Kid Nighttime Question

[bflowercar]

Hi -

 

Quick question for you guys - what are your thoughts on leaving a 10 year old in the room at night after he/she goes to sleep for an hour or so with a walkie talkie? With the do not disturb sign and instructions on not leaving and calling us if needed?

 

Thoughts? Thanks!

[ailetoile]

I would think that only you know your child well enough to judge whether that would be a good idea. Some 10-year olds are mature enough to be trusted in that situation while others aren't.

 

If your question is whether your child would be SAFE in that situation, then I cannot imagine that he/she wouldn't be. :o

[bflowercar]

Yes - totally mature enough..10 going on 30. Ha! It was definitely more around the safety concern. We have been on 5 cruises with Celebrity..first time with our daughter - so it will be a new experience for all of us. :)

[ailetoile]

Yes - totally mature enough..10 going on 30. Ha! It was definitely more around the safety concern. We have been on 5 cruises with Celebrity..first time with our daughter - so it will be a new experience for all of us. :)

 

At that age, the only real concerns I would have from a health and safety perspective would be her leaving the room unaccompanied or perhaps ordering room service for herself and then answering the door when it arrives. If she understands that she can't do those things and you trust her to act responsibly in general, then I can't see how leaving her would be a problem. The room attendant should respect the Do Not Disturb sign and no one else should be going into your room!

 

Of course, as I said in my original post that's just my opinion based on a child I don't know at all. :) I hope your family has a wonderful trip and that your daughter loves it!

[Bruin Steve]

We started bringing our daughters on cruises with us when they were 3 and 5...

By the time they were your daughter's age, we were allowing them considerable independence on the ship--either while on Kid Program activities--or on their own, on or around the ship (the girls often wanted to be independent of the kids programs)...

We just made it clear to them that there were certain rules:

They needed to always tell us where they planned to be...

They needed to introduce us to their "friends" when possible...

They needed to meet us at the cabin in time to go for dinner...

The could not go to ANY other person's cabin--staying at all times in the ship's public areas...

They had a curfew--at which time they needed to be back at the cabin--which, of course, got later as they got older.

They needed to leave notes in the cabin with any changes of plans (These were in the days before walkie-talkies were popular--and, besides, they refused to use them-thought they were nerdy)

 

Over a great many cruises with the girls over the years, they always acted responsibly, showed good judgment, etc. We found they tended to settle into a group of friends each cruise and tended to hang out in certain specific areas--largely a table at the buffet--as long as the food or snacks were out...or the pool area--especially if the grill was making french fries or pizza...The kids they chose to hang out appeared to , generally, just be hanging out, talking, joking around, having good clean fun...

 

Remember, even back home at land, we are not hovering over the kids 24/7...If you raise your kids right, you can usually trust them...and allow them to have a great time on their cruise on their terms...

[jkgourmet]

I'm NOT a parent, so I'm ignorant about this stuff. But two rhetorical questions immediately popped into my mind:

 

1. Would you leave this child at home alone with a cell phone?

 

2. IF there was a true emergency on board, that walkie talkie isn't gonna help much. Would the child know their muster station? Can they reach their life jacket?

 

I'm NOT a paranoid person in any way. My friends consider me a bit of an adventurer, especially when it comes to travel. But, with a kid, it's a different story.

[Bruin Steve]

I'm NOT a parent, so I'm ignorant about this stuff. But two rhetorical questions immediately popped into my mind:

 

1. Would you leave this child at home alone with a cell phone?

 

2. IF there was a true emergency on board, that walkie talkie isn't gonna help much. Would the child know their muster station? Can they reach their life jacket?

 

I'm NOT a paranoid person in any way. My friends consider me a bit of an adventurer, especially when it comes to travel. But, with a kid, it's a different story.

 

1) At 10 years old, as a kid with two working parents, I was often home by myself after school...with a land line (pre-cell phone days)...I knew exactly who to call in case of emergency, etc.

 

2) A 10 year old likely understands how to find the muster station...and the cruise line actually has lots of extra child size life vests available...adult size too...because, in an emergency, lots of folks are nowhere near their life vests...The crew is well-trained to deal with kids who are separate from their parents...because MOST kids are--they are in the kids program while the parents are elsewhere, they are up by the pool, wherever...

 

There is no reason to get paranoid...lots of kids onboard, very few of them are being hovered around by their parents 24/7...maybe toddlers, but certainly not 10-year olds...

