Is it ok for two 11 year olds to go to cinema alone?

[trapanisky]

Just that really. We live in a small, safe town. I’m wondering if the two of them would be ok watching a kids movie alone for an hour and a bit if I go home. The cinema is a tiny one not in a shopping centre. They are both sensible children. Is it reasonable?

Yes. Are they at secondary school? My DS started going to the cinema with friends in year 7, but he's summer born so was only 11.

Yes both at secondary about to finish year 7

I think it’s fine. But you know your kids and whether they are likely to do something stupid or freak out because you’re not there. I think most 11 year olds would be grand.

I think it’s fine, will you drop them off and collect them? If they are just sitting in the cinema not travelling solo there and back I’d be fine with it.

Yes, I first went to the cinema solo with a friend early in Year 8, and my parents were very overprotective generally. By the age of 11 they should be mature enough to ask for help from a cinema employee if they run into any trouble.

Some cinemas have ages they allow unaccompanied children. Odeon rules state over 12 I believe

Most 11 year olds would be fine with this. I’m assuming they have phone and could contact you if there were any issues. Check the cinema allows it though, our local one would do long as the film is rated PG or lower, but not all do.

Thank you

Yes mine have been since year 6

Yes, my DC regularly go to cinema with friends from age 10. As long as you can trust they will behave and not disrupt the film for other viewers then it's a completely age appropriate thing to do be doing. I'd drop and collect them the first time.

My 11yr old can now get the bus into town independently go for a McDs and cinema with friends and bus home.

I think it’s fine, will you drop them off and collect them? If they are just sitting in the cinema not travelling solo there and back I’d be fine with it.

Why not travelling solo? They're at secondary school, presumably they've been travelling to and from school independently since September.

I wouldn’t be comfortable with it, I’d wait until they are 13 but my nearest cinema is in a big shopping centre. I’d worry about them going into the bathrooms alone too.

I’d worry about them going into the bathrooms alone too.

Bathrooms?

Yes fine - if the know how to behave.

Restroom. Toilet. Loo. The Gents/The Ladies...

Yes, I’d this experience and my 13yo and his friend were stopped after is bought their tickets (and was heading off for a coffee.) I happened to have a photo of son’s passport on my phone, and the friend’s mum sent me his by WhatsApp. I hadn’t expected that.

Yes, my 12 and 10 year old did.

Imagine posing this question in 1940 or 1970. 11-year-olds were expected to take their younger siblings to the cinema.

I would say no,I had two really unpleasant incidents in cinemas growing up and then again as an adult . I would definitely impress the need to go to the toilets together and not alone. 13 would be when I would consider it.

Yh, this would be my concern too but depends on the cinema really.

Op has said it's a small quiet cinema in a safe town.

I think 11 is a borderline age but for most kids I'd hope they'd be fine at 12/13.

It depends on the child. My 12 year old wouldn't want to go without me but he has SEN.

I can’t see the relevance of this?
The world was a very different place.

Yes we’ve been allowing this since ten. We drop off and pick up and the rule is if one needs the bathroom they both go. They are well behaved and sensible kids.

You surely aren’t pretending you don’t know what this means?

OP we’d be ok with this as long as they stick together.

Imagine posing this question in 1940 or 1970. 11-year-olds were expected to take their younger siblings to the cinema.

I can’t see the relevance of this?
The world was a very different place.

Yes, it was. In 1940 you might have found yourself in an air raid. Eleven year olds, and younger, still went places without adults.

Bathrooms?
You surely aren’t pretending you don’t know what this means?

I know what a bathroom is. It's a room with a bath in it. A public toilet doesn't have a bath, so why call it a bathroom?