Am I being overprotective?

[elmom]

Again, we are raising a 17 year old extended family member who is fantastic about getting herself taken care of, out the door and to school. She was also neglected and isolated for most of her life and has serious psych problems, judgement problems and problems with perception and paranoia. Just because a kid can "take care of them self" doesn't mean they are healthy.

 

Again, if you doubt me, you can ask *her* therapist.

[Candie]

I'd never allow my almost 8 year old to wander the ship alone. It's not home and a ship is the size of a town full of strangers.

[fritolayNY]

Depends on the children. My children are 8, 11, and 13. Last year my oldest signed himself in and out of the camp but with intstructions to come straight to us afterward. This year we bought walkie talkies to keep in touch and will allow my two oldest to sign in and out of camp.

I wouldn't let my children swim without me being there and I would also not make them in charge of a 6yr old. However they will be allowed to roam (to get icecream or play pingpong etc) with instructions to stay together, watch out for one another, stay connected via talkies and be back at set times. As they prove or disprove their ability to be independent, safe and respectful of others, I will increase or decrease their freedom.

However I would also let my kids play in the neighborhood with out me. However that may depend on where you live and the maturity of your daughter.

[lman2b]

I must parent as you do as I agree 100% with you. I take the approach "better safe than sorry" and I am overly protective. It has to be what you are comfortable with!

[Onessa]

OK, bear with me since I am still a little sleep deprived having come back from chaperoning my DD's high school band trip. 191, 14-18YOs (and about 40 chaperones/staff). The rules we applied on this trip is pretty much what my DD has followed on her past five cruises (those since she "aged" out of the kid's programs and into the teen programs)-

1. There is safety in numbers. For the band trip, groups of three or more band kids at all times. On cruises the rule is we meet / get to know the friends she makes - groups of three or more if "mixed" gender, group of two or more if all girls. Once the evening is over, the girls find a parent and all get an escort to their cabin door.
   You should really NEVER be more than three or four steps from your friends and NO ONE is ever out of sight (ok when in the bathroom stall but the other girls better be in the bathroom with you!)
   
2. Stay out of each others rooms. For the band trip when groups visited in each other's rooms, they kept the room door(s) propped open (our group was well over 85% of the hotel's complete clientelle for just over 1 week and it was a very open concept hotel (Embassy Suites) so this worked out well -- we've had other trips where we have had more stringent rules). On the cruise - never any mixed gendered groups in a cabin. If they wanted a "girls night" in watching a movie etc -- we were ok with 3 or more girls in a cabin where everyone's parents knew.
   
3. If you get "ditched" find the nearest public place (where there are a number of other people) -- find someone you know/trust but don't go off alone even with that person
   
4. Check in often - on band trips we have cell phones and messenging. On cruises we have post-it notes and planned meeting places.
   

Due to some unique circumstances, I was responsible for 17 kids on a cross-country plane trip (with a bus trip from hotel to airport, a transfer in Denver, and another bus trip from Milwaukee back home) -- It kind of brought new meaning to "no child left behind" :). These are good kids, but with a variety of attention spans and a various levels of street smarts. They are in a new environment. They need to have someone watching out for their interests.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

My older son, now almost 16, was allowed to roam the ship from age 12. My younger son, now 7, knows the ship like the back of his hand by the second day, still won't be roaming about for quite some time.:)