Is 11 years old too young to be out after dark?

Question

Our daughter is 11, she wants to go out with her friend after dark. She wants to walk from our place to a fast food place, about half a mile, part of which does not have proper street lighting, are we being too protective to stop her walking the streets after dark?

Answer 1

Personally I think she's too young, I too have a daughter who's 11 and I would not let her out after dark to walk anywhere. It's sad that now days kids can't go outside after dark that we have to worry about them being snatched. I think she needs to thank her lucky stars that you're not wanting anything to happen to her, why can't you just run her up there to eat with her friend then give them say 20 minutes to hang out then go back and get them.
Stay strong and don't let her manipulate you guys.

Answer 2

No I don't think you're being overprotective.We wouldn't let our Daughter out after dark at that age. There are too many parents that don't give a damn about their kids these days,or are trying too hard to be their mates instead of parents. I despair when I see young children roaming the streets after dark,children might be more mature these days but the streets are even more dangerous too! Too often do you read/hear about kids being snatched off the street when their parents have given in and allowed the child free rein to come and go. I'd offer her a compromise and say she can go but that an adult (you,your wife,another adult figure you trust) has to walk/drive them and pick them up. That isn't being unreasonable-just careful !

Answer 3

No, you are not being "too" overprotective. 11 years old is way too young to be out after dark without adult supervision. Surely you watch the news and read the papers. If your daughter wants to be out after dark NOW, and you let her, what will she expect when she is 16 (assuming she is still around by then)?

Put your foot down NOW before you are sobbing. Talk to the parents of her friend and set up a fair arrangement to drive the girls where they want to go (within reason) and make sure there is adult supervision at all times. This is a crazy world we live in. MUCH better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 4

You're not being too protective at all, anything can happen in the dark including your child getting hit by cars. It's best to keep her safe rather than pleasing her. The world isn't as safe as it used to be and you have people out there preying on kids so to have 2 young kids walking half a mile in the dark is not a very good thing at all. Maybe you should get her to agree to get an older child to walk with them.

Answer 5

I'm less worried about the proper street lighting and more worried about the neighborhood. I would allow if it is a safe neighborhood that you are comfortable with. It becomes dark early this time of year so dark could come early but if it was before 8:00 p.m. I would allow it. I have an 11 year old son and I would allow it in our neighborhood.

Answer 6

Yes, she is too young. My parents didn't let me go out after dark even when I was in high school. I hated it at the time, but now that I'm in my 30's, I thank them for being so protective. Lots of terrible things happen to young girls/women.

If she really wants to go to a fast food place for dinner, perhaps you can drive her and her friend there and stay with them. Then drive them both back home.

Better safe than sorry.

Regards,
mari

Answer 7

Heavens, in some areas, it's not safe to go out after dark at any age! I would say it depends where you live, and whether there is a risk of the girls being threatened or frightened. At any rate, it sounds as if a torch and pale coloured or reflective clothing would be a good idea, to protect them from traffic, and I think in your place I would go with them a few times before letting them go alone. It's very hard to judge just how much freedom you should give your child in this dangerous world. Good luck to you all.

Answer 8

Can she fight and is she sneaky and underhand?

It depends were you are and things like bushes.

Also what would be wise is getting her into self defence lessons like nijnitsu or krav maga (an isrealis hybrid one.)

www.kravmaga.co.uk

Note both of those are military based. Ninjas were assasins and krav maga is the martial art of Mossad the israeli specail forces and military

Note I did not mention karate or judo.

Thats as judo and karate dont cover basic defences against knives, baseball bats, headlocks, chokes etc in the first lesson, teach you to do things like put your hand over someones eyes, kicking them in the balls, eyes and throat.

Giving her some oven spray with the price tage on in a paper packet could help. As in she just purchased it. So having a legit reason to carry it if needed to blind someone. With a cigaratte lighter as well to burn someone.

Large doggie would help.

As said it depends on where you live. In a village is one thing but you can still get the nut in the bushes if not the junkies and muggers that would make it hazardous to walk around if you were 19 in areas in London.


Also given her size she must know not to fight fair... But to be sneaky.

it is a bit young.

But also as she goes out after dark as grows up at first maybe get someone to shadow her. Only dont tell her with the remit not to interfear unless in iminent danger

Answer 9

I think it depends how late after dark it is also. If she's with a friend and it's about 6/7pm at night then that ain't so bad. If she's coming back home with her friend also a good sign. I don't think you're being over protective. For all you hear about things these days I'd very likely be the same.

Answer 10

Way too young, anything can happen to a girl that age, I also have an 11 year old daughter and I would never, ever allow her to do that .