Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15 and up.

You cannot be serious. They can't walk around a museum alone until the year before you unleash them on the Beltway in your SUV?

Are you the parent to my children? You pay my bills? You pay their tuition? You pay the insurance on my car? No, shut the f up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15 and up.

You cannot be serious. They can't walk around a museum alone until the year before you unleash them on the Beltway in your SUV?

15 years old can drive in DC?

Anonymous wrote:8 or 9 is fine. It never ceases to amaze me how much Americans infantilize their kids.

It’s not about the child, it’s about others, you idiot.

Anonymous wrote:8 or 9 is fine. It never ceases to amaze me how much Americans infantilize their kids.

I can't see an 8 yr old wanting to wander around by themselves. They like to talk.

National Gallery's policy is officially 12 (https://www.nga.gov/visit/visitor-policies.html) to visit alone. However, I once sent my 12 year old there - we live within walking distance - and the guards wouldn't let him in, saying incorrectly that he had to be 13. But if you're actually in the building, I can't imagine that a well-behaved 10 or 11 year old would have any problems. At the worst, if a staffer asked, he'd just walk back and find you.

I don't know if the Smithsonian has an official policy, but I think similar ages should apply.

I was thinking 7 or 8 if your kid is well behaved.

Depends on the kids, but on average I'd say by 11.

A place that familiar in the middle of the day where you are there, just parked on a bench somewhere? Probably 8?

8 or 9 is fine. It never ceases to amaze me how much Americans infantilize their kids.

Anonymous wrote:15 and up.

You cannot be serious. They can't walk around a museum alone until the year before you unleash them on the Beltway in your SUV?

you know your child best and most likely at age 12 can roam alone. Our son roamed alone at age 12. We parked on a bench or table within general eyesight of several exhibits, DS would check-in every 60-90 min (time and distance from check in point increased with each visit). We spent time before and when first arriving orienting to museum map and layout

Anonymous wrote:At 11 or 12 I'd let them go with a friend.

I was going to say this, although my kid might be better behaved solo than with a friend to get into mischief.

15 and up.

At 11 or 12 I'd let them go with a friend.

My child loves a few of the museums downtown and has been going to them from birth on a regular basis. Now that my kid is getting older, I am wondering at what age I could park in an atrium or wherever and get some work done while my child explore the museum alone. I have total faith that they would be a good museum guest and that they know their way around 100% but I just don't know when this is appropriate.

Wondering because I work from home and can work from anywhere and I'd love to take them downtown occasionally to do some museum time while I get things done.