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Specifically to public places like the mall? My dd is in the 6th grade and only 11. She will be turning 12 soon. A few times me or another mom have brought her and a friend to the mall and have stayed with them and taken them out to lunch etc. She has another friend who is allowed to go out alone there with her friend. Is this the norm? I started going out at night alone, mall, basketball games at school, when I was in the 7th grade maybe, it's been so long lol, but def. by the 8th grade. DH agrees he thinks 11 is a lil young. Thoughts?
Specifically to public places like the mall? My dd is in the 6th grade and only 11. She will be turning 12 soon. A few times me or another mom have brought her and a friend to the mall and have stayed with them and taken them out to lunch etc. She has another friend who is allowed to go out alone there with her friend. Is this the norm? I started going out at night alone, mall, basketball games at school, when I was in the 7th grade maybe, it's been so long lol, but def. by the 8th grade. DH agrees he thinks 11 is a lil young. Thoughts?
My daughter went to public places like the movies or the mall in a group of other same-aged/grade girls in the 6th grade. Our town also has a youth center where they have Friday night activities the first Friday of ever month for middle school kids. They did that every month as well. Some girls were 12, others were 11, depending on their birthdays. We waited until middle school, which for us starts in 6th grade, for this activity. It was never for more than a few hours, most movies were less than 2 hours and added some time to hang out in the lobby outside the theater with other kids. We never had any problems with her or our son following this plan. But every parent and child is different. Whatever you choose, best of luck to you and your family.
My youngest is 12 and I think she's a little young to be going places with friends alone......but only buy a year or so.
Just last month, she had a camp friend come in from out of town, and they wanted to go to a mall. Me, the other Mom, and kids met at the mall and had lunch together, and then the kids shopped at their leisure, while the other Mom and I sort of hung back, mostly outside the stores. The kids were always within sight, but we didn't hover.
My oldest is 15 and I allowed her to go to malls and places alone with friends when she was around 13. I think a lot depends on the specific kid and their concept of situational awareness.
do you allow that same child to be on the cellphone all day. I believe social media is more dangerous than initially thought. I am glad that I grew up in the 70/80s.
It is a different world, then it was years ago. No way, would I let my 11 year old go to the mall alone. The mall is full of predators.
Is it really any worse than begore in that regard? Not to say predators aren't a concern, but they've always been in the mall.
To the OP how much sense does your daughter have as far as how to act around strangers, etc? Maybe you could go with her and her friends and allow them to wander on their own. Make sure her cell phone is charged and let her know she can get a hold of you. If she does well then decide for yourself if you think she's mature enough.
Im 44 now but when i was 11 i can remember walking to the square area of my town. There were a few shops, bowling, places to buy food. Nothing bad ever happened. I can recall being dropped off at the mall a few times as well. I think other kids could be nasty at the mall, one girl tried to start a fight with me for no reason. I have no idea what goes on today. 11 might be young, but it depends on the situation.
I wouldn't let an 11 year old wander around a mall with friends, not when my own kids were that age, and definitely not now.
I was at a nearby mall recently, and there were signs up saying anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult, after 3pm on Fridays and Saturdays. They even had security tables inside each entrance checking IDs and enforcing that policy. I was quite surprised! This article explains the policy.
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