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

Thank you for the opinions.
I want to do 3.
I've got a million things to do at home and really don't fancy spending 3 hours trying to kill time in a shopping centre. I mainly asked because I didn't want the friend's mum to think I was unreasonable for suggesting it, and I wasn't sure what most people would think.

Yep, drop them off and head home. They can call you if they need you. Find out from an employee exactly when the film is due to finish and you can be outside to collect them.

Id take them in and collect after. No issue for me at 13. Prob couldn’t be arsed going home but might get shopping on or something

My 12 year old went to see Jurassic World with his 12 year old friend at the weekend, they walked to the cinema, bought their treats and walked home, so definitely 3! It was midday so I appreciate the time might make a difference, I would pick them up at 9pm as you suggest.

What's the movie OP? It seems quite late for a 12 showing. If you're try to get them in to an older movie is there a chance they'll not ike it and leave early?

Is there anywhere inside you could wait so get a coffee and read a book at their cafe etc? Are you sure the local Starbucks etc isn't open? I'd be inclined to do 2, then 3.

I guess in an older sitting I'd worry that if anything did happen they wouldn't feel able to speak up

Oh yes, I used to go to the ABC Minors show at the local fleapit on a Saturday morning, started at 4 or 5. I went with older kids from school, I think my mum must have bribed them. I'd be with 4 or 5 ten year olds.

3. DS is 12 and takes the bus with his mates to a cinema a couple of miles away, he'd be mortified if I tried to accompany him

I'd do number 3, and add a fourth, tell them about the importance of good behaviour during the film.

As others have said, 13 is old enough to have some freedom
They are only going to the cinema, don't suffocate them geez
To answer ur q, option 3.

I left my 13 Yr old and his friends at Thorpe Park for 9 hours alone. I was at a friend's 15 minutes away.

It's Jurassic world. Starts at 6pm, so the actual film will start at 6.30, and it lasts 2.5 hours.

I would do 2 simply to save driving there and back!

I would check with the other parent if they are ok with it too.

I’d tell them to book an earlier screening so you can look round shops and have a coffee.

I'd do option three if they're reasonably sensible but 2 if they're not or if they haven't had much opportunity for independence until now.

Check the cinema rules first though, our local one says that under 15s must be accompanied by an adult after 7pm.

Er 3 of course

They should be ok as it starts before then but good to know for future reference 😊

1. And they get the bus there and back

I'd drop him off and collect him later. You'll drop them off about 17.30 so be home before 18. Then 2.5 hours at home and drive back for them. Worth the drive home imo. Unless any of the shops you want to go to are open you'll just be sitting in your car. There is absolutely no need to go in with them! I was taking the train alone at that age (00's)

Also they will stay it wasn't the greatest Jurassic movie but it was good enough.

Crikey. I used to drop DS at the cinema by himself at that age. Just used to check what time the showing finished and meet him outside afterwards.

At 13 I would be encouraging them to take the bus there & pick them up when they're done.

Unless you live in the back of beyond, they should be taking themselves to the cinema!

I'm cringing and blushing at the very thought of number 1!

It was great wasn’t it?
My dh used to take his younger db and if it was something sad like Lassie his db would cry to go home.
Dh didn’t want to take his db home so told him the doors were locked until the end.