Parents Only: Is this acceptable?

Question

A mature, responsible 11 year old shopping at the mall with her friend.

Her parent is in the same mall, but not with her.

Her cell phone is in her pocket if she needs to call her parent.

Would you let your child do this?

Answer 1

I let my teenager do this for the first time ever three weeks ago. my teenager is now 16. However perhaps I should have allowed it a bit earlier - actually my teen didn't ask for the right to go "late night shopping" before now.

If the parent is at the Mall I see no reason not to give out your trust to them. If they prove faithful after one time, they can be rewarded by more trust. Children need to earn their parents trust, and how can they do that if their parent doesn't give them a chance to earn it?

However, the parent that lets their 11 year old walk around with friends at the Mall should not be ignorant. They should know who the child's friends are, have met the parents, and also approve of their child's choices in friends. This parent would also have taught their child well about peer pressure and will know that their child is capable of making good decisions.

If you are in doubt as  parent, don't go there this early on.

Answer 2

Yes, but i would recomed staying in the same wing of the mall, just in case.

Answer 3

Yes

Answer 4

I'm not a parent, but I babysit, and I've had to go to a mall with a child I was babysitting, and the parent said it was ok for her to walk around by herself. She was 11, had a cell too. And my sister who's 11 and doesn't have a cell phone is allowed to. Time to let go.

Answer 5

I don't think it is with all the madness in the world today and I also don't think an 11 year old needs a cell phone.

Answer 6

It totally depends on the area you live in and the particular mall in question, and it depends on the amount of time they'd be away from the mom.  I remember getting to shop like that with my friends, but we always met up with Mom after a brief amount of time.

Answer 7

yeah.

Answer 8

Yes, I would. In fact, I have. =) I started her out at age 11 with 20 minute check-in intervals. We would either meet at a specific spot or (most often) she would call and touch base with me. I graduated her up to longer intervals as soon as she proved she could be trusted and responsible.

Answer 9

yes, i would but when i call you better come running!!

Answer 10

yes-deffinetly. just make a deal with her andd make her call every 30 min. if she is responsible and she as her cell phone i think it would be a-ok

Answer 11

Being her parent I would also call her to check on her, and have a place to meet every hour or so.

Answer 12

Not at 11...Maybe 13 or 14. I don't care if my child is shopping next to the store I'm shopping at, there are crazy people out there, and since your child is too young to protect themselves, you have to carry on that responsibility.

Answer 13

Yeh that sounds fine.  Gotta cut the chord sometime, this seems reasonable to me.

Answer 14

i did at that age WITHOUT a cellphone. i dont know how my parents let me..i cant see myself doing it. But yes i think its acceptable! its gives the girl some girly shop time without an adult and i remember how much fun that was.

Answer 15

Shes mature and responsible and has a cell phone. Crowded mall . Time to let her go mom

Answer 16

It is a scary world out there but they have to grow up and leave the nest sometime. I probably would let her but have a designated meeting spot and have her meet you there to check in every 30-60 minutes. Just for your own peace of mind and also so she knows she cant go anywhere that she cant be back in time to meet up with you. Good luck!

Answer 17

No, I sure wouldn't.  My oldest is 9 - but I know two years won't make me comfortable with this scenario.  I may be over-protective - but a cell phone may not be enough to protect your child from a would-be pedophile.  Unfortunately, this world is too scary - and the risk outweighs the benefit here, IMO.

Answer 18

Yes, if she were mature enough and she's with her friend, so I believe I would allow it.

Answer 19

sorry i know im not a parent,  im very mature and have a lot of their trust. if i go to the mall with 14 year old good frinds of my from church and i had a cell phone then yes , they would deff. let me when their not in the mall. as long as i answer my phone WHENEVER they call than there is not one reason to worry as long as she answers the phone... if shes not responsable enough to answer the phone when you call than she not old and mature enough to go by her self.... but give her some freedom to prove to you the she is responsable and mature

Answer 20

Yes, but at 11 I would probably feel better if I had her check in a little bit more than say I would for my 14 yr. old.

Answer 21

Yes, sounds reasonable to me as long as it is during the day time.

Answer 22

I don't see a problem, as long as the parent is inside the mall.  Yes, I would let her.

Answer 23

i would let her. as long as she stays with her friend and has her cell phone on her at all times.

Answer 24

Yes i would but only for a set time limit and i would have the child call every 15 mintues.

Answer 25

yeah, defintly fine.

Answer 26

We all have to decide to let them have some freedom at some age so i guess it depends on whether your comfortable with. It sounds like she's responsible enough. I've just started letting my 10 year old stay in game shops while i go to the bank or something and personally think its OK. These days children are well educated on things like stranger danger.

Answer 27

I would like to say yes, but the fact is, is that there are some really creapy people out there.  Even though you are mature and with a friend, some people can still hurt you.  It happens everyday, in every town.  As a mother, I would like to think that I would give my daughter the chance to do it, because I know that she could.  I would just worry too much, even though you have the phone.  If I did, I'd probably follow you around the first couple of times, just for some piece of mind.

Answer 28

No, number one my 11 year old doesn't own a cellphone and number two...she is still a child, (she may have an IQ of 165 but she is still only 11) and I am still responsible for her.  If she is with a friend that means that they came with me and  that I am also responsible for the friend and in that capacity if anything were to happen to the friend the parents of friend could sue me because I was SUPPOSED to be responsible for the children, cell phone or not.  By the way...around here under 16s are not allowed in the mall unless accompanied by an adult and that means the adult has to be in the company of the children at all times.

Answer 29

ummm no.

but that's just me this world isn't like it used to be so i would say no. but it's up to u