Tweens Alone at the Movies

on July 5, 2009 at 8:16 AM

Photo by djw1971

Judging by the conversation in Tween Titans, most CafeMoms do not let their tweens go to movie theaters by themselves or with groups of friends. They think it's way too young to be sitting alone in the dark with possible creeps waiting to pounce.

Many of these tween moms sit a few rows back in the theater to give their kids space, but still keep a watchful eye.

"I work for a 911 center, and I can assure you that I'd never, ever let my pre-teen daughter go to a movie theater without an adult," says herringbones. "There are too many hinky people who just love to go to the movies and lurk in the dark. Even matinees."

Of course, Lenore Skenazy and others in the Free Range Kid movement would roll their eyes at this. They've probably been letting their 10, 11 and 12 year olds go to the movies for years!

BigMama1283 is of this opinion, too. She's trusted her 12 year olds go it alone.

"My husband and I will either see another movie with similar start and stop times, or we go to the mall across the street," BigMama1283 says. "My kids have cell phones. If you educate your children on how to handle themselves in these situations, more than likely they will do just fine."

She adds: "I'm amazined that parents will not let children this age watch a movie without them, but will take them to a movie with content too strong for the age. Go figure."

What's the bigger issue here? Letting tweens go to theaters unsupervised or allowing them to watch borderline PG-13 or even R rated movies?

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: independence, summer survival, tweens

Comments (6)

justanotherjen

on Jul 5, 2009 at 12:49 PM

Man, my mom used to drop us off at the movie at that age (me-12, my brother-10 and our friends who were also 10-12 years old). Not only that but she'd come in and buy the tickets for the PG13 movie we wanted to see. Then she would leave and come back either at the end of the movie or an hour later. We would go to the mall for food afterwards and either call her from a pay phone (no cell phones back then) or wait until she would come get us. Good times.

At 12 I was also riding my bike to the mall alone (about 3 miles in Chicago) to catch a movie I wanted to see.

Now as for my own kids...it would depend on their maturity and how many kids were going. The bigger the group the better. Oh, and I'm a free-range parent. Lenore Skenazy is my hero.

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FIVEHAPPYHEARTS

on Jul 5, 2009 at 12:56 PM

well my daughter has a cell phone she is sixteen she has been going to the movies with friends since she was 14 i always tell her go to the bathroom in pairs never leave your friends and she knows if she fills weired to call me i will pick her up no problems yet they always go to the movies by them selfs and i always know with who

smartgal5275

on Jul 5, 2009 at 10:28 PM

I'm not too comfortable letting my 12 yr old go by themselves to a movie. This day and age there are way too many sickos out there. I would rather go with them but let them be on there own and i would sit in the back. Maybe i'm old fashioned but that's me. I trust my child, but he needs to mature a little more.

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jasperrosalina

on Jul 6, 2009 at 1:10 PM

My kids go to the movie alone. i went alone at age 7 with my brothers .But they go with a group cells phone and i give my 12 year old pepper spray she Knows how to act in a bad place people to look out for .If you tween babysits i find that more dangous then going to the movie.

athenax3

on Jul 8, 2009 at 6:18 AM

I think it depends on the teen, and the area and other variables. For instance, we used to live in Miami, no way would I let the kids out of sight there, but now we live in a smaller town, and while of course this doesn't change the need to be cautious and aware I think it definitely changes some of the situations or possibilities.

I would allow my middle dd to attend a movie unattended with a group of friends at 12- she's only ten now and has proven herself to be savvy, quick thinking, logical and responsible. My oldest, no way, at twelve, I got nervous letting her walk to the bus stop at the end of the block, she was oblivious to the world around her and just a different kid- (she's better now thank goodness, lol) but I think each kid can be different too.