What age would you send kids into cinema alone?

[womaninatightspot]

Tiny local cinema, one screen. They’ve gone to see minions so a U film, there are only about a dozen people also in the screening. I am in the foyer cafe having a coffee where I can see the door and the corridor that leads to the toilets. 4 dc aged 7-11.

AIBU - to send them alone
YANBU - enjoy your latte and precious child free time, halfway through holidays here so am ready for an hour off.

Perfectly fine as long as they understand about what is and isnt appropriate behaviour both in terms of their behaviour and that of others.

You know your kids. If you think they are going to behave then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Sounds reasonable to me.

They will behave, I limit screens so they are completely hypnotised by them tbh :) I don’t know if I’m a bit of a helicopter parent but generally like to keep a close eye when out and about especially of youngest two.

I felt it would be ok but I suspect ex will have words when they tell him they went alone just wanted to double check my thinking.

DC went from age 12 but I wasn;t in the foyer. I went from age about 7 and my mum wasn;t in the foyer either - different times! I think what you are doing is fine. Teaches them a bit of independent fun.

If you'd gone off and left them totally, I'd have said younger than 11/12 was maybe too young. But you're right there in case of any problems. Not at all unreasonable!

Age 8 with an 8yo friend. I sat in the foyer coffee shop with the other mum.

It wouldn't have crossed my mind not to go in with them, but don't see anything wrong with it in the situation you describe.

YABU I would say 7 is too young, even if you are staying in the cafe, it would be 10 for me in this case.
I wonder if cinemas have some sort of rule about it.

Sounds fine to me, you are in the building! They are altogether and know where you are if needed. Why would it be a problem?

Movie finished all children are fine. Two other sets of unattended children met their mums also in the cafe so it must be a thing.

My nearly 7 year old would either come out and find me or be an absolute terror if left alone/ with her brother but she does seem to be a bit less willing than other kids her age. Never been an issue with 10 year old as generally take both, but if he wanted to go with a friend I'd do what you did unless I also wanted to see the film or it was a 12A.

What would you worry would happen? I’m normally quite careful but in this scenario thought it was really vanishingly unlikely that a weirdo would be waiting to approach children during a film and if that happened they’d come tell me anyway. Couldn’t think what else would/ could go wrong?

If you can trust them to be sensible then it sounds fine really. I’m not sure I’d have trusted mine at 7 but 10/11 is definitely old enough.

I wouldn’t class as alone as you are in same building. If little one would chat or mess around disturbing others I’d say no but if they are sensible I’d let them. A tiny cinema is very different from a multiplex.

I think it sounds like a good plan. Giving them some independence in a safe way. Fact there’s 4 of them eg if one was sick one other could get you. Fire etc you are right there. Choking? But easily avoidable by not eating.

Teens only. I don't trust everyone in a cinema necessarily.

It's always unlikely that a weirdo will be in a place where children congregate. But it still happens. I'm not sure my children would feel able to stand up and walk out if they were being assaulted. I think they'd freeze. Yes it's unlikely. But there are probably more predators in your local area than you're aware of and this would be an opportunity. It's down to you how much you're working to forgo on the off chance - I don't think there are any right answers as everyone sees risk differently.