Where was your 7th Grader?

[lbgraves]

IDK if I would want my 13 yo DD hanging out with 18 yos to be honest. Thankfully I don't have to deal with that for a while. I have thought of her age for other things though. I don't think that she will be going away to college her first year for example since she will still be 17 when her Freshman year begins.

 

[musicgirl]

My ds-13 at the time, the summer after 7th grade. He was in the Teen Club and had a blast. Whether it was the scheduled activities (some but not all) or just hanging out, he was never with us!!!

I wouldn't worry about the separate schedules. There are only a few activities and I would imagine that they wouldn't care if the older was with the younger one.

I do know at least one of the "games" for the older teen group had a more mature theme and that is why they do separate for it.

Most of the time they are together.

DS had a great time on the Teen Wild Side excursion on CC.

 

[fasttj2004]

OK THE AGE GROUPS ARE
DAY CARE ---- 1-3
THE LAB ------ 4-14
THE STACK----15-17
ADULTS-------18+ :

 

[kaceyisme]

OK THE AGE GROUPS ARE
DAY CARE ---- 1-3
THE LAB ------ 4-14
THE STACK----15-17
ADULTS-------18+ :

As far as I am aware, the lab goes until age 12, and the stack starts at 13.

 

[lbgraves]

The Oceanears Club is divided 3-4 & 5-7. The Lab is 8-9 & 10-12.

 

[twinglez]

I agree with others, look at your individual child. My oldest DD is 13 and will be in 9th grade. She is mature for her age is doesn't fall into peer pressure. BUT she is looking forward to the STACK and no parents allowed. My DD has good judgement, if she doesn't like the way the kids are acting she leaves or finds something else to do.

Not all 13 year olds are the same. Follow your gut and what your childs response is to the area they go to.

Have fun.

 

[DMMarla07860]

My first cruise I was 13 and in 7th grade, my dad let me walk around by myself and such and I got to do stuff by myself like go to the stack, go swimming, eat and go to movies, but I had to check in with him at least once a day, the rest of the time go to do whatever I wanted, one night on that cruise I didn't go to the room till like 2:30am

On my last cruise in April of this year, I was 17 so I did much more thing went to the stack, hung on deck at night with friends I met on the cruise, ate, went to shows, went to movies, went to the internet cafe and just sat those big chairs on deck four till wee hours in the morning, I don't think I ever made it back to the cabin before 3:00

 

[westjones]

My first cruise I was 13 and in 7th grade, my dad let me walk around by myself and such and I got to do stuff by myself like go to the stack, go swimming, eat and go to movies, but I had to check in with him at least once a day, the rest of the time go to do whatever I wanted, one night on that cruise I didn't go to the room till like 2:30am

On my last cruise in April of this year, I was 17 so I did much more thing went to the stack, hung on deck at night with friends I met on the cruise, ate, went to shows, went to movies, went to the internet cafe and just sat those big chairs on deck four till wee hours in the morning, I don't think I ever made it back to the cabin before 3:00

So did you enjoy the cruise as a teen? I am wondering if it will still be something my girls will like once they hit those teen years.

It seems like so much fun for them as children, and I worry there won't be enough to keep them interested for 4 days.

Thanks!
DJ

 

[DMMarla07860]

So did you enjoy the cruise as a teen? I am wondering if it will still be something my girls will like once they hit those teen years.

It seems like so much fun for them as children, and I worry there won't be enough to keep them interested for 4 days.

Thanks!
DJ

Yes, I did enjoy it as a teen, it's a cruise whats not to enjoy about it, I'm going on my next disney cruise next August after I graduate as a gift for that

 

[tkd lisa]

My dd was in 7th grade our last cruise, but was 12. She went to the lab. Even if she had been 13, I would have put her down in the lab. I personally am WAY uncomfortable with a young 13 year old in with kids almost 18. And the supervision level in the stack is less than the lab. I'm not saying that there isn't supervision, or that the counselors are bad, because truly I haven't experienced it. But I'm sure that stack counselors are more like "buds" and less like "people in charge."

