12-year old that thinks he should be with teens

[debm]

We have sailed 4 times in the last few years and my oldest son who will be 12 this summer has only spent about 30 minutes total in the lab! He just doesn't like planned activities. We allowed him to sign himself in and out but I think he just wants more "freedom" in the Lab. Even though they've told us he can just come to play video games, etc. he is under the impression that he will HAVE to do the crafts, and games, etc. So this year when we sail in August for 2 weeks for the repositioning he will have just turned 12 and he is telling me that he thinks he should be with the older kids. Of course I don't think he would be allowed and I'm not really sure I would want him in the Stack anyways but has anyone else had this situation? He is also only about 52 inches and not even 60 pounds!! people always ask if he is 7 or 8 and "flip out" when I say he is 11 and 5th grade. We trust him with the run of the ship. Yes, I get nervous but he mostly just stays in the room or goes to Deck 9 for fries and a coke or to get towels to make towel animals. It is his vacation too so I try to understand that he just wants to watch TV or go to the movies. So anyone else have a "I'm too mature for this Lab" type of kid???

 

[scrapperjill]

YEP!!! Our dd who was 11 when we last cruised...and will be 12 when we go again...just didn't like the lab and the things they had there. She enjoyed roaming the ship, making new friends, going to the shows/movies and ordering room service. She has not mentioned anything about wanting to be in the Stack this year..and I'm not sure she'd actually want to spend much time in there if she was allowed. I might add...that she is also on the SMALL side for her age....her little sister who is 6...is only a head shorter than her. She gets those same "Oh my gosh " looks when we tell people she's 11 and in 6th grade.

The only thing that would worry me about letting her be in the teen area instead of the lab...would be the wide range in ages. The age that they are going into now is such a hard age....and so much changes from 12-17... Think of the matruity level between those age group I'm just not sure if I'd want my dd12 mixed in with 16-17yolds. Maybe I'd feel a little more relaxed if she had a friend along also (which may be the case....her friend who'll be 13 may be going along also...but that's still up in the air). But then again...if i'm letting her roam the ship and have the freedom to enjoy her vacation also...then why not let her try the Stack if that's what she is wanting to do. She knows the diffrences between right and wrong... good and bad...and knows what she should/shouln't do...if she didn't I wouldn't feel comfortable letting her have check out privlages in the first place. I also think...if she didn't feel comfortable there she wouldn't stay...and wouldn't go back.

I do know with DCL at times you can try kids in diffrent club that are out of their age range on a "trial basic"...one to see if they fit in and can go with the flow...and two if the councler feel they are fitting in also....but if you switch groups...you can't switch back. In other words you can't go from the lab to the stack and back to the lab as you wish...you have to enroll in one or the other.

 

[ivanova]

We'll be on the Aug repo as well. One of our group is 12 and will be 13 about 6 weeks after the cruise.

This is what DCL has told us:

1. The decision to let an under-13 year old into the teen area is ultimately up to the teen counselors. They will interview him/her and if they feel he/she is old enough, they "might" let them in on a trial basis (blow it though, and your out for good).

2. Since the Aug repo cruise is during the summer break, expect it to be LOADED with kids. With that said, if the teen area is near or at capacity, they might now be able to let anyone "bump up" from the lab.

3. If there are other kids in the FAMILY that are in the teen club, that might be a factor in deciding if an "almost 13" can get in.

My guess is if your son just turned 12 and isn't anywhere near his 13th birthday, and no one else in your family will be in the teen club, the odds might be a long-shot that he'll be allowed into the teen club.

But if you want to try, you can escort him to the stack before we sail, and see what the teen counselors have to say about it.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

So anyone else have a "I'm too mature for this Lab" type of kid???

While 10 year-old DD hasn't said 'mature,' she definitely does not like the lab, and prefers to do as your DS. She's happy to sit on a deck chair with her gameboy, watch a movie in the room, go to the arcade, or up to Deck 9 for fries.