Need your Opinion - 13DS go alone around the park?

[KelliLee702]

Would you let your DS13 go it alone for short periods of time at the park?

TIA

 

[jolynda]

That seems like it's a 'parent call'.

In my case, I allow my 11 year old to be our fastpass runner. But I know that he is a smart, responsible kid and I know he will be OK. Only caveat to this is, he must have his phone with him so we are a dial away from each other. He LOVES that I trust him with this, and it really boost his confidence to know that I give him this kind of privilege.

You know your own child best, so you should make the call based on your child and your comfort level.

 

[Mom of three]

That seems like it's a 'parent call'. You know your own child.

I allow my 11 year old to be our fastpass runner. But I know that he is a smart, responsible kid and I know he will be OK. Only caveat to this is, he must have his phone with him so we are a dial away from each other.

Well said. You know your child well enough to trust that they are responsible enough. We contemplated allowing both our daughters to wander together. They are 10 and 11. While dh had no problem with it, and im 99% sure they would have been fine, there was that 1% that was feeling uneasy about it and had them stay with us.

Im sure your going to get a huge mix of opinions on this particular matter. There was a similar question posted elsewhere with this same topic.

 

[KelliLee702]

This "teenager" thing is just starting and my gut says " He is a great kid with good head on his shoulders!" Cell phone in pocket is a must! Last time he did not want to watch the parade and wanted to go on POTC. I think he's ready. . . Baby Sitter Certified, CPR/AED/First Aid Certified and now Gun Safety Certified!
Thanks!

 

[Vixen]

I think you should! y remember my mom use to let me wander around the the park when i was 13 /14 and those were the days that having a cell phone was out of the question for the teenagers she just use to tell me meet me at X location at x time

 

[avalon451]

Yeah, we were the same way. It's your call and I think you are a good parent for considering it carefully, and realizing that trust is important as well as safety. DDs 11 and 13 are responsible, mature and level headed, and have the phone. We didn't let them last year (didn't have the opportunity, actually), but we probably would this year.

 

[disney-super-mom]

A 13 year old kid?.....yes, I most likely would let him/her go off on their own for a bit in the park. Phone in hand of course.

I would feel better about it if the 13 year old had a friend/buddy to go with though.

But what do I know? My oldest is a few years from being able to go around the parks on his own or with a buddy. He'll be 10 in June, and I'm trying to decide when it's an okay age to leave him at home for a few minutes while doing something little, like picking up some milk and bread at the store or something like that. He asked me the other day when he would be old enough to stay home by himself......I'm thinking this is his way of asking for his first bit of independence, but I have no idea what to think of it, or what's the appropriate age to start doing this.

 

[jolynda]

But what do I know? My oldest is a few years from being able to go around the parks on his own or with a buddy. He'll be 10 in June, and I'm trying to decide when it's an okay age to leave him at home for a few minutes while doing something little, like picking up some milk and bread at the store or something like that. He asked me the other day when he would be old enough to stay home by himself......I'm thinking this is his way of asking for his first bit of independence, but I have no idea what to think of it, or what's the appropriate age to start doing this.

I started small with my son when he was in 5th grade - I'd let him stay home while I popped out to grab some milk or mail a letter. As I saw that he handled that well, I increased the time I stayed away little by little and now that he is getting ready to turn 12, I feel comfortable leaving him at home for DAYS! Just kidding!! I actually feel comfortable leaving him at home alone for up to a couple of hours. He has rules which include no letting anyone in the house, no telling anyone on the phone that he is home alone (he tells them his mom can't come to the phone and he asks for a message then he calls my cellphone and I call the person back), no using the stove, etc. It's all about trust and responsibility. My child earned my trust by showing he was responsible, so I allow him this independence. The minute he abuses it is the minute the privilege gets yanked. So far, so good!

