How old for kids to...

[dochas]

Feel free to add your questions, but I'm wondering how old to go to the movies by themselves?

My son is 13 and friends are either 12 or 13. Am I wrong in thinking they could and should be able to go on their own? They couldn't get there on their own but there's a fast food place right next to the theater. I think it would be great to drop them off (him + 1 or 2 other boys) and let them see a movie and go eat. But then wondered if I'm off base thinking that.

[eb777888]

12, definitely! Some parents amongst David friends didn't allow it at the time, which blew my mind, but I feel that is a totally appropriate age. I'd even let him walk around and get ice cream/lunch with friends afterward. #breezy

[InBetweenDays]

Definitely old enough. Our kids certainly went to the movies by themselves around that age. Sometimes getting themselves there too but our neighborhood movie theater is easy to walk and bike to.

[abs]

Definitely old enough. DD has seen several movies with her friends this year. They need rides there and back but that’s easy enough to coordinate.

[penguingrrl]

Definitely old enough! That’s around when my oldest started doing things like that.

[jinkies]

Our movie theater had to set rules about teens under a certain age not being allowed in without an adult because some kids were causing problems.

So I'd just double check the theater rules before dropping off anywhere.

I think my son was 14 when I let him go with friends. 12 is maybe a little younger than I'm comfortable with, but that may be specific to my 12 year old's personality.

[dochas]

Thank you! I'm going to suggest it to him. Kids just don't seem to be getting together! With certain kids and not a big group I know they wouldn't cause any trouble, but I'll check the theater because they might have a blanket policy.

[Roc A Bee]

I was gonna say 7th grade.

[janegold]

How old to walk to school by themselves (or maybe with a neighbor)? Less than half a mile, one road crossing with a crossing guard. Otherwise walk is mostly on neighborhood streets.

[egishere]

I let my 12 yr olds go alone with friends.

[eb777888]

Mar 7, 2024 10:56:55 GMT -5 dochas said:

Thank you! I'm going to suggest it to him. Kids just don't seem to be getting together! With certain kids and not a big group I know they wouldn't cause any trouble, but I'll check the theater because they might have a blanket policy.

I have noticed a trend of kids not going out in groups anymore, amongst David's friend group specifically. David has an extensive friend group but mainly only spends one-on-one time with them outside of school. Outside of a birthday get together, school dance, or party, his peers don't really do group things. I asked him about it once and he was like "I see my friends ALL THE TIME" lol. David's a bit of an introvert so that may be part of it, but kids spend a lot of time socializing on technology these days so it all looks so much different than when I was a kid.

[noodleoo]

Random question: when do you switch kids to adult toothpaste? Brought you to by ordering more kids "sparkle fun" toothpaste for my almost 9 year old.

[gardengal]

Mar 7, 2024 11:00:01 GMT -5 janegold said:

How old to walk to school by themselves (or maybe with a neighbor)? Less than half a mile, one road crossing with a crossing guard. Otherwise walk is mostly on neighborhood streets.

In my neighborhood, this is the case (except there's no crossing guard which everyone is pissed about) & most definitely walk solo or with friends around 4th grade. Some as early as 3rd but I wasn't comfortable with that. For me, my kid was second half of 4th grade. And, before it became a regular thing, I'd randomly walk to meet up to make sure he was actually crossing where he was supposed to, taking the safer route, and looking both way crossing the street.

[dish2501]

I’ve let my DD at 12 go to the movies with her 9 and 6 year old (at the time) brothers. I worked from a nearby Starbucks. Now at 14, 11 and 8, I drop off and go home. I know they are good kids.

noodleoo my kids still hate regular Colgate or Crest

[gardengal]

Mar 7, 2024 11:13:03 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Random question: when do you switch kids to adult toothpaste? Brought you to by ordering more kids "sparkle fun" toothpaste for my almost 9 year old.

I know some adults that prefer bubblegum toothpaste! So maybe never, lol! My oldest was probably in 5th grade or so? He said he wanted mint toothpaste. And my youngest was probably about 9 but that's because we suspected he was getting canker sores due to SLS in toothpaste & needed to switch him to something without it which was adult toothpaste. We've since determined he doesn't have reactions to SLS but I haven't gone back to buying kid toothpaste.

[stemmie]

That seems entirely appropriate and I would be comfortable with it as kids are safer in small groups.

Where I live, there is a large shopping center and the town's main street that are about a 1/4 mile walk from the middle school and even closer to the high school. Kids are often there in small groups walking after school or riding bikes/dropped off on weekends. They get fast food or sometimes a sit-down meal at Applebee's, shop or got to movies.

There are 2 places that require them to have an adult with them because of shoplifting issues-- Ulta and Lululemon, but nobody seems to mind them getting food or going to the movies.

DS used to brush his teeth downstairs in the am after eating and upstairs before bed. I ran out of kids' upstairs, so he used mine and never looked back. He's a flavor seeker and only likes the bite of Colgate. 

[penguingrrl]

Mar 7, 2024 10:49:03 GMT -5 jinkies said:

Our movie theater had to set rules about teens under a certain age not being allowed in without an adult because some kids were causing problems.

So I'd just double check the theater rules before dropping off anywhere.

I think my son was 14 when I let him go with friends. 12 is maybe a little younger than I'm comfortable with, but that may be specific to my 12 year old's personality.

Oh, I forgot about that! The theater closest to me doesn’t do that, but one of our local theaters doesn’t allow anyone under 18 after 6 pm without someone 21+ with them. We discovered that when my kid was denied entry then harassed that we live 30+ minutes away so it took me 30+ minutes to pick up. And their friend who bought tickets got the tickets refunded but not the service fee. It was bullshit.

