How old is "Old enough"?
By II2aTee
@II2aTee (2559)
United States
August 22, 2008 10:01am CST
It's time for the Great New York State Fair! I'm so excited... I look forward to my annual Wine Slushy (I only drink once a year), the rides, and the live shows. It's alot of fun.
So this year my best friend told me that her 13 year old daughter wants to go to the fair with a few of her friends. My friend was on the fence about it. On one hand she knows her daughter is responsible and makes good decisions... but on the other hand she is worried about letting her daughter roam the crowds without parental supervision.
I told my friend that her 13 year old daughter babysits the neighbors kids, so I think she is responsible enough to go to the fair with her friends alone. Plus, she has a cell phone. I suggested as long as her daughter called her mom once every hour to check in, there shouldnt be any problems.
What do you think? At what age would you allow your kid to go to the fair with a group of their friends, without supervision? I know that my mom let us wander the fair around the age of 13 - and we didnt even have cell phones back then! But then again, times have changed, and kids arent as safe as they used to be around strangers.
So whats your opinion?
3 people like this
17 responses
@novataylor (6570)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I don't think I'd feel comfortable with it, Tee. 13 is old enough to babysit, yes, depending on the level of her maturity. But - going to the New York State Fair? No. I think I'd be too terified that she'd be lured away or something like that. Now, if this is an exceptional 13 year old, who's been through more in her life than most 13 year olds, possibly. But I'd still want there to be an adult among the group. The adult could keep her/himself in the wings, on the outskirts of the group, hardly noticeable at all, but there all the same. Watching like a hawk. I know, I know, you have to let go at some point, but maybe not at the aged 13 point, darlin. I have a feeling your friend isn't going to budge about this. Just a feeling, but I'll bet I'm right......
1 person likes this
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I totaly see your point. I'm not sure what she is going to do, but I do know I'm going to go to the fair on the day they do (if she lets her go) just so I can kinda keep my eye on them from the sidelines. Of course there will be an adult in the area... staying far enough away so the kids still "look" cool without a grown up hanging around.
Sometimes I'm really glad I am not a parent... these trials are such a heartache.
3 people like this
@novataylor (6570)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I don't have kids either, Tee, and I swear, I don't know how anyone does it these days. Way too much to worry about. This world isn't what it was when I was a child -not that it was great then,but it wasn't quite as scary as it is today, I think.
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
22 Aug 08
Morning Nova Luv!
I'm bored and alone..waiting on this weekend..lol
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
22 Aug 08
Hi Tee
Sad to say with all the perv's roaming around I'd be a bit concerned..babysitting is one thing but for a young girl that is maturing, it might be too much for these people that like young girls..or young guys for the matter...
I know back in the dinosaur days i couldn't wait to take off and run around losing my parents .... if you saw my grandchildren you'd know why i'd hate to lose them to someone who didn't care or love them...........
Big crowds can be a bit overwhelming and maybe if she wore a mask or ugly clothes i'd say ok..lol..
1 person likes this
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
22 Aug 08
LOL!
But yes you deffinatly have a point. Alot of scum bags walking around... especially at state fairs. I swear they bus the hillbillies down from the mountains once a year so they can show off their back hair and mullets in broad daylight.
It's a tough call. I'm glad I dont have to make tese kind of decisions... and its also why I respect parents so much. These are hard times we live in... it's just not the same world I grew up in anymore.
3 people like this
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
22 Aug 08
Hi Tee, I think I might consider it if she is a mature 13 year old and she was driven by car to the location and picked up from there also. I am sure there is park security and like you said she has a cell and will be with friends so she should be alright while in the park/fair, what bothers me though is if she has to commute by public transportation to and from the location, that I would be uncomfortable with.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
22 Aug 08
When I was 13 (umm 24 years ago lol) my parents had no problem letting my twin sister and I go with our friends to fairs and stuff, mind you they were smaller type events and as long as we were together and with the friends we said we would be with, then it wasn't an issue. They dropped us off and picked us up at the times specified. Nowadays it isn't as easy at that and I would probably think twice before letting any of my children go anywhere without adult supervision. The New York State Fair is huge I would presume and has thousands of people attending so with all the crazies and perverts out there, I would probably only let her go if I knew an adult was accompanying them. But that's just me though.
