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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Letting 9yos go into Kidzania by themselves

21 replies

MtotheG · 28/04/2018 19:49

Posting here for traffic, but this is more of WWYD. Would appreciate some advice from people who know Kidzania as I've never been. DD2 went with school and now wants to go with friends as her 9th birthday party. She's invited 6 friends, plus her sister (12). We agreed to the 6 friends as they are all good friends of DD's and it would be insensitive to leave some out. Most of them are already 9, with only one or two of them still 8.

It says that it's fine to send 8 years + in by themselves and that there isn't much for adults to do. It's really expensive so not particularly impressed with having to spend that much on adult tickets. DH and I were thinking about sending them in and giving them lunch vouchers, and hanging around Westfield until the 4 hour session is up. DD1 has a phone so can call us if need be. Other parents are fine with this. However we're not fully comfortable with the idea.

Would appreciate advice from people who've been in - is leaving a group of 8 kids in there by themselves appropriate or should one of us at least go in for the entire time?

OP posts:

Blackerthanwhite · 28/04/2018 19:50

Absolutely fine. I sent DD in on her own multiple times. Utterly impossible to leave without their adult.

Lots of bored looking adults inside!

PorkFlute · 28/04/2018 20:30

When I went I’m sure it said that over 8’s were fine to go in alone but they didn’t recommend it if it was a first visit. Have the other children been there before?

Uniglo18 · 28/04/2018 20:54

I wouldn't let my dd go to a birthday outing without parental supervision of some sort. It's ok if you want to send your own child in aline as you know what they're like. If you're responsible for someone else's child then you would have to go. There's too much scope for things to go wrong once you add excited children to the mix and expect them to be sensible by themselves.

AlbusPercival · 28/04/2018 20:57

Ive been in as an adult ( I work for the sponsors of one of the jobs) and am a qualified brown owl

8-9 fine on their own. No way they could leave without you.

I would suggest not giving them lunch vouchers but doing it before/ after in Westfield

My only thought is most activities take 6-8 kids at a time so they may not be able to stay together the whole time

TheAntiBoop · 28/04/2018 20:59

I would run it by the other parents first.

We had a party there and stayed on site and did a walk around occasionally to check the kids were ok. Mainly they were but there were a couple of times they needed help finding a friend or felt a bit bewildered and needed a steer to an activity there wasn't a massive queue for

Furano · 28/04/2018 21:02

I think I’d rather have one adult in there with them. In parties the dynamic can shift - what if one feels left out or something? Nice to know they can come and find you.

upsideup · 28/04/2018 21:03

Absolutely fine

Dhalandchips · 28/04/2018 21:04

It's hellish but kids love it and absolutely fine to abandon them there.

Callmejudith · 28/04/2018 21:07

I’d say fine too, especially if some have been before. I also wouldn’t bother with lunch vouchers, feed them before and give the water to take in

Homemenu1 · 28/04/2018 21:10

I wouldn’t be happy tbh, I would have no problem dd and sister going in on their own but a party of 6 I think there needsnto be an adult to support then

Starlight2345 · 28/04/2018 21:10

I took my Ds (10) not long ago . Lots of schools there. My Ds does have Sn’s but needed far more support than I anticipated .

The adult ticket prices are crazy ( I went as carer) as you can’t actually do anything . I would want someone in there . I also would do lunch before or after

Inmyownlittlecorner · 28/04/2018 21:10

My DD ( 9 next month) is going for her friends 9th Birthday in a few weeks. No adults are going in & we’re all going to meet up after for a late lunch!
None of us parents is willing to fork out to go in!

Lweji · 28/04/2018 21:15

Talk to them as they may be able to organise a set of activities for a party group.

Otherwise, see if yours also has a parent room.
Ours is a quiet place where we can read a book or be online. Or just chat.

Domino20 · 28/04/2018 21:18

I went twice with my son, the third time he went as part of a group of boys for a ninth birthday. It was fine, party family bought them meal deal tickets. Apparently they were all super cooperative and nice to each other.

Parker231 · 28/04/2018 21:23

OP mentions that the other parents are ok with the DC’s being on their own and her own 12 year old DD will be with them. Sounds ok to me - ideal age appropriate birthday outing.

PippaPug · 28/04/2018 21:29

It’s fine - I would suggust that they look at what activies they really want to do - and maybe split into 2 sets of 3 if some don’t want to certain ones?
Paramedic/fire fighters/ pilot are the most popular and the queues can be longer then others.
Also give them a snack before hand and go for lunch elsewhere - lunch will seriously eat into their time which is very precious!

Original poster

MtotheG · 28/04/2018 22:11

Thanks all, appreciate the advice. That’s a no to lunch inside then! The slot I was going for was 10:30-2:30pm though so I thought waiting for much afterwards would be too late...

Yes as Parker231 says, I’ve already asked the other parents if they’d mind if we sent them in alone (with older sibling) and told them to stick in groups of 3 minimum, and the parents all said that was fine. But DH and I are still a bit worried because it’s other people’s children. All of the kids bar one have been before for a school trip, and some several times, so they know the score. It’s the scenarios people have suggested though - losing friends, needing help making strategic queuing decisions - that worry us. I’ll have more of a think.

OP posts:

Thundercracker · 28/04/2018 22:17

DD and her friends had the same slot and we did the meal vouchers and they really loved being able to go to a "restaurant" without grown ups so don't rule it out - and yes, for that slot we thought they would be miserable without lunch.

They let you in half an hour before the end of your slot to try and find all your group. It is absolutely hellish in there for adults - I was very grateful not to have spent four hours following them round!

Lweji · 29/04/2018 09:39

I was just looking at the site and if you have 8 children, you would get group prices if two adults went in.
As it's a birthday party, I'd go in to take photos of the children doing activities (particularly mine, and because it's their first time) and could join them in some activities (patient, plane passenger...).
Then spend some time in the adult lounge just relaxing.

Original poster

MtotheG · 01/05/2018 17:55

Cheers everyone. @Lweji your post swung it for me, you guilt-tripped me with the photos

Also just didn't feel fully happy with not supervising kids that we're responsible for. The group price is a discount, not a huge one but does help. DH and I decided that it was only fair we shared the pain so we're booked a group of 10 and we're both going in. Will get them settled and join them in one or two things and yes on to the adult lounge.

Because of the time of the slot we are having lunch inside. I've bought meal vouchers and the kids can still go and 'pay' for their own lunch with them and don't have to sit with DH and I if they don't want to. So all sorted.

OP posts:

Starlight2345 · 01/05/2018 18:04

Sure they will all have a lovely time . I never got to go in adults only lounge sadly

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