Letting kids wander around the ship

[mom4fun]

Just something to think about, most states will prosecute you if anything harmful happens to your child that is left alone at home before the age of 11 or 12.

 

[lbgraves]

Just something to think about, most states will prosecute you if anything harmful happens to your child that is left alone at home before the age of 11 or 12.

Most? If you look it up, only 5 states have a minimum age of 11 or higher for kids to be left home alone during the day, and 4 of those are only a recommended guideline and not a legal requirement. According to your information, you live in one of the states with a recommended age.

http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm

 

[I❤MICKEY]

If your child is in the Edge is there still a parent check in/out like the club or is it automatically set up that kids can come/go as they like? My boys are still too young for the Edge. Just curious.

 

[Kenny1113]

If your child is in the Edge is there still a parent check in/out like the club or is it automatically set up that kids can come/go as they like? My boys are still too young for the Edge. Just curious.

Yes at edge the kids come and go as they like. There is no parent checkin like at oceaneer club/lab

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Just something to think about, most states will prosecute you if anything harmful happens to your child that is left alone at home before the age of 11 or 12.

Sorry, but this just isn't true. Only 5 states have a minimum age that high, and it is rare that a parent who is not TRULY negligent. Parents don't get prosecuted when something happens to a kid who is of age according to the state and left in reasonable circumstances. Do I question the wisdom of sending an 8-10 year old home from school to an empty hours, yes, but is it illegal, no.

 

[Bree]

Too many sexual predators "out there" just waiting for "crimes of opportunity"! Cruise settings are "perfect" opportunity for these SICK molesters! If you can't watch your "precious" kids on a cruise, dont take them. RESPONSIBLE parenting!

Actually, your child has a higher chance of being molested by someone they know.

Anyway, my DS was 2.5 months shy of turning 11yo when we cruised. He made friends with other kids through our Dis group so we let him move up to Edge and hang out with them. He always had the wave phone with him and would call us when he was leaving and when he got to where he was going. I will say this though. If I EVER found out he was screwing around and causing trouble he would be put back into the club/lab so quick. If he was over the age limit for the club/lab I'd have no issue confining him to the cabin or making him hang out with his "boring" parents. Our DD was 8.5yo when we cruised and I let her go off with her brother once or twice for a short while.

 

[mom4fun]

Most? If you look it up, only 5 states have a minimum age of 11 or higher for kids to be left home alone during the day, and 4 of those are only a recommended guideline and not a legal requirement. According to your information, you live in one of the states with a recommended age.

http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm

That's interesting. We were taking care of two babies in foster care and we were told that we could not leave our own 11 year old home alone ever. I don't mean with the foster children, just by himself. They actually grilled him to make sure that we never had left him alone. Luckily, we never had. It was probably just one of their many stupid rules.

 

[jjje]

I don't think a cruise is all that perfect a setting for a molester. I worry about my kids far more when I send them to walk the two blocks to their grandparents house than I ever do when they're walking around the ship. I'm not saying it's absolutely impossible for anything bad to ever happen but I think the odds are pretty low. It seems like assaulting random kids on a cruise ship would be a great way for a molester to get caught.

 

[fairfax]

My kids are 9 and 11 and I don't let them go off on their own. When my daughter who is 11 wants to leave the Lab or Edge, she calls us to let us know where she is going so we can meet up with her. It's not that I don't trust them, I don't trust other people. We usually do most things together anyway. I work full time so cruises are a chance for us to do things together--and fortunately they are not at the stage yet where they don't want to hang out with mom lol.

 

[xlxo]

Just wondering... at what age are children allowed to walk to school? I assume a DCL cruise is safer than walking to/from school.

I assume there are security cameras on the cruise ship, although I did not see any. All those hidden mickey's.

 

[jerseygal]

I don't think a cruise is all that perfect a setting for a molester. I worry about my kids far more when I send them to walk the two blocks to their grandparents house than I ever do when they're walking around the ship. I'm not saying it's absolutely impossible for anything bad to ever happen but I think the odds are pretty low. It seems like assaulting random kids on a cruise ship would be a great way for a molester to get caught.

Wasn't there a sexual assault accusation by a crew member of a 13 year old on a Disney Ship when it was pulling into port the morning of the last of the cruise???? Just looked for the article that I saw...April 10, 2014 Orlando Sentinel...Sexual Assault Accusation of a 13 year old...

 

[3monkeys4me]

Wasn't there a sexual assault by a crew member of an adult on a Disney Ship when it was pulling into port the morning of the last of the cruise????

I don't think the PP was was trying to say that it never happens...just that it isn't any more likely to happen on the ship than anywhere else. Recently, in our hometown a HS student was assaulted at school in a bathroom by another student. Unfortunately, things can happen anywhere. However, statistically, most attacks on children are done by a family member to be or close friend. That doesn't mean you don't have vigilant.

