to be upset that at a party my 10 year old and friends were lefy unaccompanied in a cinema??

[bebopper]

First post so forgive any mistakes!
My 10year old was invited at the last minute to an 11year olds party on Sunday - cinema and pizza hut. On smiling terms with her mum and dd friends with child - so accepted happily.
What I hadn't realised is that the girls (four of them) were taken to the cinema and left unaccompanied for a two and a half hour film whilst the mum went shopping! I was a bit gobsmacked to be honest- ok this was a Sunday afternoon but even so, I think it was a bit much!
What do other mums think- am I right to be a bit cross and should I talk to her about it?

It probably wouldn't bother me.
But a lot depends on how "sensible" the kids were.
And I suspect most MNers will agree with you.

When you say 11yo, how many are in High School?

I think 10 years old is old enough to be in a cinema if you have been picked up and dropped off.

I'm guessing they were under strict instructions not to leave the building.

All primary school - two 11year olds (one whose birthday it was), two 10 year olds. I was more concerned about them going to the loo amongst other things!

Think you're being ridiculous tbh. Presumably mum met them at the end of the film?
What would you say to her anyway?

Why were you concerned about going to the loo?
Apologies if they are children with disabilities who need assistance.

yabu

i was going into the local city on the bus with my fiends when i was 10/11.

nothing bad happened.

Think you're being ridiculous tbh. Presumably mum met them at the end of the film?
What would you say to her anyway?

Why would you be worried about a 10 year old going to the toilet?

No -this wouldnt worry me at all - whats up with the loos?

I don't think this is a big issue. You have to start giving them some freedom at some point and I think I'd rather they went to a cinema than to be wandering around a shopping centre. Of course, it would depend also on how sensible the kids are.

My 10yr old has been going to the cinema with her friends since she was 8. They have strict instructions not to go to the loo on their own and I drop them off and pick them up.

Sorry but YABU. Provided they were picked up at the end of the film I wouldn't have a problem. Surely they can go to the loo unaccompanied at 10 & 11?

Oops, why two posts? Sorry bout that

When me and my boys go cinema my 7 year old goes to the toilet while I watch the film.

It wouldn't worry me either and my dc go to the toilet on their own when we are at the cinema.

I suspect this is going to turn into a "but there are paedophiles in every toilet" thread.

I would have left mine at that age to go to the cinema with friends.
If they were accompanied to the cinema and met at the end of the film I really cant see what the problem is.
Surely a 10 year old can manage to go to the toilet alone??

Seems perfectly reasonable to me.

This is the age where you get real differences between what parents let their children do IMO. I think what you have described is fine but the parent should have made sure you were OK with them being alone. I know some parents who won't leave their 10 year olds alone in the house for 30 minutes and others who let their 10 year olds go into town on their own.

Not sure about your concerns re: the loo though - even when I go with my ds he goes to the loo on his own.

I think you're being a little precious here.

Not so much them being able to go to the loo alone - more it being within a very large multiplex in a shopping centre. Sorry but if my daughter goes to a party, I would expect some parental responsibility to be put in place!

YABU
Wouldn't worry me at all. And my 9 year old would have been horrified at being accompanied to the toilet.

No problem at all with this. They were in a cinema watching a movie. I am sure that they all had mobiles to call someone if there was any problem and they were dropped off and picked up.

YABU

YABU. They have to grow up some day ffs!