To not let DS go to theme park

[fleaflyflo]

Need some perspective on this please...

DS (12) due to go to a large 'attraction' tomorrow with a group of 6 friends for a 13th birthday treat. I was always under the impression that both parents were going in with them, however With less than 12 hours before they set off it appears that one parent is staying at home and whilst the other (flaky) parent will drive them, is not actually going in.

I am furious that
A) they didn't run it passed us
B) they would even consider leaving other people's children alone.

One of the mums's has already said her DS won't be going but DH thinks i am totally overacting.

For perspective we all live in a small rural village and just going into the local town independently is a big deal, let alone a huge theme park.

But clearly the theme park are happy "child minding" 12 year olds. Otherwise the age limit would be higher!!

They should have discussed it with you first.

For my son's 13th birthday I dropped him and 3 friends to Thorpe park for the day and went to my friends for the day who was only 15 minutes away (I live 1.5 hours away).

However, at that age I was travelling to theme parks by train with friends.

Well the age limit for unaccompanied children in most theme parks in the UK is 16 and over.

Many rides need an adult to sit with the child if they are 12 or under.

I think at that age I would have driven, dropped off and stayed fairly close should there be a problem.

DS given my phone details on a piece of paper for if (when ) he lost his mobile. Also make sure I have numbers for a couple of the other children .

I don't really see the problem with the going to the cinema as you can keep your phone on silent. It's just having someone close enough so they can be there in minutes rather than hours if there's a problem.

No wonder we have kids leaving school now so unprepared for the adult world. If a 13 year old can't cope with going to a well supervised, enclosed attraction without adults hovering over them, we're well and truly fucked.

Don't know what you think could happen that having an adult in the cafe on site could actually help with.
I hope you let them go and have some fun.

go with them tell them to meet u at a eating place just to check in have lunch with them then let them go
highschool is next independance looming (i do above when we go to breahead the have free roam but must meet me at mcds at one xx

@Wintertime4 ...Thorpe Park is 12, not checked others.

I would reckon they are all 12!

What ones were you looking at?

I don't see a problem if being dropped right outside and picked up

I wouldn't let my 12 year old do this. Late 13-14 y.os are slightly different as they change so much from 12-14. A school trip with chaperones or teachers around the site & cobtactable is a very different arrangement.

I would be shocked if any of DC's parents thought this was a reasonable & uncontroversial enough arrangement not to even mention to the other parents first (so it's an informed decision) as the parent will have his/her phone off in cinema at the least and be outside the park. There's a multitude of tiny upsets that could happen that could get writ large, and the staff aren't there to look after not even teenage children yet, with no adult responsible for them available on site to contact.

We all have different views and parenting styles but I'm with you OP.

@celtiethree Thank you, you're absolutely right. I can't believe I read that so badly - that'll teach me to read quickly!!

@Wintertime4

consider a guest an Adult?

For the purposes of admission an adult is 12 years and older at Alton Towers Resort.
We do not accept entry into the park of children under 12 years old without an adult 18 years old or over.
Child free entry is under 3 years at the Alton Towers Theme Park.

Same for Alton Towers.

The schools my DC's have gone to have really encouraged independence from a very young age. First school trip away from home for two nights when they were aged just 5 and have been away every year since. Last year they were left for two hours to shop by themselves in France when DD was 11.

Is your DS and his friends immature for their age or likely to get into trouble? Has he shown himself to be untrustworthy in the past? If not I would let him go unless you have very good reasons not to.

What age do you consider reasonable for such an outing without supervision.

Correcting my post. I meant I would be shocked if any of DC's

What happened in the 1970s is not the same fast forward 40 years!
I would be pulling out. No adult, no supervision. Too many potential dangers.
Children can be stupid daring each other to do extreme things.
What kind of parent arranges a theme park party without an adult?

What kind of parent arranges a theme park party without an adult?

One that feels that their DC is able to act appropriately?

I think some people obviously have really different experiences of theme parks to me! When I have been they have always been staffed by grumpy (poorly paid) students, who would be very little help to a lost, upset or injured child. Thats if you find a member of staff among the queues, crowds and rubbish.

Its stupid stuff like how to deal with people queue jumping etc where they could get into trouble. As well as the standard day to day stuff like just having an accident. Or having their stuff stolen. Or being randomly shouted at.

I hate theme parks.

I think it's utterly unreasonable and I wouldn't let my 12 year old go... But only because I would be insanely jealous of her going on the rides without me... Lol

Honestly, it wouldn't worry me in the slightest, and I think that if they're old enough by the theme park ruled and are NT then the only thing that would be unreasonable is to expect an adult who doesn't love the rides like I do to pay an utter fortune just to sit in a cafe.

I'm surprised they didn't check with you, however it wouldn't bother me and I'd let my DS1 go. He's now 14 and arranges his own transport to Thorpe Park ( 30 odd miles)!

I'm with you OP. My son is 12 nearly 13, looks 15 and mostly acts pretty mature. He's not been to a theme park before (various reasons), and I'd also want to know there was an adult "on site" to be a meeting point / backup / sorter of problems.

Mind you you've reminded me that I was considering suggesting getting a group together for such an outing at the end of this term - what parks would people recommend?

Oh, just to add, I feel that way even though he had a week in France after Easter, staying with a host family, and getting around the town they were in independently with others in the group.

Agree Charlie97

If these children are 12, almost 13 years old, they are in year 8 at secondary school.....surely they are sensible enough to enjoy a day at a theme park?

I can't believe someone posted....."what about if one of them wanders off?'

Where are they likely to wonder off to? These are 12 year olds, not 3 year olds

OP said its 3 hours drive to the park so I cannot imagine the driving parent being that far from drop off point even if at the cinema.

@Mylittleboopeep, exactly drive three hours, to turn around and go back. I think OP wants "flaky" parent to be in the actual park. In fact her first post seemed to say she thought both parents would be there, because that's needed.

How do these children get to school without wandering off! Or does mummy or daddy drop them outside the school gate. They'll leave school in 4 years time, lots to find out life between now and then.

I'm with you OP. Best to go with what you're comfortable with.