Enforcement of 14 yr old restriction

[Magpie]

Estranged parent abductions are among the most likely kidnappings. And if your family has a situation where there is a non-custodial parent or other estranged/enraged relative (or if you recently knocked off a drug lord, as someone mentioned upthread), then it makes total sense to me that you wouldn't leave your kids alone at a park. But I'm working on the assumption that the OP doesn't have any weird estranged relatives or other arch-enemies out to get her and her kids.

As for injuries/lost kids/ride breakdowns/etc. Absolutely they can happen. And dealing with them can certainly be stressful for a young teen. But my job isn't to remove all stress or fear from my kids' lives. A huge part of my job is giving them the skills and tools they need so that when stressful or scaring things happen they can deal with them well. And giving them small bits of freedom and responsibility is one of the best ways to help them develop those skills and tools.

A couple years ago there was a disser who backed out of booking a Wild Africa Trek with her son, after learning that everyone on the trek gets the same CD holding the entire party's pictures. She said she didn't want strangers having pictures of her son, because it just made it too easy for them to track him down for their own nefarious purposes. I've always kind of hoped that she was actually in the witness protection program, or hiding out from a dangerous ex, and couldn't explain her real reasons for her fear.

 

[whiporee]

And most of those things could have happened when I was babysitting at age 12.

We do our kids a disservice if we try to prevent them from encountering any risk. Because when you drop them off at college (and FTR, I did actually cross the threshold of his room when we helped him move in that day) they will need to know how to deal with what life throws at them. You won't be there to clear the path for them.

All in favor of giving kids responsibility, but the babysitting analogy doesn't work. Babysitting takes place at home, in familiar settings, with doctors' and emergency numbers nearby. The babysitter is in charge if something happens, and that's a good batch of responsibility. And if the kids misbehave, the only one suffering is your family.

At a theme park you're giving the responsibility to other adults who didn't sign up for it. If something happens, CMs and other patrons will be the ones helping a hurt or injured kid out. And if the kids act up, the other people who paid for the day are the ones who bear the consequences.

 

[ssreward]

The kidnapping was only one possible thing that could happen, accidents, getting lost, any number of things. Yes many things a 14 year old can handle. However if their is a major injury , or the younger child is lost for a long time, there can be extreme emotional issues.

I stand by my position, a 14 year old watching young 10 or younger yet child in a busy theme park or other venue of some type is not right. This is the parents or adults job.

The more responsible the 14 year old is, the more to heart they would take a harm coming to the younger child. I would not subject that kind of thing on the teen. Home. local, a whole different thing.


AKK

In Indiana, you can get *married* at 15 so I'd say if you're possibly only a year away from having your own family - you can probably handle watching your sibling...

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

In Indiana, you can get *married* at 15 so I'd say if you're possibly only a year away from having your own family - you can probably handle watching your sibling...

and more likely getting married at 15 is way to young, in fact, forget more likely, it is way to young period.

AKK

 

[ssreward]

and more likely getting married at 15 is way to young, in fact, forget more likely, it is way to young period.

AKK

Then you don't even *want* to know the stats on teen pregnancy...I think it'd be nice if more of them got married, lol

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Well, I think that's a relatively recent phenomena. 25 years ago we didn't have adults following teenagers around everywhere. We also didn't have parents attending office hours with college professors, or kids with degrees living at home until they are in their 30s. I do agree by and large it seems American society places less emphasis on producing independent and responsible kids, but that doesn't mean it isn't promoted in individual circumstances.



I so agree with this and would add alot.

1. We now have parents who go to school and instead of asking therir lil angels why they have bad grades, they yell at the teachers.

2. If a teacher disciplines their dear child for yelling at the teacher, or even striking the teacher, the parent complain to the administration and the teacher gets the penalties. God forbid the teacher defends him or herself, the teacher is jailed.

3. The government doesn't let kids work after school anymore. How are they ever going to ever understand what it means to learn a buck and learn how to spend it.

4. When sort programs are above a education even at h high school level, something is really up side down.

5. When kids are no learns what maners are and seem to think they can say and do anything to adults and other kids, without paying the price.......something is really up side down.

6. When kids seem to think they are deserved this or that and not work for it, something is up side down.

7. When parent who pay the college bills are not sent the grades, something is really up side down.

8. When college keep building palaces instead of COLLEGE Campuses and the parents and the kids cannot afford to pay the costs...something is really up side down.

