How old before you let your kids go into the park unsupervised?

[mjkacmom]

Yeah probably wont do it unless they are like 16. 12 is a little young to be wondering around on their own. I get that they go on field trips, but even then they have chaperons close by. Our 8th grade field trip was over night in Louisville and we were always in groups, BUT we also had an adult w/ us all the time...and we were over 12.

Many middle schools let the kids wander in theme parks without adults with them. When I was 16, I was going into NYC with friends (and it wasn't even close to being as safe as it is now). I see your kids are very young. I don't know many 12 year olds who would not be able to be at WDW for a few hours without adult supervision.

 

[monorailsilver]

I was around that age (maybe going into 8th grade, not sure) when my parents let me roam the parks with out them.

It was myself, my cousin (well my mom's cousin's kid) & his twin cousins.

At first we'd be in the same park as them & meet them at certain spots (this was the 80's folks so pre cell phone days!!).

Then as the years progressed they let us go on our own if we wished at night-we'd stay in the MK after MSEP & go ride rides until midnight/1am & our parents would go back to the room to sleep.

When we'd watch Illuminations, we'd run back to the monorail when that was over & head to the MK to do the rides there.

 

[kra623]

Thank you all for the responses. I am typically very overprotective of my daughter and I think that I'm feeling that it's time to loosen the reigns a bit and let her have some independence.

I also think that Disney feels so familiar to me that I think it will be a good place to start vs a vacation to somewhere we've never spent time.

As of now, I think I will plan to let her explore a park for a morning or afternoon with me on site at the park and her and girlfriend with a cell phone. Then play it by ear.

Also, I would make sure that her girlfriend's mother was OK with it before I let them out of my sight for a minute.

 

[LaRosaLoca]

Honestly, my son is 12 and has a cell phone with a GPS "family finder" enabled on it. I've told him I trust him enough to let him explore the park on his own for up to an hour at a time, but that if he misses a scheduled meet-up with the rest of the family, that the privilege is then over. We'll be in the same park with him, but I plan on having him meet up with us at scheduled intervals. and if he's late because of a long line at a ride, he needs to text us.

Technology can be very helpful here. Good luck!

 

[SnootyBear]

I think it just depends on the child. I would talk to the other child's parents though and make sure they were okay with it.

We are leaving this friday to head to Orlando, and my older kids (14 and 11) have cell phones. If they stick together, I have no issue with them wandering, as long as we meet at designated times or locations throughout the day. The younger ones (4 and 2) can't do a lot of the stuff the older one's are wanting to do.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think the biggest issues would be do they know what to do in an emergency? What if one of them gets really hurt? Will they be able to react? Another concern would be the other people at the park. What if their behavior causes an adult to yell at them or worse? We all like to believe our kids would never do such things but you never know. Something simple like climbing to sit on the railings while waiting on a line could set someone off, or what if they are using language that might not be nice? Of course none of us ever said a foul word around our parents but I bet many of us has used a word or two that wasn't so nice when they weren't around.

Now I am not saying yours or anyone else's kids are heathens but you do have to look at it realistically and cover all your bases. FTR- I was allowed a pretty good amount of freedom as a kid and to be honest I was very lucky that I never got hurt. Some situations were not the best and I can tell you that from those experiences I personally would not send my kids off alone at 12. Maybe let them ride the rides in one area while I sat on a bench and could see where they are going but that is about it.

 

[picktails]

I always find this discussion interesting, since on middle school trips the kids are allowed to roam (in groups) alone. Why all the disagreement? Do those people who think 11, 12, 13 is too young not allow their kid to go on school trips? Or is it a "city/country" thing (what you're used to)?
DS13 is going to Washington DC in May with school and the first thing they do on arrival is set them free (at one place) for 2 hours! There are rules of course...but still, why all the worry?

 

[XYSRUS]

I just think people want to see what other people are comfortable with. Am I too lenient? Am I too overprotective. I let my 11 yo, 10 yo and 7 yo off to do their own thing. They came back safe and sound and had a great time running their "village". They had cell phones and we were in the same park. Let's face it, they come running back when they run out of money! My kids know better than to run up the KTTW card w/o asking first!

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I would definitely let them be alone in the park. 7th graders go on all kind of field trips and are given even more freedom than that.
I would let them go to the pool or arcade on their own or Disney Quest, but at DQ I would want them to stay in the building not walk around DTD at night.
If they are used to some freedom I would let them ride the bus or monorail from the park to the resort.
I would let them go off away from me at BB or TL and just meet back for lunch at the chair or just to check in at some point in the day.
She'll have a great time with her friend!

I agree, as long as the other parent doesn't mind. My kids at 12 would have been fine running around with a sibling. (we didn't take friends.)

 

[kirstenb1]

We have season passes to BG in Williamsburg, and go there many times a year. Last year when our older dd was 11, I let her go on the coasters alone, while I waited with our 4 yr old in the little kids rides. Older dd would be gone for 30-60 minutes (depending on line wait times), then check back in and we did great.

OP, you say your dd has been to WDW a few times. This really helps, since she knows her way around the park.

 

[mama4]

I always find this discussion interesting, since on middle school trips the kids are allowed to roam (in groups) alone. Why all the disagreement? Do those people who think 11, 12, 13 is too young not allow their kid to go on school trips? Or is it a "city/country" thing (what you're used to)?
DS13 is going to Washington DC in May with school and the first thing they do on arrival is set them free (at one place) for 2 hours! There are rules of course...but still, why all the worry?

