Did anybody else's parents do this?

[Happyeverafter73]

Growing up in the late 70s/early 80s, I remember my mum dropping my brother and me off at the cinema with a McDonalds and collecting us at the end of the film. We would have been around 6 and 8.

AIBU to think that that was bloody irresponsible? Or was that normal for the times?

I'm 28 and grew up in the 90s and I still remember this.

We used to have a huge old cinema with chandeliers in the foyer and swathes of red velvet everywhere - and a huge crushed velvet curtain that would give a satisfying "swish" as they opened at the start of the film. There was a sweet shop next door about 2 minutes walk from the town centre and our parents used to drop us off outside from about 5/6 years old for the 11am Kids Club with £2 each - the Kids Club ticket was £1 and we could spend the other £1 on sweets/popcorn/pop. Kids club was always 2hrs long - usually a 90 minute film and a few games or a singalong in the screen with the adult supervisors who would then wait with us in the foyer until we were collected.

Our parents would spend those two hours either doing the food shop, running errands, wandering round town or just enjoying a childfree cup of coffee and a cake in one of the many tea shops in town. When the film finished we'd get collected and go home where we'd be sent out to play to run off all the energy from the cinema sweets.

That cinema and the sweet shop next door was knocked down about 10 years ago to build an ugly "modern" office block and a Vue cinema on the other side of town in a big retail park. I still miss the old cinema experience.

Hmmm, I grew up in the 60s/early 70s. We would get the public bus to and from school unaccompanied, go to cinema alone, walk/cycle/catch buses to many places alone. I can remember doing this with my brothers when I was 7ish so my brothers 5 and 9. We were very aware that older bro was in charge and that we shouldn't separate, so if we couldn't all get on a bus, for example, then none of us should get on it.

I used to work at our local cinema, and you would still get primary age kids being dropped off at the Saturday morning kids film while the parents went to the supermarket or whatever. And the occasional ones just coming in on their own. I think I might have raised the odd eyebrow, but nothing bad ever happened to them.

I was free range from about 3. Out the door and playing with the other kids but we did live in the country. At 7 moved to a small city, and was still out and about on my own, down to the beach, dipping into the sea. We used to go swimming at the local baths - I was about 9 and my brothers were 7. 10p to get in and 10p for a bag of Buxton's bovril crisps on the way out.

We were dropped at the Saturday matinee a few times, with a packet of Opal Fruits, but usually mum would want to come and see the film anyway.

I cannot remember seeing my mother much from early morning to evening time... we were turfed out for the day to 'amuse' ourselves.

I think (some) parents interact more with their children now - well not the mobile zombie brigade obviously

I use to leave my DD at the cinema from time to time at about the age of 9 with a friend whilst I ran some errands. This would have been the late 2000s.

I probably wouldn't have left her on her own though and she was quite sensible.

We had a local cinema that was a 20 minute walk from our house. A bunch of us used to go to the cinema on our own. I have no idea what age we were but i guess we were pretty young - probably about 7 or 8.

The cinema was a small local one not in a big major city. I would not do it now because our local cinema is in glasgow! but might in similar circumstances if there was a local cinema handy, which there isnt.

I grew up in the West Country. I used to regularly walk a mile home from school at 9. And in the summer my friend and I would cycle all over the place. We'd go to the beach, climb the cliffs (), tree's, hang out in the ruined castle in the woods, get a day tripper ticket and go to Plymouth or Exeter for the day.
We'd even (at 14) get served in the pub!

My brother and I went to the local pool on our own, age 6 and 8. Neither of us could swim.

Children's show at The Clock cinema in Leeds, chips and scraps for lunch (no McDonalds in the early 70s) and back home for afternoon chores.
Special treat Saturday for us four children (ranging from 4-16 over the years) if DF was away and DM had her Saturday job.

I grew up in the 70s and was left at home at 12 with my brother 10 whilst Mum went to work. All Summer. In September when back at school my Grandma would come and stay for 2 weeks and my Mum went 'abroad' on holiday. Look back know and think 'crap parenting Mum'

Anyone read The Cat in The Hat?
There was nothing weird then, early 60s, about the kids, who seemed about 8yo & 6yo, being left alone for an hour or longer.

Saturday morning pictures was great. No adults allowed in, we were given money for bus fares and a lolly. If it was your birthday on that Saturday, you went down the front and all the kids sang Happy Birthday, it was fantastic.I also walked to school on my own from the age of 6, spent all the holidays in our local woods with other children, we just had wellies and a fishing net. We had the most wonderful childhood, I loved every single minute and wouldn't change it for today's restricted children.

The no adults allowed in was the same where we went. And it made it safe. It wasn't risky at all.

My parents used to drop me and my sister off in a toy shop when we were very young and then go round the high street and do their shopping. They got caught out once when they got held up in a bank meeting and we were too young to understand why the shop staff had stopped us playing with the toys. It really makes me laugh now the actual audacity of my parents. Personally I think it's appalling and I remember the day that happened. Didn't stop them doing it. They were bad parents imo though so it sure if you're asking for an opinion on whether it's wrong. This was late 80's and early 90's.

Yep me and sis mid 70's. Was extremely frightening when the fire alarm went off and we couldn't get back in as we didn't have our ticket 🙄

Also got left home alone aged 4 and 6 and the house caught fire

We did from the age of 10. Also went to sports centre with friends around the same age.

Saturday morning picture club. We only ever went if we were staying with our great aunt. It was a real treat with a few cartoons, Blackbeard and a host comedian plus a couple of games and happy birthday sung to someone. Lots of children aged from around four. Very few adults.

I grew up on a farm so no opportunity for going to the cinema or being left in a pub car park... but my sis and I used to roam around the woods, building dams in the burn (Scots for a stream), going wading and exploring, building tents and generally romping around for hours on end from age 7 up. My mum can't quite believe it now! But at the time she'd just come to the end of the garden every now and then, shout for us, and as long as we eventually shouted back she'd just go back to watching Wimbledon on the tiny b&w portable in the kitchen ;-) happy days. Cheese sandwiches, crisps and juice for lunch too ;-)

Mine did and they were and still are strict responsible parents, Saturday matinee where you had a cartoon before the film and the ice cream lady appears at half time, I must have been about 8 and my brother 12/13 x