12 year olds going to movies alone?

[Anonymous]

My 12 yo DD said a bunch of girls and boys from her class (6th grade) wanted to go to the movies Friday. I told her that was fine but because this situation was new to me I would have to talk with her father and think about if it was okay to go without an adult. I asked her what she would think if her brother and I went to the same movie but sat a couple rows back to chaparone. She wasn't pleased but seemed okay with it.

Thoughts as to whether I should chaparone or not? Also tips for chaperoning movie outings would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Oh for God's sake, it first of all depends on the movie. Many parents i know won't let their kids see a PG movie. That's where you need to start. I didn't let my second grader see some of the movies her friends wanted to see because I knew she emotionally couldn't handle it.

[Anonymous]

As a mom of a 12-year old DD, I'm just not there yet in terms of her going to a movie with a group of kids with no parent present.

[Anonymous]

My DD is 14 and at 12 I would let her go with one friend. A group is loud and not thinking responsibly. Two girls will make better decisions.

[Anonymous]

no

If they act up and are forced to leave you have kids roaming outside.

[Anonymous]

DD is 14 now but I started allowing outings of this type in 6th grade shortly after she had turned 12. For me it would depend on the movie, the group of kids, and the details of whatever plan has been made.

[Anonymous]

Seriously? I definitely went to movies alone at that age

Don't make her be the dork whose mom
Chaperones. No one will want to invite her next time

[Anonymous]

Then it group that my weirds me out a bit. They could be rowdy and annoy others.

I've gone to movies alone since I was 16, and by alone I mean with no friends. Just me. I've had numerous creepy men sit right next to me through the years. And now that I take my young son with me, I've had men sit next to him too,for no apparent reason. Not in situations where the theater is even half full. I mean like when there are 10+ rows that are completely empty and some lone man decides to sit next to my kid.

So I'd at least have a conversation with her about that. If someone makes her feel uncomfortable, don't hesitate to move. You won't always be able to chaperone...

[Anonymous]

What time? What movie? How well do you know the other kids? Are you familiar with the movie location?

You need to know these things. Believe me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then it group that my weirds me out a bit. They could be rowdy and annoy others.

I've gone to movies alone since I was 16, and by alone I mean with no friends. Just me. I've had numerous creepy men sit right next to me through the years. And now that I take my young son with me, I've had men sit next to him too,for no apparent reason. Not in situations where the theater is even half full. I mean like when there are 10+ rows that are completely empty and some lone man decides to sit next to my kid.

So I'd at least have a conversation with her about that. If someone makes her feel uncomfortable, don't hesitate to move. You won't always be able to chaperone...

Interesting. I've never had that happen and I see a movie alone each week when DH is deployed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then it group that my weirds me out a bit. They could be rowdy and annoy others.

I've gone to movies alone since I was 16, and by alone I mean with no friends. Just me. I've had numerous creepy men sit right next to me through the years. And now that I take my young son with me, I've had men sit next to him too,for no apparent reason. Not in situations where the theater is even half full. I mean like when there are 10+ rows that are completely empty and some lone man decides to sit next to my kid.

So I'd at least have a conversation with her about that. If someone makes her feel uncomfortable, don't hesitate to move. You won't always be able to chaperone...

Interesting. I've never had that happen and I see a movie alone each week when DH is deployed.

Maybe I come across as vulnerable or meek somehow. I've long wondered why this seems to happen...

[Anonymous]

I would say only with one friend. At that age hats what I was allowed to do. We'd get dropped right off and picked up immediately afterward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? I definitely went to movies alone at that age

Don't make her be the dork whose mom Chaperones. No one will want to invite her next time

This past summer, right before 8th grade started, a mom of a girl at DD's school texted me to ask if DD wanted to go see a movie with her DD. I replied, "I don't know if DD's free - I'll text her and get back to you." I texted DD who had nothing else to do so agreed, and I told the mom DD would meet her DD there. She assured me she would drive DD home afterwards. I said, "Oh that's okay - it's still light out, so DD can walk home."

I got home from work and asked DD how the movie was. She said the mom STAYED. And SAT WITH THEM. And then tried to insist on driving DD home (we live less than a mile from the theatre, and DD walks further than that to get home from school). DD spent all of 7th grade going to the mall and movies and museums just with friends, no adults.

DD hasn't wanted to have anything to do with this girl outside of school since. She flat out said to me "If F's mom texts you about anything else, please say no. It doesn't matter what it is." Don't be that mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 12 yo DD said a bunch of girls and boys from her class (6th grade) wanted to go to the movies Friday. I told her that was fine but because this situation was new to me I would have to talk with her father and think about if it was okay to go without an adult. I asked her what she would think if her brother and I went to the same movie but sat a couple rows back to chaparone. She wasn't pleased but seemed okay with it.

Thoughts as to whether I should chaparone or not? Also tips for chaperoning movie outings would be greatly appreciated.

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Chaperone. Sit in the back away from the kids but definitely be there.

12 yr olds as a group are just obnoxious and they still need an adult to step in every now and then and remind them to act appropriately in public. They will still run in big groups of kids, they will giggle and be loud, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? I definitely went to movies alone at that age

Don't make her be the dork whose mom
Chaperones. No one will want to invite her next time

You know a child can be popular and have age rules for certain activities, right? I was popular enough, captain of my sport's team, class president, etc. and my parents were very strict. I wasn't allowed to do a lot of things my friends were allowed to do and my mom chaperoned us a lot. No one cared or excluded me because of this, I was invited even though my closest friends new I would be unable to come to certain things. My kids are pretty well liked children and, although they have restrictions and are only allowed to do things if supervised (which means I have to do the supervision sometimes) they are not excluded to any of their friend's activities.