Really? When my oldest went to DC, their groups were always with an adult. In fact, that was his only field trip where I did not chaperone but even on smaller field trips, they were always with an adult at around that age.

I guess I worry because I'm their mom. As for me, being a parent I feel it is in my nature to worry. I am older, wiser, more experienced and more observant. It is in my children's nature to be care-free as they are younger, less experienced, not as observant of their surroundings. They will learn as they grow and they'll learn by watching how I react in situations. But while they are young, I am here to pick up their slack and keep them safe (and possibly deter any sickos out there)
Btw, as a parent of an older (ds19) son as well as three younger kids (ds8,ds6 &dd3), I see how this cautious nature has been passed down. Both my parents were exactly like I am about these issues and my ds19 is so careful and observant of smaller children, he has really impressed some adults who've witnessed it. He's always been that way too...since my neice was born when he was 7. He is very protective and watchful over all three of his siblings as well as his 4 younger cousins. In return, they respect and love him as they do the other adults who care for them.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Care free is nice. But there is a natural transition if allowed towards upper level thinking and maturity. A young teen given the right situation is allowed to enjoy the feeling of independence as well as the fun of being on one's own. But that is said as a gal who went on numerous mission trips and camps as a tween/young teen. I also send/sent my kids on the same for the same reasons. I guess that feelings and behaviors are passed down. I'd rather pass a quest for adventure than a feeling of caution. Different styles, and the world needs all kinds.

 

[mama4]

Good points Indiana Rose. All kinds indeed I do like to think we are instilling a love of adventure too though. We just gave our oldest son the gift of skydiving for his 19th. He loved it. He has had many other adventures growing up as the only boy grandchild of my Dad's for 7 years
As for the other kids, we go camping, fishing, swimming at the family lake place, inner-tubing down the Ichetucknee river, stuff like that. We try to keep it balanced.
I think my petite (not), delicate (yeah-right), girly little flower princess will be my most adventurous of all. There isn't a thing my boys do that she will not attempt. She is speech delayed and had some motor delay because of a condition she was born with but she is full speed ahead now. This kid didn't walk until she was 18 mths old - now she roller skates, swims like a fish and will pretty much do whatever we will let her do.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

lol, I have bungee jumper. That one about gave me a heart attack when he was growing up. I personally would slit my wrists before I jumped!

I just believe that there are really good places to take some calculated risks that allow kids to mature. I know too many that arrive on college campuses never having had that opportunity, and they are prime for making huge mistakes. I am one of the people called when they wind up in the ER.

 

[mama4]

Ohhh yeah...bungee jumping. Brave kid. My heart skips a beat just thinking about that. That is not a sensation I care to experience. Ds wants me to go with him sometime but I'll just have to refrain as we just really can't afford it right now Yup, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

I realized I strayed off topic beginning at my first post..sorry OP. I think 12 is a bit young to tour the park alone or with a friend but getting in line for a ride and meeting up with you guys nearby, I could see myself doing that. Ds had a cell phone at that age and we probably did this once or twice at Busch Gardens. But he wasn't away from us for more that 30 minutes at a time and always with a friend. I think he was 15 when he first went off alone (with a friend) in a park. Many things came into play too. Where we were, which friend, my sons maturity level at the time. He really matured rapidly between the ages of 14 and 16. There were situations I felt very unsure of at age 14 that I wouldn't think twice about letting him do at age 16 because he was so much more mature. At age 12 though, complete goofball. Especially when he was around his friends.

 

[nmmom95]

To be honest, I think it completely depends on the child. I have a 12 year old and I would not let him in the park alone. I'm not comfortable with his judgment, which is a nice way of saying he has his head up his butt like 90% of the time. My 6 year old? He'd be fine. I would never actually leave a 6 year old alone, LOL, but when he is 12, I'm sure he could handle it. I don't think it's unreasonable to give a 7th grader a little freedom, as long as the friend's parent are ok with it.

 

[Hannathy]

lol, I have bungee jumper. That one about gave me a heart attack when he was growing up. I personally would slit my wrists before I jumped!

I just believe that there are really good places to take some calculated risks that allow kids to mature. I know too many that arrive on college campuses never having had that opportunity, and they are prime for making huge mistakes. I am one of the people called when they wind up in the ER.

I agree with this 100%. It is the ones who are never allowed this safe freedom and learn to make decisions and yes sometimes mistakes before the stakes are dangerously high. Maturity and decision making skills are learned they aren't delivered thru the night by the street smarts fairy in the middle of the night on their 16th birthday! ( or whatever age some of the folks on here think they can finally be allowed off the tether)

 

[unbeknownst]

Really just make sure you talk to the parents! When I was 12 I was invited to a concert at the local theme park for a friend's birthday. The mom dropped all of us off, and came back to pick us up later. We actually ended up leaving the concert because my friend got bored and wandering all over the park. I called my mom crying because I didn't go on roller coasters and they left me. My parents were livid and I was never allowed to hang out with that friend again.

But if the parents are okay with it, I think 12 is fine as long as you're nearby in the park.

 

[PinkRhombus]

Ha...when I was 8 or so, I ran off from my parents and had a BLAST in the MK by myself. That was in the late 70's. Probably gave them a heart attack, but they allowed us to be somewhat independent at an earlier age. We had a farm and chores and such.

I wouldn't dare allow my kids to do that when they reach age 8...but at 12 I probably would in the same park. With phones.

 

[princessmom29]

I would say let them go a couple of hours at a time, as long as they check in at the appointed time. This is the way we handle middle school field trips. The kids stay in groups of 3 or more in the museum, or wherever else we are going, and have a check in time.