Would you let your 9 year old go unsupervised ?

[Puffy2]

Absolutely not.

Not in a million years would I let a 9 year old go to a theme park on a bus alone (or a 15 year old for that matter).

And if I was at the water park, I would not let my child out of my site.
Doing so is taking a risk - who else cares about your children more than you do? I don't care if an 18 year old lifeguard has been hired - they won't watch YOUR child better than you will. Or at least I would hope not.

 

[Sue & Co.]

I'm not sure whether you meant to the park alone or just on slides alone within the park. I would say no to the first and yes to the second if (a) child can swim and (b) child is sensible.
I have three children now 12,9 and 9 and I will leave any of them waiting for us at the entrance/exit to a ride at any of the parks if they choose not to ride. However, I trust them absolutely and they know that if anyone tries to ask them for personal details (not just are you enjoying yourself) or to get them to go with them, they tell the person loudly to go away (shouting if necessary) and they go to the nearest CM.
I know some of you will strongly disagree with me but this works for us and both DH and I are comfortable with it but it will be many years before we let anyone go to a park completely alone.

 

[I am JEN]

We have a just turned 10 year old and would definatly not let him go without us...just too big a place and too many people from all over.

 

[FINFAN]

DS will turn 9 on our trip....even HE wouldn't want to be on his own in such a large area. If you becaome too tired, I would ask if doing several hours is O.K. w/your child...better than nothing and hopefully all will be fine. I don't want to borrow trouble, but I sure wouldn't want to make it easy for an unfortunate situation to occur by not being within eye/ear shot of a child.
Good luck in your decision.

 

[searlproudbottom]

Thanks for all of your replys

The no,s have proved their case.

Searl

 

[nicknamy1996]

Sure I would, but before I did I would have to make sure he has some rusty scissors to run around with.

Ok seriuosly, I would never do that. Forgetting about strangers, I'm sure there's a much greater chance of him getting hurt on his own. My boy's are much younger than that, but even at that age (and hopefully well past it) I would need to be around in case they got hurt. What about a twisted ankle, a cut on a sharp rock or some glass, a silp and bump or cut on the head? I could not handle my child being hurt and me not being able to run to him. I just see a scared little nine year old crying for his mom or dad and the panic and confusion of trying to locate them.

I know someday I will have to let go but not at that age, at least not that far at that age.

 

[RKC]

Alone, no. With a buddy, yes.
Granted, my children are still very young, DD4.5, DS2, but if your son is mature enough and confident enough (and can swim well),
I have to agree with Kali that a little freedom is okay. I'm sure that everyone will think I'm a terrible parent but I let my DD walk to her friends' houses (down the block) by herself. She knows to come straight home when she's done. It's not that I don't worry. I mean, sure I watch the guys at the park who are alone, I imagine all sorts of terrible things, but do I have to rub my fear onto her?? These are supposed to be the innocent days of childhood. I don't want her to be afraid of everyone she sees. I remember going to amusement parks as a child and my parents letting my brother and I go off by ourselves, Probably around 8 or 9. Now people will say, "Those were different times." But do you honestly think there were any less pedophiles around 25 years ago than there are now. Obviosly(sp) not. ( think Catholic Church here) . Just that the media wasn't as all invasive and people didn't talk about things like that.
But anyway, I digress. Like I said alone no , but with a friend yes. I refuse to raise my children in an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.

 

[Talking Hands]

No way. Perhaps with an older sibling but alone never.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Here's another NO WAY. There are so many reason that this is just not a good idea. The main reason is that 9 year olds think and reason as children! It's not a matter of trusting them or even so much of someone trying to hurt them, it's more of how they will respond to situations. For some examples, Lets say a bad lighting storm is approaching.Not unusual at all. Disney moves everone to a secure location that is not near your prearranged meeting area.How will a 9 year old react? All kids sometimes get choked on water. Has nothing to do with how well they can swim. It can be scary for a kid even with a parent near by. What about dealing with teens that might try to harrass him in lines? Another big issue is that 9year olds do not know when enough is enough. Playing ,for example in the surf pool is very tiring!! Sometimes a parent needs to step in and say enough for safetys sake.
Beside what fun would it be to do these slides alone. If you have had enough that you are that tired, your child needs a break too. Have a nice cold drink, chill out on the beach chairs and then go back to having fun together.


