RCI Freedom Kids Age 11 and 12 - What freedom can we give them

[junglejane]

At some point, we all need to start loosening the apron strings. :eek: Every parent reaches the point, sooner or later, when they have to start letting DD or DS do stuff solo. When and how that happens depends on the maturity of the child, the situation and the parents' comfort level. Every kid is different. By age 11, we were letting my older DD go some places on the ship by herself: to the buffet for a snack (sometimes for us!), to get ice cream, to leave dinner early and sign herself into the kids' program, etc. DD#2 has gradually earned greater freedom by a combination of getting older and by showing that she is responsible. On our most recent cruise on the Mariner OTS, she was 13 and would've died a thousand deaths if we had escorted her to the teen activities.

 

I actually think that a cruise ship is in some ways a good environment to start experimenting with limited freedom. Start with something simple (e.g., go to the purser's desk and get me an extra copy of the daily newsletter) and gradually work your way up. Mind you, I'm not advocating that you let your kids run wild. But I do think there is a happy medium between that and keeping your kid in sight every second.

[allstarzz]

You should never offer a new cruiser a false sense of security. That's just dangerous.

 

The false sense of security happens when parents drop their kids off for a few minutes or a few hours, thinking the counselors are nice, they will be fine. The false sense of security is from parents who are locked in the ara that the stranger is the biggest threat. A child might be safer in Times Square than in the kids program or at a friend's house, even in church. There are kids who would do better in Time Square by themselves than with me.

 

No matter where I am, or what I am drinking (smuggled or not) I never think 'not my kids'. so not everyone. However I start each day, no matter where we are, asking God to guide and protect them. So far, so good, so there must be something to be said about PRAYER. Respects to whoever and where ever you think your kids are safest. You might know who poses the greatest threat to your kids but clearly NOT everyone on this thread. No one mentioned Uncle BUD or the counselors who we really know nothing about, except they are nice.That is a trait shared with perverts....yuck. I want the mean counselor next time.

 

junglejane- I agree with you 100 percent. We have to start someplace and sometimes a drink helps. Right, no one is advocating letting kids run wild, push elevator buttons, or roam the halls until morning, that's a different thread!