12 is when I first allowed my son to go to a movie without a parent. But only if in a group. The mall here doesn't allow unaccompanied teens so it's not an issue yet.
· Attend a boy-girl party
That would highly depend upon the nature of the party. Birthday party with both boys and girls invited is far different than a party intended for couples.
· Get a cell phone
He got one at age 10. It's a tracfone for use in emergancies, to change plans and call for rides. It's been a blessing over the years and has given me a lot of piece of mind.
· Drive without a parent
That will depend upon his charactor and the type of driver he is when the time comes.
· Stay home alone
For a few hours 9. At night 12. Overnight. Hasn't happened yet, but I'd probably allow it now (14 in October) so long as I had someone to check in on him.
· Wear makeup or shave legs
I have a son, but I will comment on this. Makeup is not permitted in our home for religious reasons. I don't even wear it.
Shaving legs. As soon as it was neccessary
· Go on a date
No flames, but we don't support casual dating. Unless you are mature enough and at a point in your life where you feel emotionally and financially ready to make a committment with you life, don't consider looking for someone to spend your life with. Hang with friends, but don't just date to have someone to spend a friday night at the movies with. The typical Dating for dating's sake is not something I would ever encourage.
My son will be 12 in October (I also have a 16 year old daughter).
· Go to the mall or movies without a parent
12 or 13 sounds okay to me. My son hasn't done this yet because most of his friends aren't allowed yet but when my daughter was in 8th grade (13) she would go to the mall / movie with friends but only if her dad drove her and picked her up.
· Attend a boy-girl party
LOL! My dd is 16 and has yet to attend one of these! Not because she's not allowed but because her crowd isn't into the whole house party thing just yet. But if I had to pick an age I'd say 14 ie high school. Grade school sounds too young to me.
· Get a cell phone
My son already has one but its a pay-per-use plan and its an extra phone I got for free. He takes it with him if he's going to be anywhere either with his grandparents (who don't have a cell phone) or at a friends house. He also takes it if he's out riding his bike with a friend.
· Drive without a parent
I don't know...17?
· Stay home alone
My son has stayed home alone for maybe an hour or two. But only if we are close by. I only recently did this so I'd say 12. Most of the time though if he's home without us its with his older sister.
· Wear makeup or shave legs
Well....not an issue for my 12 yo son but my dd started shaving her legs at 12 (she was and is very hairy...). She doesn't wear makeup on a daily basis because she doesn't care for it but she's been wearing lip gloss since age of 13.
· Go on a date
Again 16 yo has yet gone on a date! Group things ie boys and girls at the movies or at a friend's house 15 sounds okay. I'm not too crazy about anyone under 14 going on a one-on-one date.
· Get ears pierced
Umm...6 months old? Seriously, girls in my culture have pierced ears as babies. Although my dd was an exception for some reason (her dad was squeamish) and she had hers done at 7. If my son wanted an ear pierced I'd say no younger than 14 just because young boys might not be careful caring for it and it could get infected or pulled out while playing.
Start us off with sharing the age of your tween/teen on this board. Share your honest opinions on when you think your 10-14 year old is really ready to:
Mackenzie is 13..14 in December (EGAD!)
·Go to the mall or movies without a parent
She can go to the mall without me when she's old enough to drive herself. Right now the parents of 'the group' alternate hanging out at the mall, not necessarily WITH them, but THERE. She's now allowed to go to movies with friends in the afternoon...perhaps evening ones this year, but NOT the late ones.
Attend a boy-girl party
We've actually already let her host one, the two boys brave enough to come cowered in the corner and left early. I'd let her attend one elsewhere ONLY if I knew the parents personally and I was assured that these parents wouldnt' be hiding in their room drinking the whole time. :)
Get a cell phone
She got one in 5th grade out of necessity...she went to school on a military base and they kept having 'security lockdowns' so I couldnt' get on post to get her after school. Phones should be based on NEED, not on age. Respect for the phone and responsibility of it's use can be taught at any age.
Drive without a parent
Like her brother, she'll get her license at 16 and we'll do graduated driving priledges. Driving to and from school is one thing, all night cruising with friends is another.
Stay home alone
I think this past school year, age 12/13 is when she's started staying home for more than an hour or so. SHE is the one who insisted she was ready. If DH and I are going out at night, I'd rather her older brother be home with her still.
Wear makeup or shave legs
Sheer lipgloss and glitter gel for eyeshadow about 5th grade. Real eyeshadow and colored lipgloss around 7th grade. 8th grade is now eyeliner and mascara, in brown. She actually wears it very well so I don't limit it anymore. If she looked like Bozo the clown I'd have issues. I wanted her to wait until she had armpit hair to shave her legs (I had it at aged 9) but she still doesnt' have any. She's been shaving since 5th grade..I guess when they're old enough to be bothered by it, they're old enough to shave. I initially said NO so she cut the leg hair with scissors! LOL
Go on a date
After she earns her Master's Degree..no REALLY! LOL!! She's not getting into a car with a boy until she has her license and can drive in an emergency.
Get ears pierced
Had her done as an infant, got her second holes as her 13th birthday present. I will NOT allow ANY other piercings, ie..belly button or nose until she's out of the house.
