To think taking a 9 year old to darts isn't the right thing

[Jaxkandjill]

Found out at the weekend that my ex is taking DS to the premier league darts in a few weeks.

I have seen darts before and have been watching tonight and it really doesn't look appropriate for a 9 year old! Not to mention it's a really late night for a school night.

For context isn't a one off in terms of late nights, he is regularly up late with ex but this just doesn't seem like the right thing to be taking a 9 year old to on a school night.

We took our DS when he was 9 to the premier league, he absolutely loved it. There were a few very drunk people there but he was safe with us. We sat right at the front on the middle table and the players gave DS all their flights/towels etc. Amazing experience for him.

I'm sure he won't be the only 9 year old there

As long as it’s something your DS is interested in I wouldn’t mind. My niece is 10 and asked for a dart board for Christmas! She loves it.

How would it be any different from taking him to a snooker tournament? Are you worried he’ll be hit by a stray dart?

Plenty of nine year olds go to football and rugby matches, which are probably worse in terms of drinking and aggressive behaviour.
My issue would be the regular late nights on school days

Well I personally don't think it's a place for a child. It seems like a pretty adult type of environment.
I've actually been very surprised though by a couple of threads on MN where some people seem to think it's normal to take children to boxing matches. I find that unbelievable.
And there are some parents who think it's ok for their children to go to Sabrina Carpenter concerts and see her simulating sex acts.
In fact there seems to be a push in general to abolish childhood altogether and a lot of parents seem to feel that children should just experience the same lifestyle as adults.

It's a big party atmosphere. Does he like watching darts on telly? If so it will be a great night for him.

Its no worse than going to football matches, probably a whole lot safer, its a great thing for kids to get into IMO, mine have played and watched darts since they were 6/7. We all still love it now and regularly watch it.