What age do you let your kids roam the parks?

[Minnie-Mickey]

At the age of 9 developmentally they are not ready to handle what may come there way. Just going by the developmental milestones. In our state you cannot leave a young child under 10 or 12 can't remember which without getting into hot water. Yes, my children explore and learn independently at certain places. Stay home alone, hang out with friends, volunteer with other kids. They are getting chances to learn. Yes, there are alot of cast members around to keep and eye on children BUT (not to fan a fire) is it there job to keep an eye on all these kids. They are busy. Just to give you an example of what I saw last week. Two adults one woman and man getting into it at a CS yelling and fighting. It broke out into a fist fight. CM did not get involved for almost 5 to 10 min. CM are busy. PS we will never all agree we come from different states with different cultures and ideals. What you can do in one area you clearly could not do safely in another. As far as someone telling me "stranger danger is stupid" my point was and is to my kids that there is no profile of a dangerous person. It could be anyone. You need to use your street smarts and you gut. Will I let my kids go off if they want to now maybe if they ask but I don't think they will they love going with me. I am going to enjoy that they still don't mind spending time with me as that may pass. Please if you don't agree with my post that is you opinion. Lets be civil.

 

[tinkbyday]

The US government for one! I can't post the link (not enough posts) but if you search "crime rate 1980 2012" you can see a census bureau report of 'Crime & Crime Rates by type of offense'.
It's a well known fact in news that if it bleeds, it leads & there weren't 24 hours news stations by the bushel back in the not so good old days. That's why people have the impression of the big, bad modern world

Yes, you can see a comparison of crimes - but you cannot see that 800,000 children are reporting missing each year - 58,000 of which are abducted by a non-family member. I'm sure there is other useful information that could be found on the Missing & Exploited children website if you choose to look further.

BUT - I'm not even going to continue to go down that path because that is not the only basis for my opinion. I have simply tried to bring this aspect to the conversation. Obviously, it is not a factor in many people's opinions - so be it.

At the end of the day, I know that my child does many things that allow her to be "out in the world" and feel her independence and I don't think that roaming around WDW is a necessity to make her a well-rounded individual - matter of fact, I am 100% certain it isn't. I also cannot believe that I am being forced to defend my opinion on the matter when I am not asking any of the other posters to defend theirs - it is an opinion and thank goodness that I am entitled to my own.

What's funny to me about this back and forth is that this has never come up in my family - my DD likes to spend time with me at WDW - it is quality time for us that is free of work, sports, chores, etc......so for those that have indicated I am oppressive and not bringing up a child that can handle themselves in the real world - I'm thankful that she has never wanted to take off on her own at WDW and prefers to spend her time on vacation with her family - the indication that if you haven't roamed around WDW on your own at 9, 10 or 12 years old will prohibit you from being able to handle real life situations is just plain silliness and a method to justify your own decisions, which, by the way, you definitely do not have to do no more than I need to do.

What else is curious to me is how different the upcoming generation is in regards to lack of respect to authority, behavior, work ethic, etc. - makes me wonder if a lack of supervision and parent involvement at a young age might just be the underlying cause. Can't wait to see the studies on this someday.

I'm done with this thread as I've replied to the OPs inquiry of opinion and don't feel the need to defend mine any longer.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes, you can see a comparison of crimes - but you cannot see that 800,000 children are reporting missing each year - 58,000 of which are abducted by a non-family member. I'm sure there is other useful information that could be found on the Missing & Exploited children website if you choose to look further.

And you conveniently failed to note that ONLY 115 were stereotypical abductions, the kind you are afraid of. The kind you fear will happen to a child at Disney. Which has NEVER had a child abducted, NEVER!

 

[deegack]

Yes, you can see a comparison of crimes - but you cannot see that 800,000 children are reporting missing each year - 58,000 of which are abducted by a non-family member. I'm sure there is other useful information that could be found on the Missing & Exploited children website if you choose to look further.