9. When police are cussed at, rocks thrown at them and out right attacked, something is up side down.

10. If a child can get a abortion without telling their parents, something is really up side down.


I can go on, children need to be taught right from wrong and how to be responsibility, and that they may not get their Carvel Ice Cream cake every year!

But it also means the parents ed to teach them ....show them right from wrong and how to be responsibility, Ther parents need to do their job.....which includes not over burdening them to soon.


*steps off the soap box*



AKK

 

[Allison]

All in favor of giving kids responsibility, but the babysitting analogy doesn't work. Babysitting takes place at home, in familiar settings, with doctors' and emergency numbers nearby. The babysitter is in charge if something happens, and that's a good batch of responsibility. And if the kids misbehave, the only one suffering is your family.

At a theme park you're giving the responsibility to other adults who didn't sign up for it. If something happens, CMs and other patrons will be the ones helping a hurt or injured kid out. And if the kids act up, the other people who paid for the day are the ones who bear the consequences.

A theme park is no different than what I said earlier about letting my children go out to eat, to get ice cream, to basketball and football games, etc. I'm not going to go to every event with my child on the off chance something goes wrong and they need help from someone or if they might act up. They need to learn to be a part of the world without me at their side.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Then you don't even *want* to know the stats on teen pregnancy...I think it'd be nice if more of them got married, lol

But if they cannot figure out that the drug stores on the corner, have the stuff to prevent them getting pregnant, they are not any more ready to be married and marriage will likely cause more harm then good.

AKK

 

[ssreward]

But if they cannot figure out that the drug stores on the corner, have the stuff to prevent them getting pregnant, they are not any more ready to be married and marriage will likely cause more harm then good.

AKK

I don't disagree but it still happens. And it also represents a very recent cultural shift - it wasn't so long ago that a girl would be considered a spinster if she was still single at 20...

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Then you don't even *want* to know the stats on teen pregnancy...I think it'd be nice if more of them got married, lol

Actually it would be nice if they stopped having sex. Therefore preventing the possibility of pregnancy.

A baby doesn't make someone mature. Nor does a wedding.

 

[Allison]

So what was the original topic?

 

[ssreward]

So what was the original topic?

How old you need to be to exist alone in public without offending anyone, I think

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

So what was the original topic?

I think it was, I want to send my under 14 to the parks alone. Can I get away with it?

 

[mjkacmom]

Colleges absolutely should not mail the grades to the parents. When parents pay tuition, they are actually giving their children money to pay for college. If I pay for my college aged child's medical bills, I am not privy to her medical records. Not my business.

Dd19 tells us her grades, and I expect ds18 to tell us his grades starting next year. College business is between them and their universities.

 

[Magpie]

Colleges absolutely should not mail the grades to the parents. When parents pay tuition, they are actually giving their children money to pay for college. If I pay for my college aged child's medical bills, I am not privy to her medical records. Not my business.

Dd19 tells us her grades, and I expect ds18 to tell us his grades starting next year. College business is between them and their universities.

You're lucky!

We've got one university student who happily shows us her grades. The other one... I think he's passing all his courses. Probably.

I'm definitely not advocating that schools mail out grades. These are adults, and their grades are their business. But, I do understand the frustration when you've got a kid who tells you nothing! Especially when you're putting money into their education.

 

[pooch]

There can be child predators everywhere. Does that mean that we lock up our kids until they are 18? No trips to the movies, the mall, field trips, going to a birthday party, no practices, school...

Well I worked for a major department store in a mall for many years. Friday nights were apparently "drop your underage, inappropriately dressed tweets off and run". We spent every Friday night shooing them off the beds and sofas in the furniture department.

 

[chelynnah]

15 years ago there was very little internet........AKK

I think you're getting your years mixed up. 15 years ago there was much SLOWER internet, but there was definitely internet in a majority of homes. In fact it was about then that I switched from dialup to cable.

Now if you'd said 20 or 25 I'd have been on board with that statement.

Personally I've been reading snopes since 1997 or 98

 

[ssreward]

I'm only 35 but I feel so dated, lol - I remember when AOL charged by the minute, probably about '92

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I really think the rule was developed more for DL than WDW, anyway. Parents were buying annual passes to DL for their children & using it as daycare (drop off in morning, pick up in evening).

A problem at a local water park where I live.

 

[whiporee]

I'm only 35 but I feel so dated, lol - I remember when AOL charged by the minute, probably about '92

AOL and Compuserve were by the minute up until 1996, and you couldn't get on, because of busy signals.

Once I discovered chat rooms, I racked up some serious bills back then.