There was actually a problem with teens fighting in the parking lot when a trampoline place opened here in my town. It took them a couple of weeks to figure out how to manage the groups.

BUT, that place also sells timed entries for a particular time (like, you can jump from 2:00-4:00). They don't offer a season pass.

IME, almost any entertainment venue is full of boisterous teens during after-school hours, particularly post 4pm. I don't take my young children a lot of places during those hours.

I don't see the problem. They are old enough to be at these places without a parent, and it beats them sitting home playing video games or getting up to no good. These aren't little kids who need constant supervision. If their behavior is causing problems, that's up to the venue to enforce the rules.

Anonymous wrote:I know a parent that does this in summer at their pool.

My kids are 10 and 8. I pay a sitter all summer to chauffeur my kids around to camp and the pool. I don't understand why parents are upset about people dropping middle school aged children off. We have moved into an era where it seems many people want kids under parental supervision at all times. It is insane. What do you deem appropriate?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need a hobby.

So you think it is ok to dump your kid at a jumping venue for most of their waking hours??? You must be "mother of the year"!

I'm not mother of the year. But I don't understand why this bothers you so much. It may not be something you would do but I think you should mind your own business. Everyone parents differently.

This is parenting? Dump them off for extended hours, apparently on a daily basis. This isn't a childcare center.

No it's not, because at those ages they don't need one. What they need is stuff to do and places to hang out with their friends, which is exactly what such a venue is. If you have an issue with someone's behavior, take it up with management. Those kids are just other customers, like you and your kid.

Last quoted PP here. I re-read the OP and amended my opinion.

These are pre-teens or teenagers. If OP has a problem with their behavior she needs to go to management or the owner. Otherwise? These are paying customers, and old enough to be there without parents.

Anonymous wrote:I know a parent that does this in summer at their pool.

Kids ages 10-12 SHOULD be at the pool all day. What the heck. Let them roam, jump, swim, bike, play stick ball. Whatever! This was normal childhood 20-30 years ago. Where do you want them? In $300 a week structured camps that are boring as all heck. I LOVE seeing kids out and about. It is a rare treat.

As far as the trampoline park, who cares? Better than sitting at home staring at video games. They are old enough to be without their Mommy OP. If the trampoline park has no issue, why do you? Stop the helicopter movement! Enough already.

What bounce place in what country is open until 11pm on any weekday?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how leaving a kid of any age at a jump place from 11am to 11pm is good practice? regardless of how old they are. These kids are 10-15 yrs old.

Lady, stop. There is no "childcare" being provided here.

Typical condescending DCUM. God, I hate posters like you.

-NP

Anonymous wrote:Ughhh...DD is in middle school and many of her friends' parents dump their kids off and just let them roam at various businesses. I don't let her go unless an adult is around somewhere. Why? Because most middle schoolers don't know basic etiquette when it comes to patronizing businesses and they can be disruptive to store owners and other customers. It is not ok for kids this age to loiter for hours unsupervised.

Then the business owner or store employees will tell the kids to knock it off/get lost. Natural consequences. Also, it's not the case in my experience that "most" middle schoolers would behave badly. I let my kids go places with just their friends starting at age 11, and have discreetly shadowed them many times (at first to make sure each of my kidscould handle it, then sporadically as a spot-check). Their behavior hasn't always been perfect but I've never witnessed anything I would consider unacceptable. 3 kids, 3 different groups of friends. I know this is just another anecdote, but I really do think most kids rise to the occasion when trusted to handle small amounts of responsibility.

I know a parent that does this in summer at their pool.

Anonymous wrote:Ughhh...DD is in middle school and many of her friends' parents dump their kids off and just let them roam at various businesses. I don't let her go unless an adult is around somewhere. Why? Because most middle schoolers don't know basic etiquette when it comes to patronizing businesses and they can be disruptive to store owners and other customers. It is not ok for kids this age to loiter for hours unsupervised.

Maybe you could offer etiquette classes to these harridans and keep them off the street, PP.

Ughhh...DD is in middle school and many of her friends' parents dump their kids off and just let them roam at various businesses. I don't let her go unless an adult is around somewhere. Why? Because most middle schoolers don't know basic etiquette when it comes to patronizing businesses and they can be disruptive to store owners and other customers. It is not ok for kids this age to loiter for hours unsupervised.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need a hobby.

So you think it is ok to dump your kid at a jumping venue for most of their waking hours??? You must be "mother of the year"!

I'm not mother of the year. But I don't understand why this bothers you so much. It may not be something you would do but I think you should mind your own business. Everyone parents differently.

This is parenting? Dump them off for extended hours, apparently on a daily basis. This isn't a childcare center.

No it's not, because at those ages they don't need one. What they need is stuff to do and places to hang out with their friends, which is exactly what such a venue is. If you have an issue with someone's behavior, take it up with management. Those kids are just other customers, like you and your kid.

I was left by myself after school until around 8pm, this was from 4th grade on; having somewhere to be would've been far better than the trouble I got in just being on my own.

Leave it alone, you don't know the whole story.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need a hobby.

So you think it is ok to dump your kid at a jumping venue for most of their waking hours??? You must be "mother of the year"!

I'm not mother of the year. But I don't understand why this bothers you so much. It may not be something you would do but I think you should mind your own business. Everyone parents differently.

This is parenting? Dump them off for extended hours, apparently on a daily basis. This isn't a childcare center.

Bolded PP here. I just re-read the OP. I thought the boys were 6 - 8 years old.

These kids are old enough to be on their own. If they aren't following the rules the staff has the option of telling them to leave. OP if you have an issue with the behavior of these kids or the reaction of the staff, contact management or the owners.

They are using it as a hang out, not child care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need a hobby.

So you think it is ok to dump your kid at a jumping venue for most of their waking hours??? You must be "mother of the year"!

I'm not mother of the year. But I don't understand why this bothers you so much. It may not be something you would do but I think you should mind your own business. Everyone parents differently.

This is parenting? Dump them off for extended hours, apparently on a daily basis. This isn't a childcare center.