How old is old enough?

never get old. if u think like that than u'll never ol enough

By the time they hit 13, I think I'd allow it as long as they told me where they'd be. I'd prefer they'd have a cellphone on them too. I think 16 is pushing it. You cannot always protect your children..no matter what. You could be with your child and something could happen. Being all clingy and holding them too close does nothing but hurt your child..trust me, I know. Really the cord should have been cut a long time ago.

This is a good question, I've not thought about this yet. My daughter is 8 this year and so far I do allow her to go down to take the school bus herself on some days.She does not have to cross any road and I can see her from my apartment, during the school holidays and weekends ,I also allow her to go to the playground by herself for a short while. Again it's just downstairs and within my sight. I guess I'll probably also wait til my kids are around 15 or 16 before I let them go off to those big shopping malls by themselves.

My two are 14 and 16 and I have just recently started letting them go off on their own in the store. I think at those ages (and if they have been taught well by their parents) they are able to conduct themselves correctly in a store or elsewhere. You definitely have the right idea as to when to let your child do this...wayyyyy too many weird people around this world.

I'm comfortable with my 15 yr old going off on his own. He has a cell phone so we can reach him and he can reach us. He's physically able to take care of himself too. My 12 yr old we let go to a certain area of the store to browse (like clothes) but we usually keep pretty close, and don't let her go for very long. She feels more independent, yet she's still pretty close to us. She also knows to yell or run if something happens. There are certain parts of the city that both kids have to stay with us. Those places are usually the places that my DH is carrying his pistol. Not a place to let anyone off on their own.

I agree 16 is good. I see some kids go on their own and theyre like 11 or 12. Youre right there are too many strange people you cant trust. Each child has their own age I believe however when they're mature enough to go out on their own. Some need longer than others. teenagers are too gullable sometimes and they get themselves into bad situations, I know I did when I was a teenager. So when I have kids they will be supervised but not to the point where they hate me for being controlling. They need to know its for their own good and first off we're the parent and second a friend.

Depends on the Kid and their maturity and responsibility. My 13 year old can go to the store with his freinds if he wanted to. As for the wacko's...There was just as many then when we were growing up as there are now. They just get better press coverage now.

it depends on the mind of the person. As long as you know what you are doing, then i think you are old enough. Well i think your kid ar now old enough.

My girls are 12 & 13 and I let them go to the store by themselves. I also make sure that they take their cell phone with them and call me when they get there and when they leave and I also give them a time limit so just in case anything happens to them (God forbid)I will have a point of reference.

to me it's not about age as much as about the level of maturity and responsibility. it also depends on who they want to go with. if i don't trust the other kids, or if i think they are a bad influence on my child i wouldn't let them go.