What age for cinema 'alone'?

[BusWankers]

If you had 2 sensible 11 year old friends (Y6 right now) would you think it reasonable to take them to cinema, send them in and wait in café/mooch round the shops in the shopping centre and have them meet you outside the cinema at film end?

They both have a brick phone. But I can't imagine they would actually need to use it.

My brother seems to think they're too young? I think it's fine. I'm just wondering if I expect too much of them? But I'm sure I was being dropped off at places like the swimming pool at that age!

@BusWankers I'd go in with them but sit in a different part of the cinema?? That's what I used to do with my teenage sons. As long as they shared the pick and mix with me Lol

I can't see any issue at all.

I think that's fine at 11 if you trust them but to scream out of the cinema and go off and do something else

This is fine. In six weeks they’ll (presumably) be getting themselves to school and back and taking themselves to each others’ houses. Spending 90 minutes in a cinema with a parent ten minutes walk away is a non-issue.

I think it would be fine, but personally I’d prefer to go with them. When I’ve done this, I sit separately, usually a row or two behind, mostly so I can keep an eye on behaviour. They are generally good, but do still need reminding to stay off phones, tidy up any mess, etc.

I’ve been wondering similar but with 4x 11/12 year olds, again very sensible and trustworthy

I think it’s probably fine depending on the film but in my case they want to watch a 12a film so legally I need to go with two of them being 11.

I will sit separately though

our cinema has a policy of no under 12s unaccompanied after 7 (fine) which suggests it’s allowed before that. Obviously whether or not you think it’s ok is another story.

Dd is 11 (12 soon) and has done this with her friends.

I did speak to all parents involved to make sure they were happy too.

I dropped the kids at the entrance to the cinema. Mooched the shops for a couple of hours and then met them at the cinema when the film finished.

Yes fine.

i usually sat in a coffee shop just round the corner.

Absolutely fine.

I think that's fine. My daughter went to school and back by train on her own (with other children) once she started secondary school.

Absolutely fine! I would let my 8 year old go to the cinema with a friend if I sat in the Costa next door.

Totally fine. My friends and I were doing this from 11. I’d have been mortified if my mum had insisted on coming too!

Of course it's fine. I was happy for mine to go alone at that age, without me sitting in the cafe

11 with a phone is obviously fine. Your brother is bonkers. Plenty of 11YOs manage public transport to/from school by themselves, going independently to friends houses etc. I’d only stay if you fancied seeing the film yourself! I think any child over 8 that’s reasonably sensible should be fine under those circumstances tbh.

Id say absolutely fine especially if you are close by.
Tweens are so infantalised these days. They need that gradually transition into becoming teenagers.
I wasn't much older than this when I was going to watch 15 rated films with a friend, a parent would drop us off and pick us up.
At 13/14 we were making our own way to the cinema and back on public transport.
Edit: tweens not tweets! Bloody autocorrect

Mine got the bus to the cinema alone at that age. They'll be fine with you sat outside.

Absolutely fine. Mine have been doing this from about Year 6 (so 10/11) at the shopping mall, and then into the city centre from year 7.

What age do people let them just go alone?

My 13yo is planning to go with a small group of friends in the holidays, they are going to catch the bus together into town, go to the cinema, get a McDonald’s afterwards and bus home again.

They are all 13 (going into year 9 in September). I thought this was normal but am questioning if too much freedom? I will know where he is the whole time but I’ll be at home so not nearby.

Your brother is babying them. Of course it’s fine.

My 8 and 10 year olds go in together and I sit in the lobby with a coffee I’ve bought with the money saved from no longer having to sit through kids films!

I wouldn't be worried about their behaviour. As long as you are sure they'd be confident to get up and move seats if someone "odd" sits next to them. You'd be surprised how frequently inappropriate touching happens in the dark of cinemas. Often with the child/teen frozen and too scared to move and noone else noticed because it's dark and they're watching the film.

Aw I love the kids films 90% of the time!

I remember being 11 and going to the cinema with a few friends. My friends mum picked us up after. It was very enjoyable. I still remember the movie - oceans 11. Let them, sure it will be fine

Fine as long as they are naturally well behaved and respectful and won’t disturb other people with silly behaviour, talking, repeatedly getting up to ‘go to the loo’ etc.

As others have said this is fine at this age, they need to gradually do stuff on their own, presumably they're off to secondary in a few weeks. But do have a chat about behaviour/talking etc.