Would you leave a 9-year-old while you go on a ride?

[Hikergirl]

Never leave a child unattended.

At what age are the not a child anymore, 18? And never? That is a bit extreme. Do you let your kids ever go out and play unattended? Go to the bathroom unattended?

 

[Maliboo]

It's more about riding a ride. As parents, we have to utilize opportunities to let our kids branch out, test the waters, build on their experiences, little by little, letting out the rope, while we are still here to reel them in.

Some feel 9 years old is still too young to do that in a crowded theme park. And that's perfectly ok.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Some feel 9 years old is still too young to do that in a crowded theme park. And that's perfectly ok.

I understand that. But there is more to the story here. First off- it's a matter of minutes- less than 10, in a safe area. Do those "same people" think it is perfectly fine to have a 12 year old boy be at Disney World riding several rides alone instead of creating memories with his mother? And potentially his sister as well.

 

[Kiersten]

Nope! I'm not a parent but when I was growing up my mom wouldn't let me be alone in public until I was 16. It's too dangerous. People are crazy these days.

 

[Maliboo]

I understand that. But there is more to the story here. First off- it's a matter of minutes- less than 10, in a safe area. Do those "same people" think it is perfectly fine to have a 12 year old boy be at Disney World riding several rides alone instead of creating memories with his mother? And potentially his sister as well.

For most kids, there is a large difference between their maturity and responsibility at 12. You can't compare the two. Yes, I do think it is perfectly fine to have the 12 year old ride alone. I am fine giving more independence to a 12 year old at Disney, not a 9 year old.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

At what age are the not a child anymore, 18? And never? That is a bit extreme. Do you let your kids ever go out and play unattended? Go to the bathroom unattended?

If you are suggesting a 9 year old is not a child then...well...good luck with that.

 

[Momtomouselover]

Nope! I'm not a parent but when I was growing up my mom wouldn't let me be alone in public until I was 16. It's too dangerous. People are crazy these days.

I'm sure your mom loves you and was just trying to be protective but people are no crazier than they ever were. The problem is in our perception and access to news, pseudo news, and social media 24/7. The world is no more a dangerous place today than in the past. Lots of info and studies out there on this.

 

[Momtomouselover]

If you are suggesting a 9 year old is not a child then...well...good luck with that.

I don't think she is trying to say a 9 year old is an adult. I think Hikergirl is just trying to point out that many 9 year olds are capable and safe waiting in an attached or nearby location. Many can and do walk home from school alone, play outside the home alone maybe in the yard or neighbors yard, go to a restroom alone...etc.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Never leave a child unattended.

At what age are the not a child anymore, 18? And never? That is a bit extreme. Do you let your kids ever go out and play unattended? Go to the bathroom unattended?

Yeah......my DD has been playing outside in the neighborhood "unattended" for several years now....probably since she was 6. So that ship has sailed, lol.

FTR - suburban neighborhood, very short (about 6 houses long), dead end street. But some of you will be happy to hear that I still don't allow her to go to the playground down the street with the rest of the nbhd kids (probably 1/4 mile away). She is the ONLY kid in the neighborhood who is not allowed to go, much to her dismay.

 

[Hikergirl]

If you are suggesting a 9 year old is not a child then...well...good luck with that.

I suggested nothing of the sort, I asked you a questions which you are conveniently avoiding. So, if we are going to make assumptions about what was posted I can only guess that you don't think any child under the age of 18 should be left unattended ever. Good luck with that, you'll definitely need it.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Yeah......my DD has been playing outside in the neighborhood "unattended" for several years now....probably since she was 6. So that ship has sailed, lol.

FTR - suburban neighborhood, very short (about 6 houses long), dead end street. But some of you will be happy to hear that I still don't allow her to go to the playground down the street with the rest of the nbhd kids (probably 1/4 mile away). She is the ONLY kid in the neighborhood who is not allowed to go, much to her dismay.

My son will be 6 on April 18th and the past month I have let him play outside "unattended" with the neighborhood kids. We don't live on a dead end street, but are in a newer relatively small subdivision where most people know each other. My rules- backyard only and no more than 3 houses either direction. There's a bigger risk of him getting hurt on the trampoline than there is about him being abducted or running away.

 

[famy27]

I really think that kids are generally more capable and responsible than people assume. I understand that some don't feel comfortable with it for their own kids, but I just don't see a blanket, "Never for any child!" as realistic.

At my DD's school, they have a policy that they only release kindergartners and first graders to a known adult. If someone else is picking up your child, you have to send a note. Kids can't leave until the adult is there to get them. In second grade (age 7 or so), all bets are off. Kids are free to leave on their own. I was just checking kids' fares for our Metra train line, and I happened to notice that it says "Children under age 7 are not permitted to ride alone." So, it appears that many organizations in addition to Disney feel that kids of this age can be given some degree of freedom. Now, I'm not suggesting leaving a seven-year-old home alone while one goes to Mexico for a week, but small and reasonable freedoms work for me. And if Disney says it's okay, then I'll take their word. I'm sure their legal team looked over the "riding alone at 7" rule and gave it the thumbs up.

Most kids really don't need to be supervised at all times. My 10 year old would be horrified if I sat and watched her at all times. She knows the rules, and I trust her to follow them when I'm not around. Even my three-year-old gets some unsupervised time. I put away laundry while she's watching TV, go to the washroom alone, etc. As she proves she's responsible, she gets more freedom as well.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Never leave a child unattended.

So my child should never be allowed to play in her playroom alone (with me in a different room on the same floor, in hearing distance, with everything appropriately childproofed)? She should never be able to lie down for a nap alone? Never allowed to play in a fenced in backyard that she cannot get out of (on a dead end cul de sac street) unless I'm outside with her (regardless of being able to see her through the window)? These are all age appropriate moments for independence.

Whether or not someone considers it age appropriate to leave a 9 year old unattended for a few minutes in public is subjective, I grant that. But *never* leaving a child unattended, ever? That's not something I will ever understand.

 

[mjkacmom]

Some feel 9 years old is still too young to do that in a crowded theme park. And that's perfectly ok.

But although not every 9 year old is, I would say the majority are.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

My apologies. I forgot about "free ranging kids". My bad. Carry on.

 

[Hikergirl]

My apologies. I forgot about "free ranging kids". My bad. Carry on.

There was a time when it was so normal to "free range" kids that they didn't need to have a catchy name to distinguish them from kids whose parents are too afraid to let them out of their sight.
I'm a proud FREE RANGE mamma, my kids aren't going to grow up with me teaching them there's danger lurking around every corner. They will grow up to be strong independent adults who learned how to navigate the world we live in, not be afraid of it.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Again, sorry I got you riled up.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Again, sorry I got you riled up.

My apologies. I forgot about "free ranging kids". My bad. Carry on.

I don't consider a child playing in a back yard with neighbors, or waiting for 5 minutes while their sibling and mother ride a rollercoaster, exactly high up on the "free range" scale.
But, whatever you need to say to justify irrational fears is acceptable I guess.

To each their own.

 

[Slapshot1188]

Bad people can be anywhere...

http://wfla.com/2015/08/05/2-walt-disney-world-workers-arrested-in-polk-sex-sting/

 

[maxiesmom]

Bad people can be anywhere...

http://wfla.com/2015/08/05/2-walt-disney-world-workers-arrested-in-polk-sex-sting/

Note that that didn't take place at Disney World. If you google any profession you will find a number of creeps. Babysitters, day care workers, police. You can't keep your kids tied to your side 24/7 and expect them to magically be strong adults at 18.