BUT - I'm not even going to continue to go down that path because that is not the only basis for my opinion. I have simply tried to bring this aspect to the conversation. Obviously, it is not a factor in many people's opinions - so be it.

At the end of the day, I know that my child does many things that allow her to be "out in the world" and feel her independence and I don't think that roaming around WDW is a necessity to make her a well-rounded individual - matter of fact, I am 100% certain it isn't. I also cannot believe that I am being forced to defend my opinion on the matter when I am not asking any of the other posters to defend theirs - it is an opinion and thank goodness that I am entitled to my own.

What's funny to me about this back and forth is that this has never come up in my family - my DD likes to spend time with me at WDW - it is quality time for us that is free of work, sports, chores, etc......so for those that have indicated I am oppressive and not bringing up a child that can handle themselves in the real world - I'm thankful that she has never wanted to take off on her own at WDW and prefers to spend her time on vacation with her family - the indication that if you haven't roamed around WDW on your own at 9, 10 or 12 years old will prohibit you from being able to handle real life situations is just plain silliness and a method to justify your own decisions, which, by the way, you definitely do not have to do no more than I need to do.

What else is curious to me is how different the upcoming generation is in regards to lack of respect to authority, behavior, work ethic, etc. - makes me wonder if a lack of supervision and parent involvement at a young age might just be the underlying cause. Can't wait to see the studies on this someday.

I'm done with this thread as I've replied to the OPs inquiry of opinion and don't feel the need to defend mine any longer.

Actually I think you misread that stat. It 800,000 reported missing. This includes runaways and kids who are down the road playing at tommy's but didn't tell mom and she can't find him. The 58,000 are kids taken by relatives or people known to them. Most likely custody disputed. Dad has the kids for his weekend and is a few hours late but doesn't call mom. Mom calls the police or dad takes off with them. The 115 is your snatch and grab stereo typical kidnapping.
As far as I know there has never been a kidnapping at Disney world.

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

I would allow my 13 year old to explore the same park I am in with a friend as long as he has a cell phone and checks in at regular intervals. If he doesn't have a buddy with him, I would probably not let him strike out on his own until around 16.

Laurie

 

[mjkacmom]

OMG - this is hysterical! There has never been such a generation of over-involved parents since the beginning of time. The previous generation of parents thinks that we are a bunch of wackos!

I walked alone to kindergarten, was allowed to go to the park, played with my friends all over the neighborhood until the street lights came on. Now, parents drive their high school students 1/4 mile to school (which causes huge traffic jams today). Colleges are holding seminars, telling parents to BACK OFF already.

My mom was a SAHM, and all of my friends had SAHMs. What that meant was, they didn't work. They weren't hosting playdates, making crafts, joining mommy and me classes, schlepping their kids to all kinds of lessons (I'm guilty of all of this, minus crafts - hate crafts). They were home cooking, cleaning, maybe reading a book.

DH has coached a lot of my kids' teams, and he was shocked at how many parents not only dropped the kids off, but stayed for practices. When he was a kid, he grabbed his bag, climbed on his bike, and rode to practice, and every now and then, parents would show up for the games.

As PP mentioned, your stats are way off. Some say you can never be too careful. That would be true if you planned on being by their side for the rest of their lives. However, this wouldn't be very healthy.

 

[tinkbyday]

Actually I think you misread that stat. It 800,000 reported missing. This includes runaways and kids who are down the road playing at tommy's but didn't tell mom and she can't find him. The 58,000 are kids taken by relatives or people known to them. Most likely custody disputed. Dad has the kids for his weekend and is a few hours late but doesn't call mom. Mom calls the police or dad takes off with them. The 115 is your snatch and grab stereo typical kidnapping.
As far as I know there has never been a kidnapping at Disney world.

Directly from the site....
Nearly 800,000 children younger than 18 are missing each year, or an average of 2,185 children reported missing each day.
More than 200,000 children were were abducted by family members.
More than 58,000 children were abducted by nonfamily members.
115 children were the victims of “stereotypical” kidnapping. These crimes involve someone the child does not know or a slight acquaintance who holds the child overnight, transports the child 50 miles or more, kills the child, demands ransom, or intends to keep the child permanently.

