grown older and it's just recently that young families have started moving back in. Half of the population are couples in their 70's and the other half care couples in their 30's with one child under the age of 5. I don't want to sound paranoid, but there are plenty of sweet-looking "little old grandpas" who turn out to be child molesters. Obviously, the vast majority of people of any age would never harm a child, but of the small minority that would, there aren't any age restrictions on the behavior. It's not like people reach a certain age and stop abusing kids. In reality, it probably makes it easier for them to get away with it when they look old and harmless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 With a friend, yes. In fact, I have with my sons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Yes, I would also let him go also. Caveat: friend has to be as responsible as my child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 With a friend, assuming the child was eager and generally good at self regulating, sure. When I was 9 I was taking my brother to the movies. We didn't even get a ride, we walked over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoorsy Type Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I would not because I feel that the movie theater shouldn't be a babysitter/responsible for my child. I would wait until my child was the legal age to be left alone at home before I left him/her at a public place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LLMom Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Yes, I would. I am a "free-range" parent. I did all sorts of things at that age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.