Send 10 year old boy to mens room??

[Worfiedoodles]

Yes, it's worked out fine, thank you. I think it's sad that there are kids who are never allowed to just run and play because of their parents fears.

I think it's sad that you are so intolerant of other parenting styles. Just because I think it would be too sad if something happened to my child because I wasn't watching him, doesn't mean I judge you because you are comfortable with your children having more freedom.

My child runs and plays at will. But I or his father are vigilantly watching him. I refuse to apologize for that. And, for the record, he doesn't have any emotional issues or unreasonable fears. He feels comfortable because he knows he is safe in our care.

 

[yeartolate]

Yes it does apply! We live in a very nice neighborhood but I will not allow my children to go out side by themselves ( Two 13 year old girls and 10 year old boy). My son is not allowed to ride a couple of blocks to meet a friend, I'll bring him over or ride my bike with him and once they are together then I leave, there is saftey in numbers.

I know I sound a little crazy but it's just the way I am. They live with it.

13 year olds not allowed outside by themselves?

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I think it's sad that you are so intolerant of other parenting styles. Just because I think it would be too sad if something happened to my child because I wasn't watching him, doesn't mean I judge you because you are comfortable with your children having more freedom.

My child runs and plays at will. But I or his father are vigilantly watching him. I refuse to apologize for that. And, for the record, he doesn't have any emotional issues or unreasonable fears. He feels comfortable because he knows he is safe in our care.

Oh, pardon me. This wasn't judgmental?

glad that worked out for you. There is not a parent in my neighborhood (and yes, it is considered a good one), that would allow their child to play outside out of sight or walk to the neighborhood store by themselves

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

Just my 2 cents here. As a dad of a 8 year old Princess i would never consider bringing her into men's restroom, so i could not imagine taking a 10 yr old boy into a womens restroom. At that age they need to have some independence and can certainly tell the differences in gender. I do stand by the entrance to restroom when my daughter is in there so i can hear her if she yells for me, so if you see a big guy wearing lime lime green and sitting on a ecv, I am not perving or peeking, I am waiting for my daughter

 

[ksoehrlein]

There's no clear-cut answer, obviously. The Companion Restrooms are a great alternative, but not always nearby during a potty emergency. If you think your son is ready, willing, and able to take the step of going it alone in the men's room, WDW is probably the best place you can choose for his first time. Many other people have posted similar thoughts, but here is a compilation.

1. Imagine the thought process of a predator. Is he likely to choose to spend $60 admission, subject himself to a bag check by security, and then camp out all day in a restroom continually patrolled by custodial Cast Members, waiting for the chance that an unaccompanied boy/young adolescent male will be the only other person in there? Yes, the opportunity could happen, but the odds are definitely not in the predator's favor. Unfortunately, there are many easier ways for creeps to gain trust and have access to vulnerable children, and he will be much more likely to go that route instead.

2. It is highly unlikely that your son and a predator would be alone in the bathroon together at any point in time. Especially if it is a restroom near a theater right after a show gets out! But you can increase the odds of his safety by scoping out the restroom as you approach. If no men enter or leave during your approach and you don't see the great big grey custodial garbage can indicating that the restroom is being cleaned, you may want to consider taking him to the ladies' restroom instead, just that time. If you're that isolated, the ladies' might be empty as well, eliminating those busy-body remarks.

3. Remember that most of the men in the restroom will be dads, often with their sons in tow. Someone posted earlier that just because someone is a dad doesn't mean he can't be a molester, and that's true, but if the molester's son were with him and watching, that *might* prevent him from doing anything.

4. Finally, let's not forget all those adult men who are not molesters/kidnappers/slashers/etc (the vast majority by far, remember?). I'm sure my DH and most others would get all "Papa Bear" on any guy who even looked at a boy a little funny. Thanks to the guys who've posted on this thread for saying that as well.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I'm sorry if it sounded that way to you. The point I was trying to make was that in the area where I live, it is a very normal thing not to allow your child to be outside unsupervised.

I'm certain that in other areas (and it sounds like yours is one of them), that is perfectly fine.

I'm not going to change my parenting style because I am at Disney, and I'm sure you wouldn't either. I just don't appreciate your comment that apparently my child isn't allowed to run and play because I have what you consider to be an unreasonable fear.

I was at a birthday party Saturday where this very topic came up (the issue of letting the kids out of our sight). Where I live, it just isn't done. Perhaps we're all paranoid, but that doesn't mean there are not predators around...

 

[Lizzybee]

I started letting my son go solo into bathrooms when he was about 8 yrs old, although he'd have looked about 6 yrs old because he's very small for his age. I'll admit, I was concerned and nervous about it. To compound matters I work in the criminal justice field and have worked with sex offenders so I am a bit admittedly and unashamedly overly concerned about them. To compound things further, my son is a class A first rate dwadler, so sending him into the bathroom and expecting him to quickly return is just not reasonable. Once at Six Flags Great America in July when he was about 8 yrs old, I sent him in the bathroom and he was gone awhile. I waited until I saw a father taking his own boys in the bathroom, described my son to him and asked him to check. A couple of minutes later the man came out chuckling. It seems my son was waiting for a stall. The man said "He's in there now, doing his 'thing' and singing Away in a Manger at the top of his lungs."