Oh and I'm fairly certain that Dad qualifies as a family member.

 

[MSUmom]

In Michigan, we are referred to as helicopter moms. I am afraid I am guilty of being one. I was a Girl Scout leader for 15 years, taking girls to Chicago, Ohio, Canada, and on a cruise. One of the reasons parent's trusted me was because they knew how cautious I was. I really just to hammer it into their heads to always have a buddy with you. Both my DDs 22 and 18 have kept this tidbit to heart. They usually will not go anywhere unless they have a buddy. Have I been too strict - maybe. But I am confident in my daughter's abiities to be as safe as possible. As I always told them, it wasn't them I was worried about, it was the other people that I worried about.

That said, my family is heading down to WDW in December. My DS 16 and his friend 17 will be allowed to head out for the day as long as I know what park they are at and am told if they change parks. We are also having dinner each night together.

I also think you probably cant get any safer than Disney. I am fairly comfortable with their security measures. No where is completely safe, even your homes.

 

[Cyrano]

Folks please read post 1 and keep this thread on topic. The question is in relation to letting your kids out on their own in WDW

 

[stashbin]

Folks please read post 1 and keep this thread on topic. The question is in relation to letting your kids out on their on in WDW

I don't think I will let mine roam alone anymore just because I watch too much ID channel.
No seriously though...I used to think I would be ok with them roaming at around 15 or 16 but you never know these days. My husband and I were actually just talking about allowing our kids to go to the pool together with us in the room right by the pool (bottom floor) but with the recent flashings that won't happen either. The world is too crazy and I am too paranoid now.

 

[Hannathy]

Oh and I'm fairly certain that Dad qualifies as a family member.

But Mom's boyfriend doesn't! or neighbor, priest, teacher, coach.....


The child still knows them, they aren't strangers

 

[nansmama]

My kids are now 16 and 14 and when they were 11/12 I let them roam Disney. They had their phones and we also had a set place to meet in case the phones didn't work for some reason (which did happen once). On our last trip in February they would often take off by themselves. We all had a great time whether together or apart. I personally think it's a little bit smothering to expect a kid older than 11 or 12 to be at your side at all times. They need to learn independence somehow.

 

[deegack]

But Mom's boyfriend doesn't! or neighbor, priest, teacher, coach.....

The child still knows them, they aren't strangers

Or the more likely 16 year old daughter's 18 or 19 year old boyfriend. They run away together for whatever reason and when they are found he is charged with kidnapping and depending on the state statutory rape and is now a sex offender.

 

[asmit4]

The world is actually safer now than it was in the past. Child abduction and crime is down from years ago. You only hear more about it than you did before because TV news channels have 24 hours of time between commercials to fill.


A child is safer now than they were when we were kids.

I am curious about your ages. Your child is not going to go on a field trip in school? Because long before they are 16 they will be allowed to go off with a buddy on these trips.

Really? You think your school doesn't allow the buddy system for trips? All our schools allow the buddy system for trips. Our local 8th grade class spends the day at a theme park and they do the buddy system- they are 14.

 

[asmit4]

OMG - this is hysterical! There has never been such a generation of over-involved parents since the beginning of time. The previous generation of parents thinks that we are a bunch of wackos!

I walked alone to kindergarten, was allowed to go to the park, played with my friends all over the neighborhood until the street lights came on. Now, parents drive their high school students 1/4 mile to school (which causes huge traffic jams today). Colleges are holding seminars, telling parents to BACK OFF already.

As PP mentioned, your stats are way off. Some say you can never be too careful. That would be true if you planned on being by their side for the rest of their lives. However, this wouldn't be very healthy.

