To allow 8/9 year olds to walk around a shopping centre alone (I’ll be in centre) for half hour?

[Egghead81]

My older child has an activity within a shopping centre

I was thinking of my daughter 8.5 and her friend 9 (needless to say telling her mother!) being given a pound each and allowed to go to smiths alone to by some treats and then have a wander in claire’s accessories etc. And then I meet them thirty mins later.

Very sensible girls. Thoughts?

I'm surprised at some of these answers, we're not talking about an unsupervised shopping trip, OP will be in the shopping centre if they need her.

From when I started middle school (year 4 so age 8) I had to get the bus to and from school on my own, and then let myself into an empty house. Admittedly this was probably a bit young but my parents worked and I had to go to school! I think a half hour wander round a couple of shops with a parent nearby would be fine at that age.

Of course it is. Where I live loads of dc walk to school from y4 onwards. Cross roads. Plenty use transport for school too. The reactions on here are bizarre.

I’m in west london (so a busy/urban area) and kids from year 5 can walk home by themselves from school. I think that would be my limit.

I'm surprised at some of these answers, we're not talking about an unsupervised shopping trip, OP will be in the shopping centre if they need her.

Same. Our shopping centre is small and very familiar to my dc. It's just a rectangle with 2 other balcony levels so huge amount of visibility from ground floor up to top and vice versa. DC from 8 would often go for a jaunt to Claire's, build a bread or the toy shop while we parents chatted over a coffee or finished off our lunch . Rules were to stay together, come back to use the cafe toilets rather than just going to the centre ones if needed, no running or being loud, never leave the building and the obvious stranger danger advice that applies everywhere. DD is a confident child and would happily approach a security member or shop staff if there was a problem, which there never was. They didn't want to lose the privilege so rules were stuck to to the letter. Of course if my local centre was bluewater or the metro centre it would be a different matter.

I'm surprised at some of these answers, we're not talking about an unsupervised shopping trip, OP will be in the shopping centre if they need her.

Same. Our shopping centre is small and very familiar to my dc. It's just a rectangle with 2 other balcony levels so huge amount of visibility from ground floor up to top and vice versa. DC from 8 would often go for a jaunt to Claire's, build a bread or the toy shop while we parents chatted over a coffee or finished off our lunch . Rules were to stay together, come back to use the cafe toilets rather than just going to the centre ones if needed, no running or being loud, never leave the building and the obvious stranger danger advice that applies everywhere. DD is a confident child and would happily approach a security member or shop staff if there was a problem, which there never was. They didn't want to lose the privilege so rules were stuck to to the letter. Of course if my local centre was bluewater or the metro centre it would be a different matter.

I'd love to know the shopping centre OP is thinking about. That would be a huge deciding factor. Is it big or small? Is there security around?

Will the DC have mobile phones?

Personally I would not have done that at their ages.

The OPs daughter is 8.5 so a Y3.

The OPs daughter is 8.5 so a Y3
That depends where she is. My DD is 8.5 and is in p3 in Scotland- equivalent of Y2. Whether I'd let her do this would depend entirely on the friend. I'd allow it with some and not with others. She can be a bit sillier than her older sister who was frequently allowed to do this.

at some of the parents saying 11/12 is the minimum age! Statistically speaking, you’re more likely to be raped and murdered by someone you know than a stranger.... a lot of unnecessary paranoia on this thread

@JaninaDuszejko

The OPs daughter is 8.5 so a Y3.

8/9 is year 4.

If it’s school years 3/4 then is a definate no. If it was year 4/5 it would be a partially supervised yes.

But also you can buy absolutely bugger all with £1!! How measles.

Measley

@Pinkywoo

Incorrect.
Year 4 is turning 9 before you start.

My daughter is in year 3

[quote Eggyhead81]@Pinkywoo

Incorrect.
Year 4 is turning 9 before you start.

My daughter is in year 3[/quote]
Incorrect. You turn 9 in year 4.

It’s more likely that you’ll die in a car accident on a short journey than a long one but I still put my seatbelt on for long trips.

My son is in year 4 and just turned 9 last month 🤦‍♀️

[quote Eggyhead81]@Pinkywoo

Incorrect.
Year 4 is turning 9 before you start.

My daughter is in year 3[/quote]
Not according to gov.uk.

A quid each? What treats can you get for a quid these days?

A little too young.

@gamerchick chocolate bars

I must be in the minority, as I have done exactly this before. (Friend aware and agreed too).

Her daughter is 8.5, so I'd assume turned 8 around November last year so is younger than DS who is the oldest in his year and is in Y3.

@Happycat1212

My son is in year 4 and just turned 9 last month 🤦‍♀️

Can I ask why you’ve put that emoji on?

Anyway for the avoidance of doubt

R - turn 5 in the academic year
1 - turn 6
2 - turn 7
3 - turn 8
4 - turn 9
5 - turn 10
6 - turn 11.