Teenage girls going to six flags by themselves?

[Anonymous]

Curious around what folks have been comfortable with and if six lags has had any safety issues

Single dad of a 14 year old daughter is 14 about to turn 15. She wants to go to six flags in Bowie with a friend (dropped off / pickup) She is usually introverted and seems to have her head on her shoulders but is also gullible to some extent. But at the same time, when we have gone to say Hershey as a family or with cousins, we do let the kids go explore by themselves and then find them later, but we always check in every so often, like in an hour... but haven't let them be by themselves for 4-6 hours at a waterpark.

Is six flags safe for teenage girls to be at by themselves during the week?

At what age did folks let their daughters go to amusement parks by themselves?

My daughter's friends parents seem comfortable dropping off / pickup and my daughter has an apple watch with cellular so she can reach us even if she loses her phone or i can see where she is in general.

Wondering if am I worrying too much. They need to grow up and become independent but curious what other folks think. Thoughts?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Oh hell no

[Anonymous]

If I were the invited friend, I would want you in the park too. Just in case something happened. Not necessarily WITH the kids, but in the park. Until age sixteen, I think.

[Anonymous]

I went to a different one with a friend when we were teens and it was fine. I’ve heard sketchy things about that Bowie six flags so not sure about that. If that park attracts a lot of undesirables then definitely not.

[Anonymous]

My teen DD has gone there several times with a friend or two and she is a chicken—she feels perfectly safe there. I’ve taken them, too, and it is fine and fun.

[Anonymous]

We have season tickets and my 15 year old has gone with friends without an issue. I do pick them up by 6ish or so. I imagine they’d be fine later, but I just feel more comfortable if they’re home before it gets dark and families with younger kids start leaving

[Anonymous]

I would think that the park itself is as safe or safer than most places in the DC area. What exactly are you concerned about?

[Anonymous]

I think this is one of those things that is fairly common but I wouldn't do.

[Anonymous]

I totally recommend. I went with tween DD last Monday. We had never been. Heard bad things over the years. We were there 11-4 and it was totally safe. I’d let her walk around with a friend. It was very clean, helpful and plentiful staff, and not crowded.
There were groups of tweens/teens walking around but all were respectful and calm.


Literally the only downside was the food prices. I shoujd have snuck snacks in but didn’t because I thought they bag checked. The do scan bags but not for food.

[Anonymous]

I was doing this with friends at age 13. The three most important things:

1. They must stay together. Even if they get in a fight, nobody can flounce off in a huff.
2. They must remind each other to stay hydrated and keep drinking water.
3. They must keep reapplying sunscreen.

[Anonymous]

Heck no! That place is nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was doing this with friends at age 13. The three most important things:

1. They must stay together. Even if they get in a fight, nobody can flounce off in a huff.
2. They must remind each other to stay hydrated and keep drinking water.
3. They must keep reapplying sunscreen.

Rule #1 needs to be more detailed. The one who “flounces off in a huff” is usually being ganged on.

[Anonymous]

Neither my kids nor I have been to Six Flags, but my teenage kids have been to Kings Dominion with friends and had no issues.

What are you worried about potentially happening?

I worked at an amusement park in a different state when I was 15, and there were lots of groups of tween and teenagers there with friends all the time.

[Anonymous]

I've chaperoned various middle school trips to area parks, OP. We arrive at around midday, and let middle schoolers roam the park by themselves (in groups of kids), with mandatory check-in at an agreed-upon spot midway through the afternoon. We leave by 6pm, with most families.

I think it's very improbable that anything would happen, but if it were my kid, I would go with them so that they have an adult onsite, just in case, and I'd do my own thing with a friend/spouse/younger sibling. Check-in required.

And then if you've done that once, maybe next time you can let them go by themselves.

[Anonymous]

What are the people who say heck no concerned about exactly. I haven’t let my 13yo go alone yet but when we’ve gone together, I’ve never once seen anything that made me worry. Everyone is just doing their thing enjoying and there are many families with small kids around. I would pick up before dark and check in several times a day but would probably be ok with it.