At what age would you let your child/teen...

barbarawright

How would you stop a child shaving her legs? Are they not allowed in the bathroom on their own?

clairec79

onlyroz wrote: »

A few people have said that they would let their child go out alone earlier than they would let them go out in a group. I'm curious why this is - my thinking is that they would be safer in a group, but perhaps other people think differently?

Maybe go out in a group is seen more as hang around? whereas alone would be walking to somewhere in particular? Ie you may let your 7 year old go out alone to go to their friends house to play, but not let them go out with said friend to spend a few hours in the park?

I was happy when they started going out alone for them to be with someone (which meant my second went out earlier - my girls are 15months apart -because I'd let them go out together the first few times

onlyroz

barbarawright wrote: »

How would you stop a child shaving her legs? Are they not allowed in the bathroom on their own?

Don't provide them with razors? I certainly wouldn't want a child of any age, no matter how hairy their legs, to attempt to shave them unsupervised for the first time.

barbarawright

onlyroz wrote: »

Don't provide them with razors? I certainly wouldn't want a child of any age, no matter how hairy their legs, to attempt to shave them unsupervised for the first time.

Then you'll have to make sure your razors/wax/creams etc are locked up. I can't have been the only 12 year old to use my mum's Immac without asking. Ditto quite a lot of her other stuff. It's what kids do

onlyroz

barbarawright wrote: »

Then you'll have to make sure your razors/wax/creams etc are locked up. I can't have been the only 12 year old to use my mum's Immac without asking. Ditto quite a lot of her other stuff. It's what kids do

It's not something I want my 8-year-old attempting, no matter how much she says she wants to.

barbarawright

onlyroz wrote: »

It's not something I want my 8-year-old attempting, no matter how much she says she wants to.

I doubt she wants to but once she starts getting hairy she will, whether you want it or not. And it doesn't necessarily require a razor.

Gavin83

onlyroz wrote: »

Don't provide them with razors? I certainly wouldn't want a child of any age, no matter how hairy their legs, to attempt to shave them unsupervised for the first time.

I can't imagine many girls of an age to shave their legs would be comfortable with either of their parents sitting next to them while they're in the shower.

silvercar

Have a mobile phone .... wouldnt let them have a smartphone will at least 15 and there would be rules on using it
- Have a TV/computer/console in their room i'd say about 13
- Have unsupervised internet access didnt get that till 18, i'd say 16/17 they might be trusted

I would say those 3 answers are so late as to be unfair on the child. Balanced with this from the same person:

- Stay at home alone overnight about 15

Which is very young in my opinion (as well as being against NSPCC guidelines). Also contrary that someone can stay home alone but with no internet access.

MrsNubs

onlyroz wrote: »

So what about when your 8-year-old declares that they want to shave their legs even when they're years from puberty and only have soft downy hair?

Doesn't matter what type of hair they have/how far from puberty they are. They are human beings with their own rights. You can't control everything they do and personal grooming is something I believe no parent should ever attempt to control. If you're not happy with them using razors (although the chances of them causing any serious harm with today's safety razors are slim) then buy them hair removal cream.

On the razor front, they have to learn sometime, and we all cut ourselves when shaving when we're young, it's a learning curve. Do you let them use scissors or are these also banned in your house? I would say kids can hurt themselves a lot worst with scissors than with a razor. You can't wrap them up in cotton wool

onlyroz

So you're saying I *should* let my 8-year-old shave her legs?