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Hard questions. LOL
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My son is 13, my daughter 9.5
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· Go to the mall or movies without a parent
12 is when I first allowed my son to go to a movie without a parent. But only if in a group. The mall here doesn't allow unaccompanied teens so it's not an issue yet.
· Attend a boy-girl party
That would highly depend upon the nature of the party. Birthday party with both boys and girls invited is far different than a party intended for couples.
· Get a cell phone
He got one at age 10. It's a tracfone for use in emergancies, to change plans and call for rides. It's been a blessing over the years and has given me a lot of piece of mind.
· Drive without a parent
That will depend upon his charactor and the type of driver he is when the time comes.
· Stay home alone
For a few hours 9. At night 12. Overnight. Hasn't happened yet, but I'd probably allow it now (14 in October) so long as I had someone to check in on him.
· Wear makeup or shave legs
I have a son, but I will comment on this. Makeup is not permitted in our home for religious reasons. I don't even wear it.
Shaving legs. As soon as it was neccessary
· Go on a date
No flames, but we don't support casual dating. Unless you are mature enough and at a point in your life where you feel emotionally and financially ready to make a committment with you life, don't consider looking for someone to spend your life with. Hang with friends, but don't just date to have someone to spend a friday night at the movies with. The typical Dating for dating's sake is not something I would ever encourage.
· Get ears pierced
Not permitted for religous reasons.
stacy
My son will be 12 in October (I also have a 16 year old daughter).
· Go to the mall or movies without a parent
12 or 13 sounds okay to me. My son hasn't done this yet because most of his friends aren't allowed yet but when my daughter was in 8th grade (13) she would go to the mall / movie with friends but only if her dad drove her and picked her up.
· Attend a boy-girl party
LOL! My dd is 16 and has yet to attend one of these! Not because she's not allowed but because her crowd isn't into the whole house party thing just yet. But if I had to pick an age I'd say 14 ie high school. Grade school sounds too young to me.
· Get a cell phone
My son already has one but its a pay-per-use plan and its an extra phone I got for free. He takes it with him if he's going to be anywhere either with his grandparents (who don't have a cell phone) or at a friends house. He also takes it if he's out riding his bike with a friend.
· Drive without a parent
I don't know...17?
· Stay home alone
My son has stayed home alone for maybe an hour or two. But only if we are close by. I only recently did this so I'd say 12. Most of the time though if he's home without us its with his older sister.
· Wear makeup or shave legs
Well....not an issue for my 12 yo son but my dd started shaving her legs at 12 (she was and is very hairy...). She doesn't wear makeup on a daily basis because she doesn't care for it but she's been wearing lip gloss since age of 13.
· Go on a date
Again 16 yo has yet gone on a date! Group things ie boys and girls at the movies or at a friend's house 15 sounds okay. I'm not too crazy about anyone under 14 going on a one-on-one date.
· Get ears pierced
Umm...6 months old? Seriously, girls in my culture have pierced ears as babies. Although my dd was an exception for some reason (her dad was squeamish) and she had hers done at 7. If my son wanted an ear pierced I'd say no younger than 14 just because young boys might not be careful caring for it and it could get infected or pulled out while playing.
Start us off with sharing the age of your tween/teen on this board. Share your honest opinions on when you think your 10-14 year old is really ready to:
Mackenzie is 13..14 in December (EGAD!)
·Go to the mall or movies without a parent
She can go to the mall without me when she's old enough to drive herself. Right now the parents of 'the group' alternate hanging out at the mall, not necessarily WITH them, but THERE. She's now allowed to go to movies with friends in the afternoon...perhaps evening ones this year, but NOT the late ones.
Attend a boy-girl party
We've actually already let her host one, the two boys brave enough to come cowered in the corner and left early. I'd let her attend one elsewhere ONLY if I knew the parents personally and I was assured that these parents wouldnt' be hiding in their room drinking the whole time. :)
Get a cell phone
She got one in 5th grade out of necessity...she went to school on a military base and they kept having 'security lockdowns' so I couldnt' get on post to get her after school. Phones should be based on NEED, not on age. Respect for the phone and responsibility of it's use can be taught at any age.
Drive without a parent
Like her brother, she'll get her license at 16 and we'll do graduated driving priledges. Driving to and from school is one thing, all night cruising with friends is another.
Stay home alone
I think this past school year, age 12/13 is when she's started staying home for more than an hour or so. SHE is the one who insisted she was ready. If DH and I are going out at night, I'd rather her older brother be home with her still.
Wear makeup or shave legs
Sheer lipgloss and glitter gel for eyeshadow about 5th grade. Real eyeshadow and colored lipgloss around 7th grade. 8th grade is now eyeliner and mascara, in brown. She actually wears it very well so I don't limit it anymore. If she looked like Bozo the clown I'd have issues. I wanted her to wait until she had armpit hair to shave her legs (I had it at aged 9) but she still doesnt' have any. She's been shaving since 5th grade..I guess when they're old enough to be bothered by it, they're old enough to shave. I initially said NO so she cut the leg hair with scissors! LOL
Go on a date
After she earns her Master's Degree..no REALLY! LOL!! She's not getting into a car with a boy until she has her license and can drive in an emergency.
Get ears pierced
Had her done as an infant, got her second holes as her 13th birthday present. I will NOT allow ANY other piercings, ie..belly button or nose until she's out of the house.
Denise
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