 

[yeartolate]

At what age will you let them out of your sight? If there is ot an age, is there criteria?

 

[Mom2AAA's]

13 year olds not allowed outside by themselves?

No, do you remember that poor girl in Florida walking home from a sleepover? It can happen anywhere. If my girls are together that's different. And I don't mean outside of my house, of course they go out front to play, my children are educated about strangers and abduction in school and at home, this is just something I don't feel comfortable with.

 

[minkydog]

I am more worried about what goes on in a middle school bathroom that the WDW bathrooms. At 10yo almost any boy can and should be going to the mens room. I have a mentally handicapped 10yo that I take into the ladies room if I have to, but we are discreet and it is very evident that he cannot be unsupervised so we have few problems. But i don't let him walk around and peek into stalls either.

 

[3xthecharm]

A few years ago a preteen was killed in a men's room in Ocean City, NJ with his father standing feet away outside the entrance. The killer walked right out past the waiting father. I think that did more damage than being forced to enter a women's bathroom, don't you.

That said, it was a small bathroom that was empty except for the boy and his killer. This would rarely be the case in WDW. I agree that with the high trafic in the men's bathroom in WDW, the in and out method would be ok. Maybe ask a male CM for assistance. They could apear to be checking on the condition of the bathroom so as not to embarass your son.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The age of 10 is plenty old enough for his own restroom break.
2) WDW is pretty safe.
3) If you are nervous, stand by the entrance.
4) If you don't see in him in 5-minutes, call out.


NOTE: We were at WDW last Feb-2005. When in the restroom, a 8-10 year old boy came in to "hit the head". He had to wait for a few minutes, as it was crowded. All of a sudden we here from outside, "Jimmy Sweetie. Are you OK?". He answered, "Yes.", but you could tell he was embarrassed. I looked and him and tried to help by saying, "Is she always like that?". As cute as ever, he simply looked up and replied, "She CAN get to be a bit too much.". Several of us in the restroom started to laugh. It made him feel better.

 

[dandelion garden]

OK, I'm still new here but I can't keep my big mouth (keyboard) shut

Our grandparents had a cottage with a 2-seater outhouse.
Our house only had 1 bathroom. With 5+ people, you know there's going to be more than 1 person/gender in there at the same time.
When my brothers had questions (or appeared overly curious) about the different anatomies, my mother was frank & to the point. "Boys have a p..., girls have a v..., they pee differently...." You get the picture.

I'm actually a pretty modest person & I teach my son to respect the privacy of others but.....

drum roll please: There are billions of people in this world-
1/2 of them are a different gender than your child. Of that 1/2, 100% of them have the same body parts that pretty much function the same!

Perhaps, the overly cautious parents aren't the ones who want to shield their 10 boy from the potential dangers of being alone in a public restroom. Maybe the adults who worry about kids being traumitized by seeing a body part that 50% of the world has might be a tad overprotective.

BTW: My 8 year old usually goes in the men's room alone but you'd better believe I'm like a mama bear outside that door!

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I am more worried about what goes on in a middle school bathroom that the WDW bathrooms.

I'm with you there! That I worry about.

I think the news media has made this subject so much touchier than it needs to be. I have no idea how many children there are in the U.S., but it must be 50 million or more, right? The media grabs on to the few instances a year that a child is harmed by someone outside of his/her family and makes it seem like the world is much more dangerous than it is. I'm not saying we should boot our kids out of the door at 8:00 AM and not check on them until dinner time, but a group of kids playing in a yard or a park together is not in harm's way. Really.

 

[disneyphanatic1911]

Sooo, at what age should I as a father, allow my daughter to go to the ladies room alone?

 

[java]

I am all for safety...but I am also a realist. The chances of something happening are so tiny. I just can't imagine living life where I am worried about every little what if's........

I am a very cautious individual by nature. I don't take risks. I don't drink alcohol, I lock my door at night, I stand underneath my three year old as he climbs the ladder at the park.

But golly jee willickers, I am not going to worry about some "crazy" person around every corner. I wasn't going to keep on posting, but I seriously think there is something wrong with people in this world who always expect the worse. I have a better shot at winning the darn lottery than having a 10 year old attacked in a public restroom in Disney.

I can't just let this go... Bryon but the point is there are some people that live in areas where there are things to worry about. And do you recall the recent child porn garbage that happened at Disney. So to think just because you are at Disney there are no creepy people there is dangerous. But now I see why I disagree so strongly with you...you don't drink

 

[SnackyStacky]

This really doesn't have anything to do with theme park strategies, AND it's degenerated into a debate with personal attacks.

So, it's closed now.