Would you leave your 12-year old alone in hotel room?

[horseshowmom]

Thinking about it my 12 year old would be comfortable going into the parks with out me. She has been 18 times and knows the MK better than our new neighborhood.

Thinking hard about that I would let her.

I am letting her fly by herself to Orlando Spring Break to see her cousins. I have complete confidence that she can handle the airport.

I guess it's just dependent on the kid.

Lisa

And you're very likely right. From the time my daughter was six, I let her find our way through the airport (showing her how to follow the signs, etc.). If she made a mistake, I would stop her and let her figure out the correct way. By seven or eight, she could get through an airport with no trouble.

When she was 10, she flew to visit her grandparents in Orlando. The flight required that she be an Unaccompanied Minor (which we paid for). She didn't like it, but she had to change planes in Atlanta so I was a little glad.

Turns out she had to tell them what to do anyway. First, they didn't take her off the plane. She finally got up and went to find the attendant to remind them that she was supposed to be changing planes. She said they looked at her kind of blankly, and she told them what flight she had to catch and to where. They grabbed her hand and had to run to the gate. She said they barely got on the plane.

When I called to complain, they acknowledged the mix-up and apologized - wound up refunding the fee.

 

[cassandrap83]

I cannot believe how many people "aren't comfortable" with this!

There is .000001% chance that something will 'happen' while your child is locked in a hotel room.

Give the kid some independence. If you don't want her to leave the room, then say so. Just make sure she doesn't fall asleep while leaving the deadbolt locked!

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Absolutely not. I am shocked, to be honest, at the replies of those who would even allow her to wander into the resort lobby alone. I can't imagine placing a "date night" over my daughter's safety and security.

 

[bdcp]

I cannot believe how many people "aren't comfortable" with this!

There is .000001% chance that something will 'happen' while your child is locked in a hotel room.

Give the kid some independence. If you don't want her to leave the room, then say so. Just make sure she doesn't fall asleep while leaving the deadbolt locked!

Let me guess. You don't have kids do you?

 

[Granny square]

Let me guess. You don't have kids do you?

Really? I have 3 and that is my opinion as well. But without filters, lol

 

[Granny square]

Absolutely not. I am shocked, to be honest, at the replies of those who would even allow her to wander into the resort lobby alone. I can't imagine placing a "date night" over my daughter's safety and security.

Lol, that would be accurate if the child were in danger. . I can't imagine being so paranoid. And date nights are fun. Just like independence is for a kid.

 

[cornflake]

Lol, that would be accurate if the child were in danger. . I can't imagine being so paranoid. And date nights are fun. Just like independence is for a kid.

We're talking twelve, not six. Most 12-year-olds I know babysit other kids, on their own and ride public transit by themselves to and from school. The idea they'd be in some dire danger in a hotel room by themselves - or even in the lobby -

If someone doesn't feel comfortable, or if their kid might not be trustworthy or wouldn't like to stay alone, that's fine, but plenty would (I know plenty of kids who'd take 'room service and a movie alone in the hotel room' over 'dinner with my parents' any night of the week) and it doesn't mean they're in some grave danger.

 

[dis-happy]

Absolutely not. I am shocked, to be honest, at the replies of those who would even allow her to wander into the resort lobby alone. I can't imagine placing a "date night" over my daughter's safety and security.

I'm pretty conservative re. my kids, but even I let my 12 year old leave the pool area, wander through the lobby by himself, and get a mug refill at BCV. Considering he can take drivers ed in less than 24 months he needs to start being able to take care of things on his own. Baby steps! And Disney is a pretty self place to learn and practice.

 

[tuckerkeys]

at 12 for SURE!!! Have a great date night!

 

[Pembo]

No. and I wouldn't have a "date night" on a family vacation either.

 

[dogluva]

I am shocked that some consider 12 to be too young! I have a 12 year old right and now and four before him. All would have been fine. I was babysitting at 12 myself. When are these kids allowed to grow up? My 12 year olds are adult sizes and can handle locking a door and not talking to strangers. We left my 12 year old daughter watching her 4, 7 and 8 year old siblings to go on the big bad date night and they loved it. I guess I am one of the few who do not want my kids to be paranoid. Plus they invent these things called cell phones. You can check up on them if you feel the inclination, I rarely did.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I am shocked that some consider 12 to be too young! I have a 12 year old right and now and four before him. All would have been fine. I was babysitting at 12 myself. When are these kids allowed to grow up? My 12 year olds are adult sizes and can handle locking a door and not talking to strangers. We left my 12 year old daughter watching her 4, 7 and 8 year old siblings to go on the big bad date night and they loved it. I guess I am one of the few who do not want my kids to be paranoid. Plus they invent these things called cell phones. You can check up on them if you feel the inclination, I rarely did.