@phoenix25 (1541)
• United States
22 Aug 08
I think it really depends on the kid. I was a very responsible and mature 13 year old and I was also in 8th grade. My parents let me go places without them when I was that age, but that was because they knew I wouldn't do anything I wasn't supposed to do and my safety wasn't something that we needed to be too concerned about.
@jagpreet1058 (13)
•
22 Aug 08
simply saying OLD is GOLD........
it doesn't matter how old the thing is !!
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
23 Aug 08
hmmm...I'd be worried if it was my 'daughter'....even if I know she's responsible. It's just how the world is today and not that I wouldn't want her to go and have some fun with her friends. I just do not trust others and in a crowd so many things might happen and my child (or her friends) might not be able to react in the right manner.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
4 Sep 08
Great New York State Fair
whoa!! in Syracuse or Hamburg?? YOU LIVE THAT CLOSE TO ME?? 
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
4 Sep 08
EEEKKK I was just in Syracuse for a 2 hour layover on my way back from my trip last Sat dang nab it!! I'm just outside Medina, Albion etc etc..yes we certainly will have to get together!!
Trip was AWESOME!! I'm actually goin back in mid October but only for 4 days...
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
4 Sep 08
Yes that is the one in Syracuse, and yes it is rockin. We went 3 times this year. It's huge!! You really must go next year. Save this website... www.nysfair.org
@dementia88 (900)
• United States
23 Aug 08
maybe im just overprotective but im thinking maybe 16. things are not the same as when i was younbg and allowed to go places alone with friends. i just think 13 is kinda young
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
23 Aug 08
Hi Tee, 13 seems about right to me, but of course you can't generalize, everyone isn't ready at 13 and some may be ready at 12. Since your friend's daughter is mature enough to babysit the neighbour's kids, I'd say that she is ready for this, especially with a cell phone and checking in every hour. I know that it must be difficult for parents today, but everyone has to start letting go sometime. This is one time when I would thank God for the cell phone. Blessings.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
28 Aug 08
Hey neighbor! Where are you from? I live near Syracuse and we have gone to the fair twice so far this year!
Well to answer your question, I went to the fair alone for the first time when I was 14. I think she will be fine. By now I'm sure the mother has made her decision though.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
4 Sep 08
Weve never been to the one in Syracuse only the on in Hamburg and havent even gone to that in a couple yrs now....I hear th Syracuse one is ROCKIN!! Thats only about 90 mins away from us too..
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
4 Sep 08
Hey sorry for the late reply... the fair is over but we had some BEAUTIFUL weather for it!!
I went once, which is about as much as I can stand given the traffic. And I live in the city of Syracuse itself... I can pretty much see the Carousel Mall from my front porch!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
5 Sep 08
Wow, can't believe someone who lives so close to me is on Mylot.
@sweethomecatring (1563)
• India
23 Aug 08
It depends upon the individual personality of the child. If the child got wiser in the age of 13 and she is able to think of good or bad, he/she can be allowed to go but if not in our society we think when the child attains the age of 20 become wiser enough and can be allowed to go out without parental supervision.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
23 Aug 08
I wouldn't worry. 13 is about the age when kids go to the fair alone. Fairs are usually quite safe during the day. It's at night when the rougher elements come out.
The kid will be with friends, isn't stupid and has a cell, if there is a problem she or someone else can call her parents or 911.
@agnes4mail (131)
• Indonesia
23 Aug 08
I did that at 10 or maybe 9, going to a super market by public transportation with a bunch of friends every weekend, back then we didn't have the cellphone too. But with so many crimes that easily happened to the children lately, I think it's better if we teach our kids to be more carefully, and watch around when they're going out with a bunch of friends, coz to keep them staying at home coz we're worry about they so much, that wont be a good idea :)
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
23 Aug 08
for me it will depend on the development of the child. if i think that the child is really matured enough to make decisions on his own. i think that i will let the child do have control over her lives. but if i think that the child has not yet developed maturedly enough then we have to supervise the child and will not let the child to be on his or her own yet.
@iambaiyunlvshui (122)
• China
23 Aug 08
i do think 13 old years is not old enough to go out with her friends in our china .maybe it is 18
@minniedesiree (29)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Yeah i think her mom should let her go i was thirteen three years ago so i know how it was to have a protective mother,i think that if she is responsible enough to babysit she should be responsible to be on her own for a few hours!
