Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

AIBU to let my 12 y/o & 6 y/o DDs go to the cinema alone?

70 replies

Joolsy · 14/10/2015 15:47

What I mean is, I will obviously take them in but they'll be watching the film without me. They are both v. sensible & I would be in the vicinity or a few mins walk away should they need me (DD1 has a phone which she could go outside of the screen with DD2 to ring me).

OP posts:

SweetTeaVodka · 14/10/2015 20:25

I went to the cinema with friends and no adults at 12, we would either get dropped off or get the bus. If 6yo will behave for 12yo and you are going to be waiting in the coffee shop/foyer/car park then I can't see the problem.

bigTillyMint · 14/10/2015 20:31

YANBU.

Both of my DC would have been more than capable of looking after a 6yo whilst watching a film at 12.

ravenAK · 14/10/2015 20:36

Try it.

Worst case scenario is that 6yo is a brat. In which case they miss out for the foreseeable & 12yo goes with mates instead.

I couldn't get exercised about any of the other risks, tbh. Yes, the cinema might be invaded by a hungry werewolf or something, but realistically it's a greater risk that you'll all be wiped out in a crash when you're driving them there...

vdbfamily · 14/10/2015 20:44

I say it's fine. Great to give kids some responsibility. My 12 year old DD gets a public bus to school. She has been to London on the train without us to meet a friend of mine and her DD. She was with me last summer when I broke my leg on a remote island and she went off to find help. Children are far too wrapped up in cotton wool these days.

Stormtreader · 16/10/2015 16:19

Do you trust the 12 year old to accurately judge what is "too loud for the cinema" levels of noise? Children can be loud!
The childrens safety is not the only issue to consider, theres also the question of whether they are at suitable ages to not ruin the film for the rest of the audience.

Notso · 16/10/2015 16:48

DC1 and 2 did this loads at 11 and 7, it was a rainy summer holidays and I had a 4 month old and an 18 month old who were in no way cinema friendly.
I'd do a bit of shopping and have lunch with the babies while the older ones were in the cinema.

noeffingidea · 16/10/2015 16:50

I wouldn't have thought twice about this.
But then I remember taking my friends baby sister to the park for the afternoon. She was 12, I was 11.

chopsychoo · 16/10/2015 17:08

I looked after 2 of my DB's from about the ages of 2-8 when I was between 12-18 they were right little pains but guess what I dealt with it I distinctly remember a huge paddy in home bargains one time that invoked kicking screaming and laying on the floor, I dealt with it how I'd seem my mum do a million times before and went on with my day. I do think a bit of responsibility at that age is a very good thing

thebestfurchinchilla · 16/10/2015 17:50

12 yr old yes, 6 year old no.

thebestfurchinchilla · 16/10/2015 17:51

Also i think Vue has a rule that under 12s must be with an adult.

BertrandRussell · 16/10/2015 18:00

"12 yr old yes, 6 year old no."

Why not?

thebestfurchinchilla · 16/10/2015 18:01

My opinion.

BertrandRussell · 16/10/2015 18:04

Absolutely. But what is the reason for your opinion?

thebestfurchinchilla · 16/10/2015 18:07

I would only leave a 6 year old with someone trusted and over 15/16.

unicorn501 · 16/10/2015 18:10

I think it's fine! I remember at the age of 12 my friend and I taking her little sisters to see the lion king, we all had a great time. They were only 5 and 6.

I work at the local secondary school and often bump into kids I teach picking up their younger siblings from DD's primary school, including Y7s and Y8s. 12yos can actually be quite sensible!

BertrandRussell · 16/10/2015 18:18

But why?????????7 What's going to happen in the cinema with mum outside?

prettybird · 16/10/2015 18:18

YANBU : you know your own kids and have thought though reasonable eventualities.

There are 12 year olds who walk their younger siblings home from school - I'd have thought that roads etc were more dangerous than the controlled environment of a cinema with you in the vicinity.

I dropped ds and a friend of his, aged 9 at the cinema and went away when they wanted to see Alvin & the Chipmunks, the Squeakel there was no way I was going to watch it having endured the first one and picked them up later.

thebestfurchinchilla · 16/10/2015 18:32

OP asked for opinions. I have given her mine. When my chn were 6 they would not want to be in a cinema without me or an adult and I wouldn't feel comfortable.OP knows her own chn so she will do what she thinks is right but she asked what mumsnetters would do and I told her. You can tell her what you'd do. It is not an excuse to start an argument. I won't change my view and neither will you. Cheerio.

BertieBotts · 16/10/2015 18:36

That list of what ifs is hilarious.

Only on mumsnet.

It sounds FINE. Do it. Spend the £12 on something good.

green18 · 16/10/2015 18:58

I wouldn't but the op knows her own dc. I would worry that my dc might ruin film for others. 6 year olds don't tend to be the most considerate when they feel their need is greater.

Flip

1 2 3