 

One of the great things about cruising is that there is a lot for the kids to do that doesn't require a parent to entertain them full time...

[matondo]

I probably would have left my children in the cabin alone at that age after laying down the law as to what they can a cannot do. I always had to be explicit. My only concern would be if you had a balcony, then you would need to say you are not allowed to go out on the balcony no matter what. I always worried about impulse control and those times when they thought something was a brilliant idea but in retrospect was very dangerous. Anyhow...mine are both adults now and survived and thrived in their childhood despite everything.

[bccolaman]

Have read lots of comments that Walkie Talkies don't work very well on the ship.

[Queen of Oakville]

On our last cruise, my kids were in the 6 to 8 group. Next cruise, my daughter advances to the 9 to 11 (?) group which allows them to sign themselves out of the Fun Factory.

 

This worries me. I would not want my 9 year old daughter roaming around the ship by herself. They probably learn to navigate the ship better than we do. I would not worry so much about her getting lost, but worried that someone might cause her harm. We'll continue to sign her in/out.

 

But I'd have absolutely no qualms about leaving her with/without her younger brother in the cabin by themselves, with the DO NO DISTURB sign on for short periods of time. They would know to call guest serves in an emergency. They would never venture on the balcony or leave the cabin.

 

It's kinda like leaving them home alone. At least here in Ontario, there are no clear cut ages at which you can leave a child unattended. The onus is you, the parent, to know your child best, and if something were ever to go wrong - be able to justify your decision and trust in your child to the relevant authorities.

Edited February 24, 2015 by Queen of Oakville

[true45]

I'm NOT a parent, so I'm ignorant about this stuff. But two rhetorical questions immediately popped into my mind:

 

1. Would you leave this child at home alone with a cell phone?

 

2. IF there was a true emergency on board, that walkie talkie isn't gonna help much. Would the child know their muster station? Can they reach their life jacket?

 

I'm NOT a paranoid person in any way. My friends consider me a bit of an adventurer, especially when it comes to travel. But, with a kid, it's a different story.

 

 

It is not paranoid to be aware of what can happen. Good points you make.

 

In an emergency parents would be separated from their child. Sometimes even adults don't react well

 

Also, if someone comes to the door what will they do. Unfortunately kids often answer the door even if told not to. I found that out also in my business. They are kids

 

As mother and grandmother I wouldn't leave them alone in the room.

[ailetoile]

It's kinda like leaving them home alone. At least here in Ontario, there are no clear cut ages at which you can leave a child unattended. The onus is you, the parent, to know your child best, and if something were ever to go wrong - be able to justify your decision and trust in your child to the relevant authorities.

 

By around 10 years old I had taken a babysitting course and was responsible for my little brother for several hours at a time, as well as a few other kids around the neighborhood. Lots of my friends had taken the course with me. When my brother reached that age he was still not allowed to stay home alone simply because my parents didn't trust him.

 

I'm not saying at all that it's a competition, just pointing out that at that age maturity levels can be wildly different. I really like your statement about how there are no clear-cut ages at which you can leave a child unattended. It's so true! For what it's worth, I'm originally from Wisconsin, so not quite Canada but CLOSE! ;)

[cb at sea]

If you've been teaching your child how to deal with life all along, they'll be fine. If you've never let your child do ANYTHING on their own, they will have no idea HOW to do anything on their own!

The purpose of parenting is to make adults who can make decisions on their own!!! You can't coddle a child, and expect them to have common sense and be responsible at say, 18 years, if they've NEVER had any experience!

 

And...the OP said the child will have gone to sleep....

[dkjretired]

If I might suggest an alternative but Celebrity runs a Slumber party in the evening for the kids while Mom and Dad are off at the casino or one of the nightspots. The kids are watched by the staff, they usually run a movie and the kids will often fall asleep watching the movie. It is a fee for service thing but my kids absolutely loved it since they were able to be with new friends and just relax. I think it usually runs to about 1:00A.M.

Edited February 24, 2015 by dkjretired

[bflowercar]

You guys are great! Thank you for all of the responses! Our daughter follows rules better than her parents do - ha ;) She is very mature for her age..so we know she will follow the rules we lay down to a tee. She also needs her sleep and still goes to bed around 8:30..so hoping we can put her to bed - after a busy day on the ship/at port - and then step out for a drink with the hubs. Would love to send her to the slumber party - but know she wouldn't want to go to sleep - which makes for a possibly rough day the following day - especially when there are so many memories to make/things to do!

 

Thanks again!!! ;)