Jordan's mom

 

[>>^..^<<]

My DD is 9.. last summer we had a day at BB.

We had a great time and went around the lazy river over and over.. she begged me to let her go around once by herself. She knew which exit I would be waiting at - so I said okay.

I left the water and stood on the bridge watching people float by.. it took about 20 minutes before she arrived back with a great big grin on her face ~ but by then I needed a drink (alcoholic)as I was totally stressed out from not knowing where she was "exactly"

So having learned my lesson ~ I would say No, it was just too stressful an ordeal for me.

having said that ~ I am fine with her going to the AKL pool on her own ~ she knows the hotel like the back of her hand and we have 2 way radios that work really well. so we can talk to each other.

Quite often if I was having a shower or reading on the bacony she would go down to the pool for a bit and I would join her later.


>>^..^<<

 

[Kitster]

I can answer this question in one word..................

NO

 

[PugLover]

I dont have children so I probably have no business even offering my opinion but I would say absolutely not!

Maybe this is my inexperience with children talking.... last year I took my husbands small cousin (age 8) to a Barnes and Nobles. We were looking at a row of books together, I bent down to pick one up and when I stood back up she was gone. That moment was perhaps one of the most frightening of my life. My heart was pounding, I started shaking and sweating and could barely speak.

Turns out she saw some puppets in the childrens section and wanted to go "check them out" as she told me later when I found her. She is a smart girl and never have I know her to get in any sort of trouble.. however, after she looked at the puppets she came back to find me and I wasnt there (of course I wasnt, I was running around the store like a lunatic). When I wasnt there she got panicked and a kind old man noticed and asked her if she needed help and that foolish child said yes and started talking to him. Normally she would never talk to strangers for any reason but I guess she felt vulnerable since I wasnt there.... even smart/mature kids can get fazzled and make poor choices.

Like I said.. maybe it is different if it is your own kids so pardon me of this is way off base. After that experience I truly understood why my Mother would become so upset with my sister and I if we were late and didnt call or wandered off.

 

[taylor1293]

NO WAY!!! Absolutely NOT!

I have a 9 year old and I would never allow her to be in a public place alone. Nor would I allow her to go with a friend of similar age.

Teresa

 

[MARRAR]

My DS is 9 and when we go to BB in a few weeks I WILL NOT let him go off alone or with another child.
If he gets too frisky I make him take a 10 or 15 minute "break" by the lounge chairs and then everyone will go off and do whatever. When mom and dad have had enough "chasing" for the day, then we go back to the resort. Rules are set out in advance.
Sometimes kids are tough to keep up with but their safety,not my resting is #1 priority.

 

[goofymom23]

A Big NO. Not gonna happen. I was left alone at the top of the Grand Canyon at 9 and let me tell you it was not a fun experience. That is another story... Again NO.

 

[Sandybottom]

NO.....NO....A thousand times.... NO

 

[twinmomplus2]

NEVER

 

[kilee]

I have a 10 yr old and never-- he isn't even allowed to leave the yard (well he can go into the neighbors yard right next door and that's it).

Also, one other thing to think about--- in most states it would actually be illegal and you could get charged with child endangerment. Most states use 11 as the age that children can start to be left alone. So if something happened and you weren't there, you could find yourself in some hot water.

 

[sha_lyn]

To the park alone... NO

Off on his own with a buddy (with me inside the park)... Yes

Off on his own alone... only if I was waiting at the bottom of the slide and if he knew the way to the slides well. The WDW water parks tend to get a little confusing, so probably no, unless over in the preteen area. Then I would hang out at the bottom.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

No, I wouldn't let my 9yr old go around the water park without me- and I also wouldn't let any child of mine at age 4.5yrs old walk down (&/or back) the block alone to a friends house either. Just my personal choice- not comfortable with either situation at all.
And yes, we DID spend our days outside all over the blocks at friend's houses/etc. even at youngish ages (I'd say 8 and up for myself- maybe a little younger for my next youngest sister since she would have ME with her- at almost 3yrs older than her) -but yes, times HAVE changed. Whether we like it or not. Either that or we're just less willing to take risks with our children than our parents were? Whichever, doesn't matter. My answer would be no.