 

[avalon451]

I started small with my son when he was in 5th grade - I'd let him stay home while I popped out to grab some milk or mail a letter. As I saw that he handled that well, I increased the time I stayed away little by little and now that he is getting ready to turn 12, I feel comfortable leaving him at home for DAYS! Just kidding!! I actually feel comfortable leaving him at home alone for up to a couple of hours. He has rules which include no letting anyone in the house, no telling anyone on the phone that he is home alone (he tells them his mom can't come to the phone and he asks for a message then he calls my cellphone and I call the person back), no using the stove, etc. It's all about trust and responsibility. My child earned my trust by showing he was responsible, so I allow him this independence. The minute he abuses it is the minute the privilege gets yanked. So far, so good!

We have done exactly the same thing with our kids. At about the same age, with the same kind of rules. Mom runs out for half an hour to pick up milk and bread, or pick up little sis at preschool... no answering the phone or the door, emergency numbers by the phone. Also, early on when I started letting DD12 babysit her 2 younger siblings, she first took a babysitting/first aid course, and we would let our wonderful neighbors across the street know that she was solo-ing so she could call on them for quick help in case of panic. Which she never had to do. Then we'd go have a burger and a beer at our neighborhood brewpub for an hour. (Mmmm, McMenamins!)

 

[Mugglemama]

as much as i love disneyland, i personally wouldn't ever let my kids go running off by themselves while there. don't get me wrong, i think they *should* be able to do just that, and safely. but a few years ago, i remember watching a program about a dangerous child sex offender who admitted to being at disneyland just the week before, and then another documentary about a group of pedophiles who meet up there regularly to *watch* kids.

considering the crowds and the ease with which somebody could force a child into a bathroom, or even out of the park to a nearby hotel, i will never let my kids go off by themselves in the parks. if they had, as one person mentioned, a similarly aged or older sibling or buddy to go with them, that would seem a lot safer.

call me paranoid if you want, but i had two kidnapping attempts on me when i was 11 and 12 years old (not at disneyland), and i only barely escaped both times, so i am very reluctant to take chances. and then to find out about those pedophiles who go there specifically to *watch* our innocent children so that they can get off sexually on it just makes my skin absolutely crawl. i figure it's only a matter of time before one of them strikes and manages to get a kid out of the parks and really hurt them. maybe i'm wrong. i hope i am.

 

[PinkBudgie]

If you do, you can put a limit on it. Like she has to stay in the same park as you. No park hopping without you.

Our two DS14's went off by themselves last summer. They had phones, we had a meeting time, and they had to stay in the park we were already in. This turned out to be a good idea because a medium sized earthquake hit while we were there. They were off in some stores and we were buying APs. They came to find us after the quake bacause they knew where we were. But if they had been in another park I would have been more concerned about getting to them. We then had to come up with "an earthquake plan" which was: if there was another earthquake we agreed to all meet at a certain spot right after. This was in case the cell phone networks might all be busy.

 

[jakoky]

hi there, i truly believe this is a tough decision...i am the parent of three teenagers ...my youngest is 13, and she a great kid, totally trustworthy and babysits all the time, so yes, i trust her completely, would i let her go off alone, NO, i dont trust others...i would have no issues if she was with her brother or sister (15 and almost 18)..or with a friend her own age...i believe in "strength in numbers"...for me, i would worry the whole time, but again, i totally trust her and she knows, i and she is my "ride buddy"...hehehe
sharon

 

[Teki]

I did at that age, even took my younger brother with me, it was good to feel self reliant, also if there's a major problem there's cast member everywhere they can seek help from.

 

[jolynda]

as much as i love disneyland, i personally wouldn't ever let my kids go running off by themselves while there. don't get me wrong, i think they *should* be able to do just that, and safely. but a few years ago, i remember watching a program about a dangerous child sex offender who admitted to being at disneyland just the week before, and then another documentary about a group of pedophiles who meet up there regularly to *watch* kids.

considering the crowds and the ease with which somebody could force a child into a bathroom, or even out of the park to a nearby hotel, i will never let my kids go off by themselves in the parks. if they had, as one person mentioned, a similarly aged or older sibling or buddy to go with them, that would seem a lot safer.

call me paranoid if you want, but i had two kidnapping attempts on me when i was 11 and 12 years old (not at disneyland), and i only barely escaped both times, so i am very reluctant to take chances. and then to find out about those pedophiles who go there specifically to *watch* our innocent children so that they can get off sexually on it just makes my skin absolutely crawl. i figure it's only a matter of time before one of them strikes and manages to get a kid out of the parks and really hurt them. maybe i'm wrong. i hope i am.

