Out alone.

totally agree if they are not to be home alone the most deffintly not old enought to be roaming the street's or mall alone either my kid's are going to hatee me too I think.

Yep and with School Holidays starting, the Malls seem to be come baby sitters for bored school kids.

I went to school near St Lukes and used to hang out there all the time, mostly to get boys phone numbers.

What scares me and I could be wrong about this but isnt it legal for a 12yr old to be at home along and babysitting at 14?

You make an interesting point gandt.

I was thinking about this, at what age do you give your kids freedom.
At what age are the old enough to catch the bus on their own, got to movies with their friends.
At what age did you do these things? Are you sticter on your children than your parents?
Is it any less safe than it was when we were young.

Why does it scare you? Are children less responsible than they used to be.

I grew up in Auckland and was often sent on errands for my mother from as young as 10. I think the city has changed a lot since, more population brings more problems.

I now live in Feilding. It seems to be a different pace of life in the country.
I love it and can't wait to raise my children here.
I watch the boys on their bikes going down our street to intermediate school (our street is quite steep) and think this is how it should be. Kids all seem to walk to school here.

I remember there being flashers, and strange men hanging around our school (it was all girls) and being told not to go thru any of the back alleyways we used.

I don't remember anyone being abducted or attacked. Sadly kids at school usually feel victim to the trains or the creek.

I do think children are exposed to a lot more, they have access to the internet, tv is more liberal, and childrens movies can be quite dark (Harry Potter).

However my niece Paige lives in Chch and at 10yrs old is already interested in boys, and has started asking questions about her developing body.

I was re-reading the original story, I'm sure Paige would love to have teenage boys after her phone number. She likes to act 15, when she isn't its a tough balancing act for her Mum.

sorry for the long post

Edited by fleury

i remember being sent to the dairy to buy mums cigarettes...!!!!
oh and taking nanas basket on wheels to the shops down the road to get meat and milk and ciggies too.

We were only allowed to go to the mall in a group - from about 13 onwards. BUt to be honest (re-reading the original story) I would be more concerned about the 'pack / gang' mentality of the group of boys. Especially if they were harrassing the poor girl.

I think that kids are growing up far too quickly, with cellphones etc. We used to have a phone card that mum bought for us, and it was for emergencies!

I cant say what I will be like as a parent - who knows how things will change in the next few years, but sometimes even I am intimidated in the mall (we live near St Lukes) by the groups of teenagers hanging around, especially in the holidays.

 

I had a lot of freedom - at 8 I would bike down to the pools and swim there by myself (parents did know the lifeguards though) - we lived in a small town though where things were pretty tame. At 3 mum let me go to the dairy(next door) by ,yself to get 1c lollies.

Miss, from what I understand you're right. At teachers college one of our lecturers rang up the cops and asked them (during a safety programme we were running) and he said that although it is illegal to leave children in charge of other children until they're 14, there's actually no legal age to be left alone. BUT there is a moral judgement that parents must make - you can get done for leaving 6 or 7 year olds alone as its neglect because they can't look after themselves, but if you as the parent feel your child at 10 or 11 is mature enough to go out alone or be left alone, you can. You just get done if anything happens to them or anyone else (or property).

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong, I think anyone under 14 shouldn't be left alone at home, but I went to the malls etc when I was 11+ and see no problem with it. I was made to always go with at least 2 other girls and our parents always knew where we were. With cellphones etc these days too, kids can make contact with their parents easily if anything goes wrong. I don't want to be overprotective as kids don't learn that way, but I guess I'll see what I'm like when this little one actually makes its appearance!

busymum wrote: Hahaha! Feilding is not 'in the country'!!

It is compared to Auckland.