I'm with you. The "child" will be in junior high a month after this family vacation. I can't imagine automatically think that she would be too young to stay by herself for a few hours in a locked hotel room.

 

[marmalade]

Let me guess. You don't have kids do you?

I have kids and I agree with cassandrap83. By 12 a child should have been taught the basic survival skills that should help them to handle the real world. A 12 year old should know by now not to answer the door to strangers, not to go with strangers, not to play with fire, etc... They should also know that they need to follow the rules set forth by the parents who are trusting them for a few hours alone.

 

[bdcp]

I am shocked that some consider 12 to be too young! I have a 12 year old right and now and four before him. All would have been fine. I was babysitting at 12 myself. When are these kids allowed to grow up? My 12 year olds are adult sizes and can handle locking a door and not talking to strangers. We left my 12 year old daughter watching her 4, 7 and 8 year old siblings to go on the big bad date night and they loved it. I guess I am one of the few who do not want my kids to be paranoid. Plus they invent these things called cell phones. You can check up on them if you feel the inclination, I rarely did.

We left our boys at 10 and 12 together at HOME when we went out occasionally, but IMHO, as I've stated previously, a hotel is a different matter as is a family vacation. It's not like a vacation is the only time they can go out without the kids. Just because it's Disney doesn't make it safer than any other hotel. I do not think looking at this objectively makes anyone paranoid. We have an adult family member who was robbed at gunpoint in a nice hotel a few years ago in his room. It does happen. My issue with this also is that the girl would be by herself. If she had siblings (or a friend) with her it would be a little different. 12 year olds don't always make good judgement calls. And, yes, my boys were mature for their age, just as almost every parent says. 12 year olds are only as mature as a 12 year old can be.

I guess the whole feeling that OP thinks they "have" to go out without the kids while on vacation is what I find interesting. I look at it as if I "had" to leave my child alone just to go to dinner, I wouldn't go.

 

[Janepod]

OP, what are you concerned might happen?

 

[4greatboys]

Of course I would let my 12 yr old stay in a hotel room by himself. We don't normally do a date night on family vacation but if we did my son is definately mature enough to be left alone. He stays at home without an adult if I'm going somewhere he doesn't want to go (or need to go). He's in Jr High. If you're in Jr high you should be able to stay by yourself.

 

[dmdelight]

OP, what are you concerned might happen?

that's a good question.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I wouldn't only because I think it's unfair to stick a kid in a room by themselves for a few hours while everybody else is off somewhere having fun. My DD is 11 and very trustworthy but if DH and I were out to dinner and her siblings were off at the neverland club having fun and she was told to stay in the room and watch movies she's be pretty upset.

 

[mdsoccermom]

I wouldn't only because I think it's unfair to stick a kid in a room by themselves for a few hours while everybody else is off somewhere having fun. My DD is 11 and very trustworthy but if DH and I were out to dinner and her siblings were off at the neverland club having fun and she was told to stay in the room and watch movies she's be pretty upset.

And some kids would love to be by themselves and find the idea of a kids club at the age of 12 to be excruciating.

Frankly, I am more amused by the people who are up in arms at the idea of a date night on vacation. The HORROR!

 

[awoogala]

12 seems fine- I think it always depends on your individual child, and how comfortable you and she would be.
If she is a responsible kid, who is ok with being alone (wouldn't get freaked out), and can be trusted, I don't see a problem.
and as for the "date night" debacle...
My kids are younger (9 and 7 last time), but by Wednesday we were all getting snarky with each other. Dad and I wanted to run to epcot, and the kids were hitting the whiny midpoint of being tired and not in the mood. So we tried the neverland club while we hit epcot for some drinks and shopping.
The kids were ecstatic, and people it was the best thing they've ever done at disney.. and the next day, everyone was ready to go together again.
This year while planning, the first thing they asked was "can you leave us and go out again?"
Of course, our kids are with us all the time, and are probably pretty sick of us. I can understand if you don't have much time together as a family, why a date night might sound odd, but we're together almost 24/7 most of the time, so we have no issues taking a break on vacation!