[penguingrrl]

Mar 7, 2024 11:00:01 GMT -5 janegold said:

How old to walk to school by themselves (or maybe with a neighbor)? Less than half a mile, one road crossing with a crossing guard. Otherwise walk is mostly on neighborhood streets.

My kids were biking alone 1+ miles to school at 8. There are crossing guards at all intersections and a culture of walking/biking in our town.

[noodleoo]

Mar 7, 2024 11:00:01 GMT -5 janegold said:

How old to walk to school by themselves (or maybe with a neighbor)? Less than half a mile, one road crossing with a crossing guard. Otherwise walk is mostly on neighborhood streets.

I'm thinking I'd let DD1 walk home from school alone next year, which will be 4th grade.  But knowing her she probably won't want to walk alone.  I'd like to work on the independence a bit! 

I'm pretty sure our school doesn't allow kids to walk or get off the bus without an adult before 3rd grade if that helps as a guideline.

[gerberdaisy]

Mar 7, 2024 11:13:03 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Random question: when do you switch kids to adult toothpaste? Brought you to by ordering more kids "sparkle fun" toothpaste for my almost 9 year old.

My DD (9) prefers mint, so she usually uses ours, or I buy her Tom's mint or something like that.  I think at that age its just preference?

[mcppalmbeach]

Definitely appropriate by 7th grade…like later 12’s and 13 for sure.
My ds2 is 12 and in 6th grade and I’d be fine doing that with him and most of his friends. A few I do not fully trust to make good choices so not with them.

[meanie]

Friends of ours have a 13 year old and his friend group does this. 

Only issue I know of - we ate down the road from them recently and a parent had to get involved because the restaurant was pushing them around (not honoring their reservation, moved them multiple times, had them waiting to be seated for over an hour). I doubt they would have issues at a fast food place but it was good that we were all nearby.

[dochas]

Mar 7, 2024 11:13:03 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Random question: when do you switch kids to adult toothpaste? Brought you to by ordering more kids "sparkle fun" toothpaste for my almost 9 year old.

I just kept buying him the fun kind as long as he wanted. They were out of it once and he used ours and liked it. It was definitely past 9! It's so expensive!

[dochas]

Mar 7, 2024 10:59:51 GMT -5 Roc A Bee said:

I was gonna say 7th grade.

He's in 7th!

[cjcouple]

yes, that's about where my boys started going alone. Only issue is, if it's PG-13, you might run into an issue if theirs no parent to verify.

I had an issue even at 16. when my kid was going to an R movie. A dad went with them and bought the tickets but they made the dad buy himself a ticket and stay.

He just bought the tickets got them inside and left 🤣

[cjcouple]

Mar 7, 2024 11:07:51 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Mar 7, 2024 10:56:55 GMT -5 dochas said:

Thank you! I'm going to suggest it to him. Kids just don't seem to be getting together! With certain kids and not a big group I know they wouldn't cause any trouble, but I'll check the theater because they might have a blanket policy.

I have noticed a trend of kids not going out in groups anymore, amongst David's friend group specifically. David has an extensive friend group but mainly only spends one-on-one time with them outside of school. Outside of a birthday get together, school dance, or party, his peers don't really do group things. I asked him about it once and he was like "I see my friends ALL THE TIME" lol. David's a bit of an introvert so that may be part of it, but kids spend a lot of time socializing on technology these days so it all looks so much different than when I was a kid.

I think the cross platforming/video games do have them socializing separately more than when I was younger.

My oldest didn't really start hanging out in groups a lot until they could drive. they still had sleepovers and such but fairly spread out.

they'd meet at the movies or roller rink but it definitely picked up after age 16.

He's 17 and about 12 of them they constantly hang out in various cuttings (dinner, movies, games, others houses)

My youngest is 14 and they do small group stuff but mostly play online. He's just starting to socialize at games, after school and stuff now. I expect this to pick up over the next year or so.

[charlatti]

Mar 7, 2024 11:00:01 GMT -5 janegold said:

How old to walk to school by themselves (or maybe with a neighbor)? Less than half a mile, one road crossing with a crossing guard. Otherwise walk is mostly on neighborhood streets.

My kid was comfortable by 4th grade. Almost everyone walks in our neighborhood, and I see kids as young as 1st grade walking alone or with a friend.

[shauni27]

Mar 7, 2024 11:00:01 GMT -5 janegold said:

How old to walk to school by themselves (or maybe with a neighbor)? Less than half a mile, one road crossing with a crossing guard. Otherwise walk is mostly on neighborhood streets.

our elementary school allows it starting in 3rd grade. There is a very small amount of kids that can do that, however, as we are so rural. I would say less than 10 kids are in 3rd or 4th grade AND in walking distance.

[liverandonions]

Mar 7, 2024 11:13:03 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Random question: when do you switch kids to adult toothpaste? Brought you to by ordering more kids "sparkle fun" toothpaste for my almost 9 year old.

My son is 8.5 and uses bubblemint from Aquafresh (side note, i have to order this because I can never find it in stores anymore!) My daughter is 11 and this year started using adult toothpaste, but she found one she feels isn't too "spicy" 

[liverandonions]

Our school wouldn't release my son in Kinder & 1st without a parent or his sister. Now in 2nd he can go on his own. This is my daughter's last year in elementary so he'll be on his own next year regardless but my two often do their own thing. His class gets release first and he crosses straight across to the park to play soccer. She comes home before he does. We live very close to the school and there's a million kids around so i don't worry about them.