To leave 13 year olds in a cinema

[Sarahcoggles]

DS and a friend are going to the cinema. Film will end about 9pm.
Both sensible and keen to not be accompanied by a parent!
It's a cinema in an "out of town" shopping centre.
I'm a single parent so I'll be taking them on my own.
Both kids have phones.

Would you:-

1. insist on going into the film with them.
2. let them go in on their own but stay in the area (shops will be closing during the film so would end up sitting in the car)
3. leave them in there and go home, a 20 minute drive away

3! They’re 13 not 10! They have to start learning independence at some point!

number 2 but instead of sitting in the car I’d go food shopping or go get dinner somewhere

Drop them off and go home. What do you think might happen?

OMG I would leave them and go home! I cannot believe you are even asking. This is assuming the film is not an 18 btw. Of course you don't ned to go into the cinema with two 13yos. My DC went into town on the bus with friends totally on their own at 11-12 yo and seem to be fine.

Leave them in there and go home. 13 is definitely old enough for trips out alone

Lol, of course they’re old enough. What planet are you on?

3, they aren't babies, enjoy your night chilling on the sofa, getting telly to yourself!

#3, without a doubt.

Possibly #2 if I had something to keep me occupied (like a different film, or a dinner out, or arranged to meet a friend) and didn't fancy extra driving.

I'd 100pc leave them and go home and not worry. Do you live somewhere really rough, that you're worried? It seems a bit OTT to me at 13.

When I was 5 my 9 year old db and 7 year old dsis used to take me to the cinema every Saturday morning.
It gave my dm some peace for a few hours.
That was a long time ago though.

Go home!

3, unless there is somewhere you'd like to go for dinner close by.

Leave them. My 13 yo and his mates went to a football match and KFC on public transport a few weeks ago. They play football most days after school. Surely the cinema is no different

Three, but I’d probably go and see a different film if there was one I fancied, rather than driving an extra 40 minutes, assuming you’re picking up as well.

1. They will be fine.

2 or 3. It would only be 2 to avoid driving backwards and forwards and adding 40 minutes driving time to my day. It wouldn't be to stay close.

I'd probably go and do something locally like some shopping or getting a coffee while waiting.

13 is perfectly old enough to be out doing activities alone. Surely they've been army Secondary school at least 2 years by now?

I’d happily leave my 10 year old to watch a film with a sensible friend so I’d definitely leave 13 year olds!

My DS is 13 and not exactly streetwise. Even so he and a few mates are getting the train straight from school to the cinema on Thursday. 13 year olds with mates do not want their mum tagging along!

Depends on how sure you are they'll behave. People don't want kids larking around while they're trying to watch a film.

plenty of parents just 'set them free' without a care for other people.

if you're sure they won't act up, then it's up to you what you'd prefer to do, stay, have dinner, read your book in the car, whatever... it depends how much time I'll have at home & if I can be arsed driving home & back again. MN reading in the car usually wins.

the other thing you can do is get a ticket to sit at the back (with or without DS knowledge) see how they behave.

or see another film that's on.

3, in theory, but to save the trouble of driving home and back, I’d go and see a different film.

Treat yourself to a different movie at roughly the same time!

I’m a very cautious parent of a 13 year old and I would do 3 - or 2 purely to cut down on travelling time.

3, but then I once got recalled to Chester zoo as you apparantly aren't allowed to drop 14 year olds off to go round on their own. 😳 Even though the 14yr old was 6 foot tall and was taking photos for his photography exam, not running amok.

3

2 or 3 equally good. I'd probably be happier sitting in my car reading (or going out for dinner) than driving an extra 40 minutes, but that's just personal preference.

Would make sure he had a charged phone on him though.