Given your personal history, I can understand your feelings, and I would never presume to tell anyone how to raise their child.

But here's how I see it - we really have become such a fearful society and a big part of that is because we have instant news from all over the world, ALL the time. Is there MORE bad stuff now, or are we just HEARING about it more? Sigh. The truth is, there are bad people everywhere and we can't change that - and we can't spend every second of every day with our children either. But we can make out kids smarter and wiser, and teach them to face the world with confidence and street smarts rather than fear. I choose to do this because that is what I feel is the best thing for my children.

I'm really sorry you experienced the attempted kidnappings, but statistically, how many of us can say we have had that happen to us? How often do you hear of it happening at DL? I just can't let 'what if' fear dictate my life.

 

[Leofoenget]

Would you let your DS13 go it alone for short periods of time at the park?

TIA

I remember being dropped off with friends for the day at that age. Also I live in Santa Clara and there is Great America here, it opened in 1976 and I was friends with the mayors daughter so we got in free. In 1976 I was about 11, we spent all summer there unsupervised. I think at 13 she will be fine.

 

[Mugglemama]

Given your personal history, I can understand your feelings, and I would never presume to tell anyone how to raise their child.

But here's how I see it - we really have become such a fearful society and a big part of that is because we have instant news from all over the world, ALL the time. Is there MORE bad stuff now, or are we just HEARING about it more? Sigh. The truth is, there are bad people everywhere and we can't change that - and we can't spend every second of every day with our children either. But we can make out kids smarter and wiser, and teach them to face the world with confidence and street smarts rather than fear. I choose to do this because that is what I feel is the best thing for my children.

I'm really sorry you experienced the attempted kidnappings, but statistically, how many of us can say we have had that happen to us? How often do you hear of it happening at DL? I just can't let 'what if' fear dictate my life.

LOL, yeah as if disneyland would let THAT get into the media if they could prevent it in any way! you're going to tell me that in all the years that disneyland has been open, you're convinced that no child has ever been sexually abused there, simply because you didn't hear about it? if we're talking statistics, that sounds pretty unlikely.

furthermore, it's not like i'm just hallucinating and *imagining* that pedophiles go there to target children...they come right out and declare it themselves.

to each his own, and hey, if you consider being overly concerned about child sex predators to equate to "living your life in fear", more power to you. personally though, disneyland seems like a potential *buffet* for the freaks out there who intend harm on children, and my kids won't be on the menu.

 

[Vixen]

I remember for my 15 th b-day the gift i wanted was to go to disnyland with my firends no parents and after beggin for 2 months well my wish came true i went with 2 other friends my mom dorpped us off when the park opend and she went to her cousins house who lives in Anahiem to spend the day and picked us up at night... good times! my mom always trusted me so i guess it al depends on how much you trust your children.. i bet they are good kids let him loose for a while

 

[jolynda]

LOL, yeah as if disneyland would LET that get into the media if they could prevent it in any way! you're going to tell me that in all the years that disneyland has been open, you're convinced that no child has ever been sexually abused there, simply because you didn't hear about it? if we're talking statistics, that sounds pretty unlikely.

furthermore, it's not like i'm just hallucinating and *imagining* that pedophiles go there to target children...they come right out and declare it themselves.

to each his own, and hey, if you consider being overly concerned about child sex predators to equate to "living your life in fear", more power to you. personally though, disneyland seems like a potential *buffet* for the freaks out there who intend harm on children, and my kids won't be on the menu.

you raise your children your way, I will raise mine as I see fit. No harm, no foul.

 

[Vixen]

my humble opinion we cant live day by day thinking somthing wrong is gonna happen... kids need to learn how to be independant

 

[Mugglemama]

you raise your children your way, I will raise mine as I see fit. No harm, no foul.

i wasn't telling you how to raise your kids...i was only giving a response to the comment you directed specifically at me.