To answer the original question, I think it is highly dependant on the child. I would look at what you normally do at home. My oldest is almost 11. At home she stays home by herself for an hour here and there, walks to a nearby park with a group of friends, rides her bike to a friends house a few blocks away, etc... I would be comfortable with her doing activities on the ship with a friend, with specific rules and a way to contact me. Now, Ds is 9 and in no way responsible enough to be alone. I would *consider* letting him do something with his sister or with his older cousin (who is also kida flighty, even though he is also 11, so maybe not! ) but mostly because he is the type to change his mind about where he was going and forget to notify me. He also would get caught up in whatever he was doing and wouldn't call/text or meet up when he was supposed to. Both my older two are total rule followers though. If I told them not to go in an elevator without an adult in our party or that they weren't allowed on certain decks they would follow that 100%. If they weren't or I had any reason to doubt them that would be the end of doing anything on their own.

 

[proud_canadian]

We had two instances on our cruise of kids not behaving what I would consider to be appropriate behavior, and they likely should have been supervised. One time we were doing the midship detective agency and two kids about 7-8 years old and alone, came up to my DD's and said "I know what the answer is to the mystery..." and told them, and then ran off giggling. Not the end of the world, but I would be very disappointed if my kids were doing that.

The other was a group of kids who ran onto the elevator when it stopped at a floor, pushed all the elevator buttons, laughed and screamed and then ran off the elevator. Again, not the end of the world, but, I wouldn't be too impressed if my kids were doing that. This group was a group of about four or five, 10-11 year olds.

Other than that, most of the kids we saw unsupervised were pretty well behaved!

 

[JanyJan]

this is not going to be a popular response but i just do not understand the mind set of someone not comfortable allowing their children to go unescorted at home but yet allow them to go unescorted on vacation. to me it should be the opposite if at all.
this is a floating city full of people you do not know. what would make this any safer? the very last thing i would allow my children to do is walk down any hallway on any ship alone. its just not safe. that being said it is everyones individual choice and the 'know your child' rule is a good one. keep in mind, when something happens, its seldom your childs issue. a predator is very good at what they do and a child often can't control that.
i certainly respect everyones thoughts on this and this is only my thought so please, no flames. please…...

I agree with this completely! The age I would let my kids wander the ship is the same as the age I would let them wander the local mall by themselves. Now, if it's just a question of leaving dinner early to go straight to the club or something like that, I would probably relax a little about it.

 

[ptcbass]

I agree with this completely! The age I would let my kids wander the ship is the same as the age I would let them wander the local mall by themselves. Now, if it's just a question of leaving dinner early to go straight to the club or something like that, I would probably relax a little about it.

I agree also. At home my DS has a friend that since he was young has been allowed to roam the neighborhood (and so have his sisters). I just doing get it and wouldn't allow it on a ship either. Also, sometimes it isn't about trusting your child either, it is about trusting those out there that may come in contact with your child. Then there are those that look at it that they are on vacation and that includes taking a vacation from being a parent. There are so many different ideas about what is "correct" parenting now days.

 

[palmtreesandshells]

I did consider it but but quickly changed my mind. Being a city dweller, I am always mindful of crime. Although we are on vacation, crime does not take a vacation.

 

[Savikins]

If your children are mature and know how to behave, I don't see a problem with it. I'd say the 8 year old is probably a bit too young to be wandering without the 10 year old, but the 10 year old is probably old enough to be on their own.

Just my opinion as a random child free 20 year old.

 

[lauradis]

Too many sexual predators "out there" just waiting for "crimes of opportunity"! Cruise settings are "perfect" opportunity for these SICK molesters! If you can't watch your "precious" kids on a cruise, dont take them. RESPONSIBLE parenting!

The risk of being caught and thrown over board by a hoard of pissed offed parents, would be high.

This would be the worst place to do "crimes of opportunity" you have no place to escape to.

 

[Michellynn]

Personally I wouldn't allow a younger child or even teenager (say under 15 or 16) to roam around a ship by themselves. Partially because of them being able to make smart choices when in a peer group (no matter how well behaved a child...they don't always think all the way through the results of their actions...and even less likely in a peer group). BUT, more importantly, because of the other passengers and crew on board. Children cannot control the actions of others, and at a younger age are even less likely to comprehend when a situation is about to get dicey and avoid it.

And for those of you that think assault is less likely to occur in a "contained" environment....well....perhaps you should do a little "googling" on the topic. You might change your tune. It was certainly eye opening for me.

http://www.cruisejunkie.com/SA.html

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

http://www.cruisejunkie.com/SA.html

I am in no way minimizing what the victims went through, but that is an almost insignificant number compared to the hundred million plus passengers and crew for those 7 years.

It all comes down to common sense and being aware of your environment. If someone thinks their child can handle the freedom, it is their choice to grant it.

When I was a kid, I did not know a single child in my neighborhood that was not allowed to roam the streets, often until after dark. Sure, some had to let mom or dad know where they were headed or for what but that was about it. We all survived as did millions of others.