 

[DMMarla07860]

My dd was in 7th grade our last cruise, but was 12. She went to the lab. Even if she had been 13, I would have put her down in the lab. I personally am WAY uncomfortable with a young 13 year old in with kids almost 18. And the supervision level in the stack is less than the lab. I'm not saying that there isn't supervision, or that the counselors are bad, because truly I haven't experienced it. But I'm sure that stack counselors are more like "buds" and less like "people in charge."

yeah they are kinda of like buds then people in charge, well on my cruise that was the feeling, but it was all good b/c the first cruise kinda got me ready for high school in someways like being around older kids, and things

 

[westjones]

My dd was in 7th grade our last cruise, but was 12. She went to the lab. Even if she had been 13, I would have put her down in the lab. I personally am WAY uncomfortable with a young 13 year old in with kids almost 18. And the supervision level in the stack is less than the lab. I'm not saying that there isn't supervision, or that the counselors are bad, because truly I haven't experienced it. But I'm sure that stack counselors are more like "buds" and less like "people in charge."

This is our plan for next year when our DDs are in 7th grade (but will be 13). After that one, they will have to move to the teen club (of course). I have been a bit torn about booking a cruise for that year because of their age, but after hearing that many others put their 7th grader/13 year old in the Lab also, I am ready to book!!!

DJ

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We've sailed 4 years in a row and DDs are now 15 and 13 and every sailing THEY ARE EITHER ON DECK 10 SUNBATHING OR BY THE INTERNET CAFE.... They aren't big on the clubs........

 

[kecall]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only parent worrying a bit over the 13 Lab/Stack situation.

My concern is not "bad teens" in the Stack, but rather, what activities are offered in the Stack. My dd is not at the "let's just hang out and listen to music" stage! She still wants to play games, etc. I know she will not be interested in going by herself to a 'dance' there....I know she will be more comfortable in the Lab, especially since her sister will be there also....

When we watched the DVD and have read info regarding the Stack, my dd is NOT looking forward to it at all! I feel bad because she sees all these great things her younger sister will be able to do, and all she sees is she can go "hang out" and "dance"...and that is NOT her!!

I am hoping I won't have a problem placing her in the Lab....otherwise, I don't think she will be going to any club.

 

[kaceyisme]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only parent worrying a bit over the 13 Lab/Stack situation.

My concern is not "bad teens" in the Stack, but rather, what activities are offered in the Stack. My dd is not at the "let's just hang out and listen to music" stage! She still wants to play games, etc. I know she will not be interested in going by herself to a 'dance' there....I know she will be more comfortable in the Lab, especially since her sister will be there also....

When we watched the DVD and have read info regarding the Stack, my dd is NOT looking forward to it at all! I feel bad because she sees all these great things her younger sister will be able to do, and all she sees is she can go "hang out" and "dance"...and that is NOT her!!

I am hoping I won't have a problem placing her in the Lab....otherwise, I don't think she will be going to any club.

My son is going to be 13 in October, so I was so happy that he will still be in the Lab. He will be in 8th grade in September. He is also not into "hanging out" and dancing, etc., so this is a perfect opportunity for him to still be a kid. I hope everything works out for your girls!

 

[Vanvmom]

This is a tough issue. On our next cruise, my oldest DS will be one month shy of 13 and in the 7th grade. We are cruising with many families, there will be other 7th graders in our group (one turns 13 the day after the cruise is over, and another turns 13 about 5 months after the cruise). We are all planning on having them in the lab (they are still 12, and some of their other brothers/friends are 10 & 11). So, they are sure to have friends their age in the lab.

The problem is that on our last cruise my oldest DS (age 11 1/2) felt many of the lab activities to be "too young." No, he's NOT one of those wanna be cool kids (actually he's just tall for his age, and more mature than some of his peers). I went in the lab one day, and I think it had more to do with the fact that most of the kids in there on our cruise were younger (and way less mature). Some of the lab activities are done as a large group - 8-12 year olds. In general, I don't think most 7th grade boys will relate well to this (you're asking a 7th grader to play with a 3rd grader). Your 7th grader may be 12 by age, but at school they are used to hanging with 12 & 13s not 10 and 11s.

My thoughts, check out the lab and the stack and see what their peer group is like there. Our cruise had very few 17 year olds, and a large number of 13-15 year olds, and the ones we met at our DISmeet were all GREAT kids.