I have a HS junior and college freshman and definitely allowed junior year for both. Probably by second half of sophomore year with established relationship, but I don’t remember for my older one and my younger one wasn’t involved with anyone last year.

Also, I’m not really going down either, but the possibility exists. We use basement/garage entry so I’ve walked in a number of times not even knowing there were teens in the house. Of course, they heard me with garage door and such.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you. About our basement, it has creaky steps that anyone can hear coming. It’s a long walk around hallway to the projector setup.

So, they’d be able to feign innocence easily, never ever be caught off guard. Adding that to my thoughts, and your thoughts, it’s a no for me. If they want to use the cooler movie space that feels more like a theater, they can in a group.

I mean anything they are doing that can be decent in a quick couple seconds probably isn’t too terrible. I mean - do you expect them not to make out ?

It’s actually more dependent on how long they’ve been dating than age (assuming they are in high school) bc I think after 6 months or so they will have found opportunity anyway somehow if they are inclined to do that, and adding in these rules feels a little silly. But putting the brakes to keep them from going too fast too soon with someone they barely know feels like a better lesson.

We just started doing this now with our 16 year old DD and her very new BF. Doors must stay open and we do check ins a couple times.

Op here. Thank you. About our basement, it has creaky steps that anyone can hear coming. It’s a long walk around hallway to the projector setup.

So, they’d be able to feign innocence easily, never ever be caught off guard. Adding that to my thoughts, and your thoughts, it’s a no for me. If they want to use the cooler movie space that feels more like a theater, they can in a group.

16 if they have an actual significant other. At that age, they are driving, they can make-out in a car. Door stays open and they know I can come down, but as they got older, I didn't. And if I had too. I made a lot of noise on the way down.

I would let my kid choose: living room without obvious check-ins or basement with obvious check-ins. See, choices! What a generous parent I am.

Mines 12 and not dating but I think I would allow it anytime. Our basement doesn’t have a door and I can hear anything from the kitchen.
I probably would go down there physically a couple of times though for vague pretend reasons.
Our house is small, if they’re in the living room that leaves me in the smallish office or in my own bedroom.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on your child, really. Mine would not do anything.

^^ besides watch the movie. I would have been at third base at least. I'm the mom so I know.

Depends on your child, really. Mine would not do anything.

We are not there yet, but I agree with PPs regarding lots of check-ins. Thankfully, our laundry room is in the basement and so my plan is to do laundry whenever my DD is in a similar situation so I can pop in and out easily.

In they want to watch a movie in the basement, they will be a lot of check ins, as long as they are still in high school. This is non negotiable and I don’t care if it embarrasses them

Anonymous wrote:Age that you would allow your child to watch a movie in a basement alone with their gf/bf.

Mine wants to, I’m not comfortable with that set up UnLESS and this is annoying … we check on them a lot. LOL.

The bonus for their sitting in the living room is that we won’t really check on them. Ie., A stop in the nearby kitchen for water every hour of the movie.

When the basement movie set up is very cool, when this is a naive, innocent kid, they’re not getting it.

When they no longer live under my roof.

Alone with no check ins? After HS graduation.

Age that you would allow your child to watch a movie in a basement alone with their gf/bf.

Mine wants to, I’m not comfortable with that set up UnLESS and this is annoying … we check on them a lot. LOL.

The bonus for their sitting in the living room is that we won’t really check on them. Ie., A stop in the nearby kitchen for water every hour of the movie.

When the basement movie set up is very cool, when this is a naive, innocent kid, they’re not getting it.