Parenting in the Parks: Riding Independently: How Old Should Children Be?

[MousePlanet AutoPoster]

Riding Independently: How Old Should Children Be? by Adrienne Krock

The Parenting Panel shares its experiences allowing children to ride attractions without their parents.

Read it here!

[Toocherie]

Although I don't have kids, the idea that someone should have access to a cell phone resonated with me. A few years ago my college roommate and her daughter (then about 10) went on Grizzly River Rapids at Disneyland--it's not a ride I generally enjoy, so I sat it out. After a while, I wondered where they were. Unfortunately, my friend had left her backpack--containing her cell phone--with me. About 45 minutes later I heard from someone else--who was also waiting on their party on the ride--that the ride had broken down, and the river was being drained so the guests on the rafts could walk out. Another 45 minutes later and they finally came out (not from the exit, by the way). So an hour and a half I could have been doing something else, but was afraid of missing them. I coulda had that Mickey Bar! My advice is that if you split up each group should have access to at least one cell phone so you can call or text if something goes awry--no matter how old everyone is. Back to our regular programming.

[amyuilani]

I don't have children of my own either, but I have been to Disneyland several times with my younger cousins (at all stages of their adolescence; they are now adults), as well as my friends' children, many of whom are old enough to go on rides on their own. Since cell phone use was not totally rampant when my cousins were younger, I remembered quizzing them each time on what to do if they got separated, how to identify a CM, where the lost children's center is, etc. It wasn't until they had that information down that I let them wander off alone. This made me a little weary when they became teenagers and had some of their friends joining us in the park for the day. They didn't mind me being there, but I knew they wanted friend time and wanted to go off on their own as they desired. I started by letting them get ahead in line and then being about 20 people back so I could still keep an eye on them. Once I knew they were all going to behave, I was okay. I agree that it depends on how well you know your own children. I also completely agree that children need to believe that there will be undesirable consequences to their actions should they misbehave.

[Jimbo996]

Disney theme parks are so large that I don't recommend kids go on their own. I had my own bad experiences as a kid when I got lost. These days, the price to pay for lost kids are much too high to risk (kidnappings, etc). Another thing, many rides have elaborate queues with exits that are far away. There are too many ways for kids to get lost. If the kids want to ride alone, let the kid sit alone, but you sit on the same car. Or follow in the next car. Always be in the same queue.

[Drince88]

I have to agree with one of Adrienne's first points, Jimbo -- Know your own kids.
Her boys, who literally have been going to Disneyland since before birth (she left that part out) have a familiarity with the parks that many adults don't have. Would they be given the same 'freedoms' at WDW (where they've visited once)? If I had to guess, I'd say no -- but they also probably didn't want to, either. Heck, I get turned around forgetting which park I'm in in the MK and Disneyland! (I've looked for the restrooms at the exit of Splash Mountain in Disneyland -- the nearest ones are at the lower level of Hungry Bear. My sister and I were leading 3 of our nephews to Pecos Bills in Disneyland for lunch --- We would have had a long walk (about 3000 miles) to get to lunch!)

And one of my great grandfather's had a saying: One boy is a boy. Two boys is half a boy. Three boys is no boy at all. In that, you get 3 boys together, most reason and responsible behavior escapes them. Which is why I like amyuilani's mention of doing things with a slightly tighter supervision when other teens were added to the mix. She knew HER nephews, but wasn't sure how the introduction of others would affect their behavior and decision making.

[Jimbo996]

"Know your own kids" is great advice. Now, its time to worry about others' intentions. Or better yet to anticipate when things might go wrong and take the necessary precautions. Certainly, if my kid is a totally absented minded with ADD, then I will be hard on her tail, but what if she is just a normal, well-adjusted smart kid. She is still a kid who is expected to obey authority. If an stranger approaches, she will be misled. Adults are the wild card in this scenario as well as other teenager bullies. My mantra: Your Kid, Everyone's Risk.

[kiminil]

Jimbo -- I'm afraid that my parenting style would probably give you a heart attack. The last time we were at WDW, my then 11 year old son was our self-appointed "runner." He was the one who would gather up all of our park tickets and head off to the Fastpass machines. He had his cell phone with him and after he got everyone's Fastpasses, he'd call to find out where we were and he'd make his way back to meet us. Of course, he'd already had 6 trips to WDW under his belt and he can find his way around better than I can. He's also a very mature and responsible child. His sister, on the hand, even now that she's 13, I'd probably keep her close by because she tends to be more easily distracted. I agree with those people who say you can't look for kidnappers around every corner -- the truth is a child is much more likely to be kidnapped or abused by someone the child knows rather than a complete stranger. Not that it can't happen, but it is not a common occurrence.