13 year olds on their own at local amusement park?

[DopeyDame]

OP here - I spoke to the mom this morning. The parents plan to drive the girls up there and drop them off about 2pm. They are not going to stay in the immediate area the whole time but will head back over to the mall near the park for dinner and a movie and will pick them up about 930pm. I'm mostly ok with that plan and have decided to let my DD go. The mom did offer that if any of the parents weren't comfortable with that, she and her DH would stay in the park the entire time.

Reasons for letting her go (letting go!):

My DD is responsible and on the cautious side most of the time.
I will have her text me throughout the day (although I can probably follow along with their day on Instagram, lol).
The other girls that are going are good kids.
We've been to that park a ton of times and she knows it well.
She'll have her phone (it's practically glued to her hand) and her back up charger pack.
She has earned my trust.

Sounds like a fantastic, well thought out plan. I hope your daughter and her friends have an awesome time!

 

[TAX GUY]

Our son asked us this year if he could do something similar. He's 13.5 and his friends are between 13 and 14. We said no. Here's why..... our local park is Six Flags New England. I've heard far too many stories of "bad" kids/groups. Its not that I don't trust our son or even his friends, its the others that I don't know that I don't trust. I told him I would want a parent at least IN the park, in the event anything were happen. Now, other parks I would OK with. Small local fair's I don't have an issue with (again, its more of the "other" crowd that bothers me.

For me, it all boils down to the venue. Some places I would have no issues letting them go, others I wouldn't even WITH a parent!

 

[Minnesota!]

Yes. My 11 year old did it in May. I would certainly allow it at 13.

 

[sharona]

Our son asked us this year if he could do something similar. He's 13.5 and his friends are between 13 and 14. We said no. Here's why..... our local park is Six Flags New England. I've heard far too many stories of "bad" kids/groups. Its not that I don't trust our son or even his friends, its the others that I don't know that I don't trust. I told him I would want a parent at least IN the park, in the event anything were happen. Now, other parks I would OK with. Small local fair's I don't have an issue with (again, its more of the "other" crowd that bothers me.

For me, it all boils down to the venue. Some places I would have no issues letting them go, others I wouldn't even WITH a parent!

I'm from New England also but this is not a Six Flags trip, I probably would have said no to that also. This is Canobie Lake park in NH.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

I don't see a problem with it. I started roaming around our local amusement park with a friend or group when I was 9. Of course, at that age we were always there with someone's parents, they were in the park and we had to meet them at certain pre-arranged times, but then this was back before the existence of cell phones.

 

[JimMIA]

I think it all depends on the kid and the parent, and their comfort levels and also the activities involved.

My daughter recently turned 14 and she wanted to take her fellow figure skating Ice Princesses to South Beach for lunch...because of how beautiful, cool, elegant, and sophisticated they all are. It was an obvious choice for such beauties! And then, the divas wanted to go to the actual beach and splash around like they were 4...because that's the nature of the beast at 14 -- can't make up their minds whether they're young ladies or kids.

So, we took them to Lincoln Road where they had a specially reserved table outdoors (this was in March, lovely weather). DW and I sat a short distance away and did not interact with them at all as they sipped their virgin Margaritas and smiled demurely as the mere mortals gazed upon their radiance in awe. Except for the bill paying part, of course!

Then we headed to the beach. At the beach, we were right there watching them the whole time.

There were 7 girls, ranging in age from 12 to 16. All of the parents were fine with Lincoln Road, but for the beach part of the day, two sets of parents (the 12 y/o and one of the 16 y/o's) came to the beach with us. They weren't worried about pervs -- we were at a family-oriented part of the beach -- they were worried about them swimming in the ocean. The girls had a great time, and we had a good time with the parents.

 

[TAX GUY]

I'm from New England also but this is not a Six Flags trip, I probably would have said no to that also. This is Canobie Lake park in NH.

We did Canobie last year. I probably would there based on our experience in the park with other guests and staff. As long as a parent was close, I would be ok with it.

 

[Rhie]

I did that all the time. Mom would take me and a few friends to the local Six Flags. We would all agree to meet in an hour or three at an agreed on point, do some stuff together like at lunch or ride on things everyone liked, then wander off again. And this was in the 90s without cell phones. Now, it wouldn't be a problem at all since if you get worried you can just text your daughter and get pics and stuff.

 

[mjkacmom]

My 13 and 15 year olds are mucking around NYC with their friends today (Sugar Factory, high line). So yes, I'd be fine with an amusement park.

 

[kamik86]

At 13 my church would sent all the alter server and church kids each summer. There were a few adult chaprones but not many and the 13-15 year olds ended up being the charpones for the younger kids. So at that age I was trusted to take a group of kids around the park all day. (This was 6 flags new england but I think it was nicer back then, either that or I just didn't notice the bad stuff because I was a naive 13 year old kid.

 

[sharona]

So.... after all that... DD woke up this morning with an upset stomach and so did one of the other girls. They decided to reschedule since only 2 of them going would not be as fun. I believe the birthday girl and her other friend did something else today instead.

 

[King Schultz]

So.... after all that... DD woke up this morning with an upset stomach and so did one of the other girls. They decided to reschedule since only 2 of them going would not be as fun. I believe the birthday girl and her other friend did something else today instead.

Well that was anti-climactic.

 

[Bluestars]

I am sorry your daughter got sick. I am sure she appreciated that you were going to let her go. I would feel much more comfortable dropping my 13 year old off at an amusement park or water park than pretty much anywhere else because I would know that she would be in one place the entire time.

 

[shoney]

I would have no issue with it.
I don't understand the "something could happen"...something could happen and having a parent in the park isn't going to make a difference in my mind.

By 14 my son was taking the train and going around Manhattan. No destination...just hanging out and going where life takes them.

IMO, kids need to learn independence and they can only do that by getting a little freedom.

 

[Disney_traveler]

My only concern would be where/how far the adult chaperones would be. I'd feel better if they were at least somewhere in the park.