I know for fact about colleges holding seminars for parents on this issue. A friend of mine RUNS these seminars at Loyola University Chicago- WHY? Jr. who is an ADULT- gets a C on a paper and the PARENTS call the profs?! Jr. gets into an argument with their dorm mate and the RA gets a call from the parent. Parents are LIVID they don't get to see their ADULT's grades, parents are upset that they don't get to see what their adult child's major declared is and my FAVORITE- parents were LIVID that their 18yos didn't have a CURFEW with BED CHECKS.

Parents today have never been more involved and look where it has gotten us? The most BABIED generation EVER.

 

[Tltorrez]

Really? You think your school doesn't allow the buddy system for trips? All our schools allow the buddy system for trips. Our local 8th grade class spends the day at a theme park and they do the buddy system- they are 14.

My son's camp went to a local kid's museum. Once there they could go anywhere they wanted as long as they stayed with their buddy. He's 9.

They're going to be on their own at some point. Best to give them practice in a controlled environment.

 

[deegack]

Directly from the site....
Nearly 800,000 children younger than 18 are missing each year, or an average of 2,185 children reported missing each day.
More than 200,000 children were were abducted by family members.
More than 58,000 children were abducted by nonfamily members.
115 children were the victims of “stereotypical” kidnapping. These crimes involve someone the child does not know or a slight acquaintance who holds the child overnight, transports the child 50 miles or more, kills the child, demands ransom, or intends to keep the child permanently.

Oh and I'm fairly certain that Dad qualifies as a family member.

ahh I knew you were missing something in the original quote, the 200,000 that were abducted by family. Those are your custody disputes. But lets take a closer look at those numbers shall we...

There are approximately 76,000,000 children in the US (under the age of 18). So a little math
1.05% of all children will be reported missing/kidnapped
.26% of then will be kidnapped by family
.076% of all children will be kidnapped by a nonfamily member
.000015% of all children will be kidnapped in a stereotypical kidnapping.

and to date none of these kidnappings have happened at disney world.

 

[Colleen27]

I would never let my child roam Disney at her age. I would prob let her if she had a buddy and was 16.

I'm curious for those who feel this way... Do your kids plan on going off to a traditional college experience (dorm living, etc.) and how old will they be when they leave? Both my girls will be 17 when they start college and I can't imagine feeling like they were ready for that if I didn't think they could handle the very controlled environment of WDW on their own just a year or two earlier.

 

[deegack]

I know for fact about colleges holding seminars for parents on this issue. A friend of mine RUNS these seminars at Loyola University Chicago- WHY? Jr. who is an ADULT- gets a C on a paper and the PARENTS call the profs?! Jr. gets into an argument with their dorm mate and the RA gets a call from the parent. Parents are LIVID they don't get to see their ADULT's grades, parents are upset that they don't get to see what their adult child's major declared is and my FAVORITE- parents were LIVID that their 18yos didn't have a CURFEW with BED CHECKS.

Parents today have never been more involved and look where it has gotten us? The most BABIED generation EVER.

I worked for several years at a law school. Every semester I received calls from parents that they haven't heard from Jr in 3 days, he didn't get all his classes, he got a C. The best was the mom who wanted me to go to her son's apartment to check on him because he was sick with a bad cold.

 

[jackie101]

Well, here's the thing. Many people said "well when I was *** age MY parents let me"... Or reference a trip when they were younger. The world has changed so much since then.
At the risk of someone criticizing me again, I'll repeat that my child at age 9 does not go in our front yard unattended. Do other people let their children? Yes. But i also know the world is a pretty ugly place. Im not stunting her growing up and preventing her from learning how to live in the real world. I'm keeping her safe. Be thankful if YOUR world feels safe enough that you let your children roam without you.

I would never let my child roam Disney at her age. I would prob let her if she had a buddy and was 16.

I have not read most of the posts, but I agree with you I would not allow my 9 yr old roam the park alone. I have twins that will be 9 in Sep, a 10 1/2 yr old and a 12 yr old and they will be staying with us at all times when we go in August 2012